Gretchen Driskell


Gretchen Demarest Driskell is an American politician, accountant, and real estate agent from the state of Michigan. A member of the Democratic Party, she served in the Michigan House of Representatives, representing the 52nd district. Prior to her time in the Michigan Legislature, she was the first female mayor of Saline, Michigan, a position which she held for fourteen years.

Michigan House of Representatives

Elections

Driskell challenged Republican incumbent Mark Ouimet for the 52nd House district in 2012. She defeated Ouimet receiving 26,646 votes, while Ouimet received 23,609 votes. Driskell defeated Republican John Hochstetler for re-election receiving 20,849 to Hochstetler's 16,265 in 2014.

U.S. House of Representatives elections

2016

In February 2015 Driskell announced that she would be challenging Republican incumbent Tim Walberg for Michigan's 7th congressional district in 2016. In a poll conducted by Inside Michigan Politics/Revsix/Change Media in March 2015, Driskell led Walberg 42%-37% with 21% undecided. In a poll conducted by Harper Polling in September 2015, Walberg led Driskell by 49%-32% with 20% undecided. Driskell was endorsed by former Republican governor William Milliken, who also endorsed Hillary Clinton.
In the general election, Driskell was defeated by incumbent Republican Representative Tim Walberg, who received 55% of the vote to Driskell's 40%.

2018

In December 2017, Driskell announced her intent to run against Walberg again in the 2018 election. She faced a challenge in the Democratic primary from Steve Friday, a progressive grassroots activist from Dexter. Driskell won the nomination easily. She would lose again this time by 54% to 46%.