Don't forget the special elections! Joe Graves and Bob Gray are running for state house

While all the hype for the February 28th Special election is for the presidential primary, there are some other elections going on that day. Two of the most important are in the state house where there's two vacancies. These are the OLD districts, not the redistricted areas which do not take affect electionwise until August.

Bob Gray is running in the old 29th District, covering Pontiac and Auburn Hills. This is a longshot, but if there is any chance at all of winning, it is due to the republican presidential primary being on the same day. If most of Pontiac stays home, we have a shot. This election is to replace Tim Melton who resigned to take a job at an educational organization.

The other election is highly contested between Joe Graves and MEA Union official Steve Losey in the old 51st district. This is to replace the recalled Paul Scott who was scalped by the MEA last year. All their work could be for nothing if Joe Graves wins the replacement election. This is in Southern Genesee County.

If you're a Republican in Pontiac, Auburn Hills, Argentine Twp, Mundy Twp, Fenton, Linden, Grand Blanc, or Atlas Twp, this election is extra important with the state rep races. Joe Graves and Bob Gray are on Tuesday's ballot.

State House Redistricting - District 29 (HD-29)

State House - District 29
Current Rep – Tim Greimel (D - Auburn Hills)

2010 Results - Old District (29th)
Tim Melton - 14,217
Bret Allen - 3,943

Declared Candidates:
Rep - Brian Stebick (R-Pontiac)
Dem - Tim Greimel (D-Auburn Hills)

Tim Melton resigned to take an education related job, leaving the district vacant. He was actually quite moderate compared to the rep you'd expect to get from this district.

The old district covered Pontiac and Auburn Hills. The new district expands to pick up Keego Harbor, Orchard Lake, amd Sylvan Lake. Orchard Lake and Sylvan Lake are republican leaning, but that won't be affecting this district much. In Oakland County, Pontiac is the 3rd most democrat municipality by percentage, and 2nd most in size. Only Southfield beats it in pure numbers or percentage. Royal Oak Twp beats it in percentage. The primary is the election here. Even with the expansion in area, this is still a majority-minority district, although whites have a small plurality of voters, not for long with the demographic changes in Auburn Hills as Pontiac's residents continue to empty out.

	McCain	Obama	Total	Diff	GOP	DEM	Diff
Oakland County			0	0	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!
Auburn Hills	3577	5823	9400	-2246	38.05%	61.95%	-23.89%
Keego Harbor	525	804	1329	-279	39.50%	60.50%	-20.99%
Orchard Lake	821	648	1469	173	55.89%	44.11%	11.78%
Pontiac	2799	19980	22779	-17181	12.29%	87.71%	-75.42%
Sylvan Lake	551	558	1109	-7	49.68%	50.32%	-0.63%
Total	8273	27813	36086	-19540	22.93%	77.07%	-54.15%
	Bush	Kerry	Total	Diff	GOP	DEM	Diff
Oakland County			0	0	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!
Auburn Hills	4089	4724	8813	-635	46.40%	53.60%	-7.21%
Keego Harbor	554	590	1144	-36	48.43%	51.57%	-3.15%
Orchard Lake	938	580	1518	358	61.79%	38.21%	23.58%
Pontiac	4499	17759	22258	-13260	20.21%	79.79%	-59.57%
Sylvan Lake	647	529	1176	118	55.02%	44.98%	10.03%
Total	10727	24182	34909	-13455	30.73%	69.27%	-38.54%
Last State House	GOP	DEM	Total	Diff	GOP	DEM	Diff
Oakland County			0	0	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!
Auburn Hills	2387	3299	5686	-912	41.98%	58.02%	-16.04%
Keego Harbor			0	0	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!
Orchard Lake			0	0	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!
Pontiac	1556	10918	12474	-9362	12.47%	87.53%	-75.05%
Sylvan Lake			0	0	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!
Total	3943	14217	18160	-10274	21.71%	78.29%	-56.57%