Voters head to polls to pick Michigan governor

Snyder seeks 4 more years while Schauer seeks change

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan voters are deciding if Republican Gov. Rick Snyder has Michigan on the right path for recovery or if Democrat Mark Schauer can do a better job.

Polls close at 8 p.m. Check here for results.

Tuesday's election is the culmination of a nationally watched, tight race in which the candidates delivered opposing views of the state's economic comeback. They also sparred over a tax overhaul, education funding, Detroit's bankruptcy and other issues.

Complete Coverage: Decision 2014

Snyder casts ballot, says he's proud of record

Snyder, the "tough nerd" governor and former businessman, wants to stay at the helm of what he said is an economic and fiscal recovery in a state that sank deeper than any other during the Great Recession.

The Republican cast his ballot on Tuesday morning in Washtenaw County's Superior Township. He told reporters that his administration had to "reinvent Michigan" and made a lot of tough calls to help make the state a better place.

Snyder is vying for another four years as Michigan's chief executive. He calls Schauer a "professional politician."

Schauer casts ballot, says momentum building

Schauer, a former congressman and state lawmaker, is fighting to reverse Snyder's policies that he said hurt middle-class and blue-collar workers and retirees. He voted Tuesday morning in Battle Creek.

He says momentum is building in his effort to win the governor's race in Michigan. Schauer spoke about his campaign's momentum during a visit to East Lansing. He says the campaign has been "articulating our collective vision for the state for the last year-and-a-half and it is now ours for the taking."

Three third-party candidates also are running.