Gary McDowell represented the 107th District in the Michigan State House of Representatives

Michigan State House of Representatives

The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2000 federal U.S. Census.Members are elected in...

 from January 2005 until January 2011, and was the 2010 Democratic

Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

 nominee for .

Early life and education

McDowell was born on a farm in Rudyard, Michigan as the oldest of ten children in 1952. He graduated from Rudyard High School in 1970 and attended Lake Superior State University

Lake Superior State University

Lake Superior State University is a small public university in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. It is Michigan's smallest public university with an enrollment around 3,000 students. Due to its proximity to the border, notably the twin city of Sault Ste...

.

Early political career

McDowell was elected to the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners in 1981. He served there until 2002 and became the chairman in 1998. He also served on the Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation Board from 1987 until 2004.

Michigan House of Representatives

McDowell was first elected in 2004 to represent the 107th District, which includes Chippewa County

Chippewa County, Michigan

-National protected areas:* Harbor Island National Wildlife Refuge* Hiawatha National Forest * Whitefish Point Unit of the Seney National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:...

, Mackinac County

Mackinac County, Michigan

-Local Airports:*Mackinac County Airport *Mackinac Island Airport -Airline service:The nearest airports with scheduled passenger service are:*Chippewa County International Airport in Sault Ste...

, Emmet County

Emmet County, Michigan

Emmet County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the population was 31,437. The county seat is Petoskey.The county was formed April 1, 1840, from Mackinac County. It was first named Tonedagana County and renamed Emmet County on March 8, 1843...

, and part of Cheboygan County

Cheboygan County, Michigan

-Commercial Airline:There are no commercial airline airports in Cheboygan County but the nearest ones are Alpena County Regional Airport, Chippewa County International Airport , and Cherry Capital Airport...

. In May 2010, he sponsored a bill to designate Michigan's official state nickname the "Great Lakes State."

2010 U.S. Congressional campaign

McDowell faced Republican nominee Dan Benishek

Dan Benishek

Daniel Joseph Benishek is an American physician and politician currently serving as the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education, and medical career:...

, Independent Glenn Wilson, Libertarian

Libertarian Party (United States)

The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...

 Keith Shelton, Green

Green Party (United States)

The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...

 Ellis Boal, and UST

Constitution Party (United States)

The Constitution Party is a paleoconservative political party in the United States. It was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party by Howard Philips in 1991. Phillips was the party's candidate in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 presidential elections...

 Patrick Lambert in the general election. Democratic incumbent Bart Stupak

Bart Stupak

Bartholomew Thomas "Bart" Stupak is a lobbyist and American politician of the Democratic Party. He served as the U.S. Representative from from 1993 to 2011....

 had announced his retirement, leaving this an open seat. McDowell was endorsed by Michigan's largest newspaper, the Detroit Free Press

Detroit Free Press

The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...

. However, Benishek won the election with 52% of the vote to 41% for McDowell.

2012 U.S Congressional campaign

On September 15, 2011, McDowell announced his intent to run against Republican incumbent Dan Benishek

Dan Benishek

Daniel Joseph Benishek is an American physician and politician currently serving as the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education, and medical career:...

 in the 2012 election cycle.

Personal life

McDowell lives in Rudyard with his wife Carrie. They have three daughters, Alivia, Emily, and Rochelle. He is a member of the Rudyard First United Presbyterian Church.

External links

• State Representative Gary McDowell at Michigan House Democrats
• Gary McDowell for Congress official campaign site
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org