Jennifer Haase

Background

Jennifer Haase was born on December 20, 1974, in Detroit, Michigan.

Education

She graduated from Eisenhower High School, in Shelby Township, Michigan in 1993. She graduated from Alma College in Alma, Michigan with a Bachelor in Elementary Education in 1997.

Career

A Democrat, she was elected to the Michigan State House of Representatives in 2008, representing the normally Republican leaning 32nd State House District, which includes portions of North and East Macomb County and four rural townships in Saint Clair County. Prior to her election, Haase worked as an elementary school teacher in Richmond. In 2007, Haase received her Masters of Education, Reading and Language Arts from Oakland University.

Haase worked as an elementary school teacher from 1998 to her election in 2008.

In March 2008, Jennifer Haase filed to run for the 32nd State House District of Michigan. The seat was being vacated by Republican incumbent Daniel J. Acciavatti, who was barred from running for re-election due to term limits.

Haase was unopposed in the Democratic Primary, while the Republican Primary featured four candidates. The 32nd District is divided between exurban Macomb County and rural Saint Clair County.

lieutenant includes the Macomb County municipalities of Armada, Chesterfield, Lenox, and Richmond Townships, as well as the cities of Richmond, Memphis and New Baltimore.

In Saint Clair County, the 32nd encompasses Columbus, Ira, Kimball, and Wales Townships. The 32nd was historically safe Republican territory, but the strongly Democratic national environment made the race between Haase and Accavitti competitive. On election day, Haase defeated Accavitti in what was considered an upset.

The 32nd District was one of nine seats that Democrats picked up from Republicans in the 2008 election, bringing their margin in the State House to 66-44.

Haase took office on January 1, 2009, and she sat on the Agriculture, Health Policy, Education, and Ethics and Elections Committees. Haase lost her re-election bid in 2010 to Republican Andrea LaFontaine.

2008 campaign for State House

Jennifer Haase (Doctorate), 50.4%

John Accavitti (R), 46.9%

2010 campaign for State House

Andrea LaFontaine (R), 16,101 votes

Jennifer Haase (Doctorate), 14,354 votes.

Achievements

• Republican John Accavitti won the Republican Primary and would face Haase in the General Election. She won by a 50.4%-46.9% margin. Democrat Barack Obama won the District over Republican John McCain by a narrow 49.5%-48.6% margin.