The Winner

If you live in Michigan’s 5th Congressional District, Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) will represent you for a 10th term. Walberg defeated Democrat Christian Vukasovich, a college professor and union organizer, after the Associated Presscalled the race late Tuesday, Nov. 3. ​

Walberg won about 59% of the vote to Vukasovich’s 39%, according to the Michigan Secretary of State’s unofficial results, a margin of about 20 points. Three minor party candidates split the rest. The results stay unofficial until Michigan certifies them.

The Race

Walberg is a Tipton Republican who was first elected to Congress in 2006. Vukasovich was running for office for the first time and ran unopposed in the Aug. 4 Democratic primary, according to Ballotpedia’s race results. Walberg’s share fell from 2024, when he won 65.7% against Democrat Libbi Urban.

Christian Vukasovich campaigned on pre-K for every family and tuition-free community college and trade school. Cook Political Report and Inside Elections rated the race Solid Republican, and Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated it Safe Republican.

The district stretches across southern Michigan from Lake Michigan to Lake Erie. It takes in all of Branch, Cass, Hillsdale, Jackson, Lenawee and St. Joseph counties, most of Monroe and Calhoun counties, southern Berrien County and far southern Kalamazoo County, according to the Michigan Advance voter guide.

About 773,700 people live there, the median age is about 42 and the typical household earns about $70,600 a year. About 24% of adults hold at least a bachelor’s degree, and residents are about 86% white, 6% Hispanic, 4% Black and 1% Asian. The unemployment rate is about 5.2%, and about 12% of residents live below the poverty line.

What’s Next

Walberg’s 10th term begins Jan. 3, 2027, when Democrats take control of the House. Walberg chairs the House Education and the Workforce Committee, and committee chairs come from the majority party, so he will no longer lead the panel when Democrats take over.

Walberg said he looks forward to “continuing to fight to put more money back in the pockets of hardworking Michiganders and make life more affordable for families across our district,” WLNS reported.

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