Rick Snyder - Michigan Gubernatorial Election

Michigan Gubernatorial Election

Further information: Michigan gubernatorial election, 2010

Snyder joined Mike Bouchard, the sheriff of Oakland County, state Senator Tom George, Peter Hoekstra, an influential member of Congress from western Michigan, and Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox as candidates for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. Bill Ford Jr., Chairman of the Ford Motor Company, endorsed Snyder for the Republican nomination for governor.

In his first gubernatorial election in 2010, Snyder campaigned as "pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, pro-family," with a focus on the economy. Snyder's campaign emphasized his experience in growing business and creating jobs in the private sector, saying that his opponents were mainly career politicians. Snyder favors the standard exceptions on abortion for rape, incest, and saving the life of the mother (he signed legislation banning partial birth abortion in October 2011); he opposes federal funding of abortions; he would not ban embryonic stem cell research; he supports upholding traditional marriage, but would allow civil unions.

On August 3, 2010, Snyder won the primary to secure the Republican nomination with a plurality of 36 percent. In the general election on November 2, 2010, Snyder faced Democratic gubernatorial nominee Virg Bernero, the mayor of Lansing, and three minor party candidates. In October 2010, Snyder's campaign total exceeded $11.6 million, outpacing his opponent. Snyder released his tax returns for 2007 and 2008. Snyder, demonstrating crossover appeal, won with 58 percent of the vote. With Snyder's election in 2010, Republicans gained a majority in the Michigan House and increased the Republican majority held in the Michigan Senate. Snyder is the first Certified Public Accountant (CPA) to be elected governor of the state and the only CPA serving as a governor in the United States.