MICHIGAN—Michigan’s 10th Congressional District is one of the most closely watched races in the country this year and one of a handful that could decide which party runs the US House.
Here’s what voters need to know ahead of Election Day:
The race
The seat is open for the first time since the district was redrawn in 2022. Republican US Rep. John James is not seeking re-election here because he is running for governor instead.
Democrat Christina Hines won a three-way primary on Aug. 4 with about 47% of the vote, defeating former Commerce Department attorney Eric Chung and former Pontiac Mayor Tim Greimel. Republican Michael Bouchard won his primary election with about 72% of the vote.
The general election is Nov. 3.
The district
The 10th Congressional District covers southern Macomb County—including Warren, Sterling Heights, Clinton Township, Roseville, St. Clair Shores, Eastpointe, Mount Clemens, Shelby Township, Fraser, Center Line, Utica, and Harrison Township—plus Rochester and Rochester Hills in Oakland County. The district is home to roughly 800,000 people.
The Cook Political Report rates this district as “leaning Republican” but history shows why both parties are focused on this race. In 2022, James won this seat by 1,600 votes—less than half a percentage point—over Democrat Carl Marlinga. In a 2024 rematch, James beat Marlinga again by about six points. Open seats are harder to predict, and this is the first one here in four years.
Christina Hines (D)
Hines is a Macomb County native and former prosecutor. She grew up in Warren Woods Public Schools, attended the University of Michigan, and got her law degree at Wayne State University.
She started her legal career at the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office in 2014, handling homicides, robberies, torture, and domestic violence cases. In 2021, she became chief of the Special Victims Unit and Appeals in the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office, where she led a cold-case sexual assault initiative and launched a restorative justice diversion program.
She ran for Macomb County prosecutor in 2024 and lost to incumbent Pete Lucido.
Her platform rests on three pillars: lowering costs, protecting families, and fighting corruption.
She has called for federal action against grocery price gouging and “surveillance pricing,” a higher federal minimum wage, expanded paid family leave, and protections for Social Security. She has also pledged to protect and expand the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Hines does not accept corporate PAC money, backs a ban on members of Congress trading individual stocks, and has signed the Political Integrity Project’s anti-corruption pledge alongside other Democratic candidates like Abdul El-Sayed, William Lawrence, and Donavan McKinney.
Her endorsements include a wide range of elected officials—including mayors, county commissioners, township trustees, and members of both the state House and Senate.
Hines is also backed by End Citizens United, Giffords PAC, the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit News, Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham, and several local labor unions. She’s also endorsed by EMILY’s List, which backs Democratic women who support abortion rights.
Michael Bouchard (R)
Bouchard is a US Army captain and the son of Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard.
A graduate of Michigan State University’s ROTC program, he served nearly a decade in uniform with the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, including missions to the southern border and a nine-month deployment to Iraq. He was chief operations officer for a 1,200-soldier battalion in the National Guard and earned a Bronze Star for his work on a joint task force against ISIS.
He returned from Iraq in October 2025 and launched his campaign about two weeks later—mostly on three specific themes: the economy, immigration and security, and education.
On the economy, Bouchard has said that he supports President Donald Trump’s policies and also wants to cut regulations on businesses. On immigration, he wants to finish the border wall, restore the “Remain in Mexico” policy, end catch-and-release, and deport immigrants who commit crimes. On education, he has said that schools should return to teaching “the basics.”
Beyond his three campaign themes, however, Bouchard’s website offers little specific policy detail—including no clear positions on healthcare, Social Security, Medicare, or data centers.
Still, Bouchard’s campaign has consolidated Republican support at every level. Trump endorsed him, as did House Speaker Mike Johnson, former Gov. John Engler, former US Sen. Spencer Abraham, and former Attorney General Bill Schuette. His local endorsers include Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido—the same official who defeated Hines in 2024—along with state Rep. Mark Tisdel, state Sen. Michael Webber, and Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett.
Groups backing him include the state Chamber of Commerce, the Police Officers Association of Michigan, and Turning Point Action. Bouchard is also endorsed by Right to Life of Michigan, which only backs candidates who support abortion bans with no exceptions for rape or incest.
What’s at stake?
Republicans control the US House by a handful of seats. A shift of just a few districts flips the chamber—and with it, control of what legislation reaches the floor, which nominees get confirmed, and whether Congress takes action to investigate the executive branch.
The 10th Congressional District is one of the few seats that could make that difference.
READ MORE: Three-term incumbent faces US Army veteran in Michigan’s 55th District
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