Primary Contests for 109th House and 38th Senate; 10 Republicans Running for Governor

The ballot for Michigan’s Republican gubernatorial nomination in the August primary will be a crowded one.

Ten GOP contenders filed signatures before the deadline yesterday afternoon. The highest-profile hopefuls include former Detroit Police Chief James Craig, self-titled “quality guru” Perry Johnson, Oakland County businessman Kevin Rinke, Kalamazoo chiropractor Garrett Soldano and conservative former television host Tudor Dixon from Muskegon.

Other contenders include Byron Center businesswoman Donna Brandenburg, Michigan State Police Captain Mike Brown of Stevensville, Ottawa County real estate agent Ryan Kelley, Grand Haven financial adviser Michael Markey, and Farmington Hills pastor Ralph Rebandt.

Several others who were hoping to get on the ballot failed to submit petitions, including Lansing businessman Evan Space, Livingston County preacher Bob Scott, and Barry County’s Justin Giroux.

The petitions, and the signatures on them, must be verified before the candidacies can be confirmed. Challenges by competing candidates must be filed by next Tuesday. 

The state Republican endorsement convention will be held this weekend. As with the recent Democratic party gathering, no actual nominations will result. Ultimately, the party’s candidates for governor and state house and senate will be selected by voters in the August primary. The official nominees for Secretary of State, Attorney General and other statewide offices for both parties will be picked at their conventions this fall. 

In the August primary…
• 38th District Republican state senator Ed McBroom faces two challengers – Matthew Furyk of Chocolay Township, and Kayla Wikstrom of Perkins. John Braamse of Marquette is the only Democrat on the ballot.
• In the 110th State House District, incumbent Republican Greg Markkanen and Democrat Casey Verberkmoes of Hubbell are running unopposed.
• In the 109th State House District, which now includes Baraga County, incumbent Democrat Sara Cambensy is term-limited. Forsyth Township Supervisor Joe Boogren and Marquette City Commissioner Jenn Hill are competing in the Democratic primary. Melody Wagner of Forsythe Township and Ron Gray of Sands Township are on the Republican primary ballot.
• In the 1st U.S. Congressional District, incumbent Republican Jack Bergman is unopposed in the Republican primary. Physician Robert Lorinser from Marquette is the sole challenger in the Democratic primary.