Lt. Governor Brian Calley announced a special primary for September 5
and a special general election for November 6 to fill the remainder of former
U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter’s term. Mr.
McCotter abruptly resigned his seat last week in the wake of last month’s
petition fraud scandal, which eliminated him from the ballot.
Republicans Nancy Cassis and Kerry Bentivolio have announced they will
be running in the special election setting the stage for them to battle twice
for the Republican nomination, once in August for the full term beginning in
2013 and in September to fill the remainder of the current term.
The timing of the resignation puts local governments and the state on
the hook for the $650,000 cost of holding a special election primary when no other
elections are being held. If Mr.
McCotter had resigned sooner, the special election primary could have been
scheduled for the same date as the regular primary, August 7, which would have
had little or no extra expense.
A spokesperson for Governor Rick Snyder said he would be willing to consider any efforts by the
Legislature to have the state pay for the $650,000 cost of holding the special
election resulting from Mr. McCotter's resignation. Oakland County Clerk Bill
Bullard has urged the state to cover the cost instead of the local governments
having to pick up the tab.