Tuesday, May 15th was the filing deadline in the State of Michigan. Every two years, members of Michigan Lansing
Of special note was a decision by incumbent Democratic Representative Roy Schmidt, who decided to run as a Republican just before the expiration of the filing deadline. This certainly caused an uproar among House Democrats, whose efforts to take back leadership of the House suffered a huge blow with this defection. The GOP-led redistricting process created 59 seats with a 48 percent republican base or higher. Additionally, Representative Rick Olson (R-York Twp.) declined to seek re-election, as his district was redrawn into one with a leaning Democratic base.
Below, find detailed information concerning this fall’s most competitive races:
INCUMBENT GOP PRIMARIES:
84th: Rep. Kurt Damrow (R-Austin) squares off against Tuscola County Register of Deeds Dan Grimshaw and Sami Khoury, who has served on the Sebawing Village
86th: Rep. Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R-Alto) has two primary opponents – Public School Teacher Thomas DeVault and first-timer Ethan Frasier.
104th: Rep. Wayne Schmidt (R-Traverse City
INCUMBENT DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES:
2nd: Redistricting forced Rep. Tim Bledsoe (D-Grosse Pointe) and Rep. Alberta Tinsley-Talabi (D-Detroit) into the same district. They’ll square off in a primary race against process improvement consultant Anthony Zander and paralegal Harry Scott.
3rd: Incumbents Rep. Jimmy Womack (D-Detroit) and Rep. John Olumba (D-Detroit) will face off against newcomer Christopher Owens in this 3rd District battle.
Incumbent Representative Lisa Howze (D-Detroit), whose district was also rolled into the new 3rd District, decided not to seek re-election and plans to run for mayor of Detroit
5th: Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Rep. Fred Durhal Jr. (D-Detroit) is in a crowded primary against UAW member Renard Berry
6th: Incumbent Representatives Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) and Rep. Maureen Stapleton (D-Detroit) will square off against Democrat Patrick O'Connell.
28th: This southern Macomb
7th: Rep. Thomas Stallworth (D-Detroit) is seeking re-election from this district, but faces a challenge for the Democratic nomination from Jeanette Williams of Detroit
10th: Rep. Philip Cavanagh (D-Redford Township ) will have to fight off three Democrats for their party's nomination: Leslie Love and David McNeal of Detroit and Jerry Thomas of Redford Township
INCUMBENT COMPETITIVE SEATS:
21st: Incumbent Rep. Dian Slavens (D-Canton Township ) drew a primary against Kiz Ahamiojie of Belleville
23rd: The 23rd District holds the distinction of being a strongly leaning Democratic district held by a Republican. Consequently, Incumbent Rep. Patrick Somerville (R-New Boston) will face a targeted attack by House Dems, who badly want to return this district to the D column. Their hopes lie in former Trenton Mayor Tom Boritzki. But first, Rep. Somerville will have to get past Wayne County Deputy Sheriff Jeremy Cady for the right to run as the GOP nominee.
24th: Rep. Anthony Forlini (R-Harrison Township
32nd: Rep. Andrea LaFontaine (R-Richmond) fielded a tough primary race against newcomer Michael Shmina. The winner will face off against Democrat Sheri Smith, who works for Sanilac ISD.
50th: Incumbent Rep. Charles Smiley (D-Burton) will have a tough re-election bid against Republican and Genesee County Commissioner Miles Gadola.
51st: Newly-elected incumbent Rep. Joseph Graves (R-Linden) will be challenged by perennial candidate and GM retiree John Lauve. House Dems are pinning their hopes of stealing this competitive seat on the winner between Democrats Steven Losey and Ryan Starski.
52nd: Rep. Mark Ouimet (R-Scio Township
56th: Incumbent Rep. Dale Zorn (R-Ida) will be challenged by either Retired Wayne County Sheriff's Lieutenant Larry Crider or Dundee resident Joe Astro in the general election.
57th: Incumbent Rep. Nancy Jenkins (R-Clayton) will face a strong challenge in this targeted district. Democrats are eagerly awaiting a fall contest between Mrs. Jenkins and political heavyweights Former Sen. Jim Berryman or Former Tecumseh Mayor Harvey Schmidt, who’ll square off in the Democratic primary.
62nd: Minority Floor Leader Kate Segal (D-Battle Creek) will face a tough challenge from former Battle Creek Mayor and current City Commissioner Mark Behnke.
64th: Democrats Barb Shelton and Rueben Marquez II will square off for the opportunity to face incumbent Rep. Earl Poleski (R-Jackson) in November.
65th: Rep. Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake) is being challenged by Columbia School District Treasurer Dan Fulara in the GOP Primary. If successful, he’ll face a November challenge from Democratic primary winner between retired corrections officer Bonnie Johnson or U.S. Army Veteran Steve Grace.
70th: Rep. Rick Outman (R-Six Lakes
76th: Former Democrat Rep. Roy Schmidt (see above) is running unopposed as a Republican. Democrats intend on fielding a write-in candidate to face Schmidt.
91st: Rep. Holly Hughes (R-White River Township
97th: Rep. Joel Johnson (R-Clare) will square off against Democrat Chris Breznau in the November General Election.
99th: Incumbent Rep. Kevin Cotter (R-Mount Pleasant) will be pitted against recent Central Michigan University
101st: Two Democrats will vie for the right to challenge incumbent Rep. Ray Franz (R-Onekama). Derek Bailey, the Grand Traverse Band tribal chairman, will face former Marilla Township Supervisor Allen O'Shea.
103rd: Incumbent Rep. Bruce Rendon (R-Lake City
106th: Incumbent Rep. Peter Pettalia (R-Presque Isle) will face the winner of the Democratic primary between Nicholas Hein of Posen and Kenneth Hubbard of Alpena.
108th: Sharon Gray, a CPA and political neophyte, will challenge Incumbent Rep. Ed McBroom's (R-Vulcan) for this northern Michigan
110th: Rep. Matt Huuki (R-Atlantic Mine) will face off against Democrat and former Calumet Village President Scott Dianda, and Democrat William Lucius.