2010Flipped from DemocraticFinal results
2010 election for Michigan's 1st District
U.S. House · Michigan
Dan Benishek (R) won with 51.9% of the vote, defeating Gary McDowell (D) by 11.1 points, a seat Democrats won last time.
Dan BenishekRepublican · winner
51.9%120,523
Gary McDowellDemocrat
40.9%94,824
Glenn A. WilsonIndependent
3.4%7,847
Patrick LambertConstitution
1.8%4,200
Keith SheltonLibertarian
1.1%2,571
Ellis BoalGreen
0.9%2,072
232,037 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 2010
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Gary McDowellDan Benishek
$838.2K
Raised by the campaign
$1.4M
$838.2K
Spent by the campaign
$1.4M
$48
Cash on hand
$35.7K
Other candidates' campaigns: Glenn A. Wilson $124.8K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 2010.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 2010
The candidates
Dan Benishek (R)Gary McDowell (D)
Also on the ballot: Glenn A. Wilson (Independent), 3.4%; Patrick Lambert (Constitution), 1.8%; Keith Shelton (Libertarian), 1.1%; Ellis Boal (Green), 0.9%