Michigan's 7th district, which includes the birthplace of the Republican Party, will be a fiercely contested district with national implications come November.
The 7th encompasses south central Michigan. Jackson County, which has been hard hit by the recent economic downturn, is where a group of anti-slavery agitators met and created the Republican Party in 1854. Also in the 7th is Battle Creek, the home base of Kellogg's Cereal. Conservative Hillsdale College is also here.
South central Michigan voted heavily Republican from the Civil War through the New Deal and well into the late 20th century. However, around the 1970s, the area shifted slightly toward the Democrats as the national Republican party grew increasingly southern-oriented. However, the undercurrents of historical conservatism have mostly kept the district in the GOP column. George W. Bush carried this area twice, but Barack Obama won the 7th 52%-47% in 2008.
The 7th has elected four different congressmen in the last 4 elections. In 2006, moderate Republican Representative Joe Schwarz was defeated in the GOP primary by conservative Tim Walberg. Democrats, thinking Schwarz would be the nominee, nominated a weak candidate and Walberg managed a narrow victory in a tough year for Republicans.
In 2008, Democrats vowed to target Walberg, who they believed was too conservative for this district. Democrats lined up behind State Senate Majority Leader Mark Schauer. Schauer, who had first been elected to the Michigan legislature in 1996, campaigned as a moderate, stressing the importance of his family and faith. Schauer outraised Walberg and won the backing of influential moderates, including Schwarz. The end result was a 49%-46% Schauer victory.
During his first term, Schauer has been a strong supporter of most of the Obama agenda. He cast votes in favor of the health care reform bill, cap and trade, and the Obama stimulus proposal. Schauer was a strong backer of the automobile industry bailout.
Schauer's small winning percentage, his lack of tenure, the closely-divided nature of the 7th district, and a political environment favoring the GOP have made Schauer one of the most vulnerable House incumbents in 2010.
Three Republicans filed to run for the right to take on Schauer in November. The campaign developed into a battle between two candidates, Walberg and Brian Rooney, an Iraq War Veteran. Rooney is the grandson of famous Pittsburgh Steelers' owner Art Rooney. Rooney received the endorsement of Schwarz even though he campaigned as a constitutional conservative. In the end, however, Walberg had the name recognition and money to sail to an easy victory in the August primary. In perhaps a dangerous sign for Schauer, over 65,000 votes were cast in the Republican primary while less than 25,000 Democratic ballots were cast.
Walberg, a former pastor and state legislator, has been boosted in all his campaigns by the Club for Growth, a national anti-tax organization. Walberg is a champion of many conservative causes including protecting the unborn, gun owner rights, and smaller government.
The Walberg-Schauer rematch is certainly a race to watch on election night. Schauer, like most incumbents, will enjoy a cash advantage in the campaign. However, outside spending by conservative groups should cut into that advantage. With the political atmosphere for Michigan Democrats becoming poisonous (the Republican candidate for governor is enjoying huge leads in the polls), Schauer faces an uphill battle. Two August polls showed Walberg with an 8-10% lead over the incumbent. At present, this looks like a good GOP pick-up opportunity.
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