Outsiders win open US House primaries in Michigan
(AP) — Republican voters backed conservative outsiders to advance in Michigan's open U.S. House primaries, delivering a surprise victory in the north and validating a wealthy businessman's second try for Congress.
Little-known retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Jack Bergman won the GOP contest over two politically experienced candidates in northern Michigan.
In the Thumb, victorious retired vocational school company CEO Paul Mitchell, a Republican, will be favored in the fall general election over former Democratic state Rep. Frank Accavitti Jr.
Outside of Bergman, the candidates vying to succeed third-term GOP Rep. Dan Benishek were familiar to voters in the toss-up 1st Congressional District that includes the entire Upper Peninsula and the northern section of the Lower Peninsula.
Johnson said voters are "tired" of trade deals that lead to job outsourcing and want Social Security protected from privatization.
Former "Little House on the Prairie" star Melissa Gilbert, the lone Democrat to challenge freshman Republican Rep. Mike Bishop in the GOP-leaning 8th Congressional District, left the race while citing health reasons.
State election officials next will weigh Democrats' plan to replace Gilbert with Macomb County assistant prosecuting attorney Suzanna Shkreli.
Forty-two of the 110 seats in the Michigan House are open because of term limits, a departure and the recent death of a lawmaker.
Because of gerrymandered districts, many primary voters essentially elected their next representative Tuesday.