Farmington, Farmington Hills Voter Turnout Doesn't Reach 2008 Mark

Farmington and Farmington Hills residents came out to vote in droves for the 2012 general elections, but in numbers not quite as high as 2008. 

Voter turnout in Farmington was a healthy 76.3 percent, a little more than 3 points below the 2008 turnout of nearly 80 percent. In Farmington Hills, turnout this year was 74.21 percent, just slightly under the 74.5 percent recorded in 2008. 

Farmington voters chose President Barack Obama over Republican challenger Mitt Romney by a 15-point margin, 57 percent to 42 percent. The margin was even larger in Farmington Hills, where nearly 60 percent voted to re-elect the President. 

Both communities were also solidly behind re-elected U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow by 60-63 percent, helping to cement her win over Republican challenger Pete Hoekstra. Farmington Hills residents gave Democratic Congressman Gary Peters a whopping 64-33 margin over Republican John Hauler in his successful re-election bid. 

Despite Kerry Bentivolio's overall victory and nearly 10-point margin among all Oakland County voting precincts, Farmington residents supported Democratic challenger Dr. Syed Taj by a 15-point margin in the 11th Congressional District race.

Incumbent State Rep. Vicki Barnett recorded solid wins in both Farmington and Farmington Hills, although her margin of victory was smaller in Farmington (58-42) than in Farmington Hills (61-37). Republican challenger Bruce Lilley is a long-time Farmington resident. 

About 57 percent of Farmington Democratic voters picked a straight party ticket, as opposed to 42 percent of Republicans. Farmington voters favored Republicans County Executive L. Brooks Patterson and County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, but in races like Wayne County Board of Governors and State Board of Education, they gave Democrats the nod. 

Both Patterson and Bouchard found greater margins of support in Farmington than in Farmington Hills. Farmington Hills voters supported new County Water Resource Commissioner Jim Nash, a Farmington Hills resident and 15th District County Commissioner, at a slightly higher rate (56-43) than Farmington voters (54-45). 

Farmington Hills gave West Bloomfield Democratic State Rep. Lisa Brown a wide margin (59-41) in her successful bid to oust Republican County Clerk Bill Bullard. That's eight points more than the support Brown got in Farmington (55-45). 

More detailed election results are available at oakgov.com.