DETROIT —Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder successfully defeated his Democratic challenger Mark Schauer Tuesday night, in a race the polls suggested was much closer, to take a second term as governor.
“Polls are polls, what matters today is the vote and I feel good about how the vote is going and so I’m optimistic," Snyder told reporters earlier Tuesday.
As of 1 a.m. Wednesday with 92 percent of the precincts reporting, Snyder held 51 percent of the vote to Schauer's 46 percent.
Following his win Tuesday, Snyder thanked the crowd and his family for their support telling them this is no time to stay complacent, but to accelerate.
“The commitment I will make to you tonight and I hope you’ll make to every other Michigander yourself is to say the passion, the fire, the excitement, the conviction to do the reinvention you’ve seen through this Tuesday," he said. "I’m going to have it on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and for the next four years, lets go!”
Snyder, along with his running mate Lt. Gov. Brian Calley celebrated their victory at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, where Republicans held their election-night party.
Attorney General Bill Schuette and Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, both Republicans, also won their re-election bids Tuesday.
