Republican candidates Bill Schuette, Ruth Johnson win Attorney General, Secretary of State respectively

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Republicans have completed a sweep of Michigan’s top three offices with the election of Bill Schuette as Attorney General and Ruth Johnson as Secretary of State.

Schuette, an attorney and previously a judge on Michigan’s 4th District Court of Appeals, defeated his opponent, David Leyton, with a tally of 1,366,382 to 1,090,945 with 78 percent of precincts reporting as of 12:20 a.m. today.

The GOP will also continue to hold the secretary of state position, as Republican Ruth Johnson beat Democrat Jocelyn Benson, a Wayne State University law professor, with the total reaching 1,332,444 to 1,150,360 with 78 percent of precincts reporting at 12:20 a.m.

Schuette will replace term-limited Attorney General Mike Cox and said he is looking forward to making Michigan a safer place as the next Attorney General.

“People are fed up with the failures of the last eight years,” Schuette said. “People want a safer Michigan with less taxes, less spending, less government and more freedom. I’m humbled by the trust that the citizens of Michigan have placed in me. I look forward to the task ahead of us. We have a lot of problems we have to face in the state.”

Graham Filler, a campaign assistant for the Schuette campaign, said Schuette decided to run for Attorney General because he was tired of a lack of leadership in Lansing.

“One of his focuses is to get the state back to improving public safety,” Filler said.

Leyton could not be reached for comment.

Secretary of State

Johnson, Oakland County clerk, will replace term-limited Republican Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land.

Johnson could not be reached for comment.

In a previously reported story, Johnson said her main focus for the office will be improving Secretary of State branch efficiency and improving voting integrity.

“We need to partner with the private sector, just like we’ve done with hunting licenses and fishing licenses,” she said. “We need to be able to cut money from the budget and at the same time provide better services.”

Johnson said she wants to implement an election crimes unit to cut down on fraudulent voting.

“We need to start cutting costs and increasing convenience right away,” she said. “I know that we’re going to have to continue to cut, so it’s important that we do it so convenience is there.”

Benson’s campaign could not be reached for comment.