With just 11 percent of all votes counted, the Detroit Free Press has called the Michigan gubernatorial race for the incumbent.

Republican Gov. Rick Snyder led Democratic challenger Mark Schauer by about 70,000 votes with 56 percent of the total with 545 of Michigan's 4,877 precincts reporting, prompting the Free Press to project Snyder the winner.

Snyder, 56, made his mark with the computer company Gateway, where he served as executive vice president beginning in 1991. He was president and COO of Gateway from '96 to '97 and remained on its board of directors until 2007, including a two-year run as chairman beginning in 2005.

Snyder also was chairman, CEO and co-founder of Ann Arbor-based venture capital firm Adresta LLC prior to being elected Michigan's 48th governor.

Snyder handily defeated Democratic opponent Virg Bernero, the mayor of Lansing, in the 2010 election. His term in office has been criticized by Democrats and detractors for his implementation of stronger powers for local government emergency managers, his backing of the controversial Right To Work legislation in 2012 and enacting taxes on retiree pensions. Republicans and supporters have lauded Snyder's repeal of the Michigan Business Tax and point to improved employment numbers as evidence of the state's comeback, as Snyder himself often mentions.

Mark Schauer (courtesy photo)
Mark Schauer (courtesy photo)
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Schauer, 53, served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1998 to 2002 and the Michigan Senate from 2003 to 2009, where he was Senate Minority Leader from 2007 to 2009. He represented the Battle Creek area in each chamber.

Schauer was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008, narrowly defeating Republican incumbent Tim Walberg to represent Michigan's 7th District, which at the time consisted of the entireties of Branch, Eaton, Hillsdale, Jackson and Lenawee counties and portions of Calhoun and Washtenaw counties. Walberg oustered Schauer in a rematch for the seat in 2010.

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