CQ Risk Rating: Safe Democrat 
| GENERAL ELECTION: NOVEMBER 7, 2000 |
|
| James A. Barcia (D) | 184,048 | 74% |
| Ronald G. Actis (R) | 59,274 | 24% |
| Clint Foster (LIBERT) | 3,070 | 1% |
| Brian D. Ellison (NL) | 1,345 | 1% |
| PRIMARY ELECTION: AUGUST 8, 2000 |
|
| | Votes | Percentage | | Democratic |
| James A. Barcia | 43,120 | 100% |
| | Republican |
| Ronald G. Actis | 26,562 | 100% |
Source: Congressional Quarterly. To suggest updates and corrections: politics.feedback@cq.com
Major Industry | Population | Cities | People | Race | Median Household Income | Unusual Features
MICHIGAN 5
:
East - Saginaw; Bay City
The 5th includes the 220 miles of shoreline along Lake Huron that form
the Michigan Thumb. The district's population is concentrated in Saginaw, a
small manufacturing hub, and Bay City, still a thriving port on Saginaw Bay.
The 5th also takes in some of the working-class suburbs north of Flint.
Although the district's industrial base includes plastics and sugar
refining, the cities depend almost exclusively on General Motors auto parts
plants, making the United Auto Workers union a formidable political force.
Union voters, however, are balanced by rural constituents in the
district's northern counties and far reaches of the Thumb. The 5th has some
of the most productive navy bean and sugar beet fields in the state. Sanilac
County, at the base of the Thumb, leads Michigan in dairy production.
Democrats have a several-point registration lead, but it takes a
conservative Democrat to win the 5th. A heavy presence of auto manufacturers
makes Saginaw a Democratic stronghold. The district's blue-collar voters
lean toward populist stances on economics, and rural voters hold
conservative views on social issues, opposing both abortion and gun control.
As a whole, the 5th supports Democrats in national elections but goes for
Republicans locally.
Major Industry
Auto parts manufacturing, agriculture, sugar processing
Population
580,981 (1990)
Cities
Saginaw, 65,014; Bay City, 36,548 (1996)
People
46% urban, 51% rural; 13% age 65+ (ranks fourth of 16 in state; middle third
nationally); 60% married couples, 28% married couples with children; 11%
college educated (ranks 16 of 16 in state; bottom third nationally); 48%
white collar (ranks 16 of 16 in state; bottom third nationally), 34% blue
collar (ranks second of 16 in state; top third nationally) (1990)
Race
89% white, 8% black, 0% Asian; 3% Hispanic origin (1990)
Median Household Income
$26,312 (ranks 12 of 16 in state; middle third nationally) (1990)
Unusual Features
Famous natives: Stevie Wonder (Saginaw), Madonna (Bay City); Monitor Sugar
Co. in Bay City, largest sugar refinery east of the Mississippi River; Bay
City once known as the "Lumber Capital of the World," with more than 50
lumber mills.
Source: Congressional Quarterly (Updated April 1999)
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District 5
