The 1996 Michigan House of Representatives election on November 5, 1996, shifted the chamber’s control as Democrats captured a 58–52 majority. According to Michigan Secretary of State records, the outcome reversed the prior Republican majority and brought 23 freshman legislators into the 89th Michigan Legislature when it was sworn in on January 8, 1997.
Partisan Shifts Leading Up to the November 1996 General Election
Control of the Michigan House fluctuated across the mid-1990s. In the 1994 general election, Republicans secured a 56–54 majority, ending an even 55–55 split between the two major parties, as documented by the Detroit Free Press. Momentum shifted further during 1996 through legislative departures. In June 1996, Republican Bill Bullard Jr. won a special election to the state Senate, vacating his House seat in the 38th district. Later that year in October, Democratic incumbent Robert DeMars died in office, leaving the partisan balance at a 55–53 Republican majority heading into the November 5 general election.
Primary Election Upsets and Open Seats
Voters ousted three incumbents during the August 6, 1996, primary elections—two Democrats and one Republican—according to The Ann Arbor News. Democratic incumbent Lloyd F. Weeks lost to Paul Wojno, while fellow Democratic incumbent Nelson Saunders fell to Buzz Thomas. On the Republican side, incumbent Roland Jersevic lost to Jerome Burns. Across the entire primary slate, 31 incumbents faced challengers, and 16 lawmakers—nine Republicans and seven Democrats—chose not to run for re-election.
General Election Results and Seat Flips
During the November 5 general election, Democrats flipped four seats to claim a 58–52 majority over the Republicans, according to results from the Michigan Secretary of State. Bob Brown unseated Republican incumbent James Ryan, Rose Bogardus defeated Republican incumbent Sandra Hill, and Mark Schauer unseated Republican incumbent Eric Bush. Following the legislative shakeup, the Democratic caucus elected Curtis Hertel as speaker of the state House, while Republicans selected Ken Sikkema as minority leader.
Special Elections in the 25th and 38th Districts
Two special elections coincided with the November 5 general election to fill vacancies created earlier in the year. The departure of Bill Bullard Jr. to the state Senate triggered a vacancy in the 38th district, where Republican Nancy Cassis won election to succeed him. In the 25th district, the unexpected death of incumbent Democrat Robert DeMars on October 21 prompted the Wayne County Democratic Party to nominate Gloria Schermesser, mayor pro tem of Lincoln Park, to take his place on the ballot. Both Cassis and Schermesser were sworn into office on November 12, 1996.
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