Michigan residents also expressed their opinions on the selection of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate.
Winners have been announced in various primaries throughout Michigan, a crucial state in the upcoming presidential election.
Some significant outcomes have emerged from U.S. House districts that are expected to be competitive in the November elections.
Michigan’s Seventh Congressional District, currently represented by Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin, falls into this category. This closely contested district includes Lansing, the state’s capital, and extends eastward to the outer suburbs of Detroit.
Slotkin is running for the Senate seat currently held by outgoing Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow.
The House race in this district features two unopposed candidates, Republican hopeful Tom Barrett and Democrat hopeful Curtis Hertel, both of whom have previously served as state senators.
The Eighth District saw a larger pool of candidates from both the Democratic and Republican parties. Incumbent Democrat Rep. Dan Kildee is retiring.
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In the Democratic Party’s primary, State Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet emerged victorious in a competitive race against former Flint Mayor Matt Collier and Pamela Pugh, the president of the Michigan Board of Education. Rivet secured 53.4 percent of the vote with 85 percent of precincts reporting.
On the Republican side, Paul Junge, a former Trump administration official who previously ran against Kildee in the general election, won the primary. He defeated Mary Draves, a retired executive from Dow Chemical Company, and truck driver Anthony Hudson.
With 87 percent of precincts reporting, Junge led with 74.8 percent of the vote, while Draves had 15.1 percent and Hudson had 10.1 percent.
In Michigan’s Third District, freshman Democratic Representative Hillary Scholten successfully defended her seat against a primary challenge from entrepreneur Salim Al-Shatel. This race was part of a trend where Arab American candidates in Michigan sought to challenge incumbent Democrats perceived as pro-Israel in light of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Associated Press called the race just before 10 p.m.
Further north, in the 10th District, freshman Republican Representative John James ran unopposed in the primary.
The Democratic primary in this district featured four candidates, including Carl Marlinga, who previously ran against James, financial planner Diane Young, gun safety activist Emily Busch, and Tiffany Tilley, a member of the Michigan Board of Education.
With 71 percent of precincts reporting, Marlinga led with 48.2 percent of the vote, followed by Young, Tilley, and Busch.
In the less competitive 11th District, Democratic Representative Haley Stevens was declared the winner of her party’s primary shortly after polls closed.
She defeated health care management professional Ahmed Ghanim, another Arab American candidate who challenged a pro-Israel Democrat.
With over 95 percent of precincts reporting, Stevens secured 87.1 percent of the vote, compared to 12.9 percent for Ghanim.
In the Republican primary for this district, lawyer Nick Somberg emerged victorious over fellow lawyer Charles Frangie. The Associated Press called this race by 8:29 p.m.
Michigan Residents Share Views on 2024 Election and Walz Selection
Earlier in the day, Michigan residents expressed their thoughts on the 2024 presidential race outside polling locations.
Thomas Wright, a Democratic voter in Vicksburg, told The Epoch Times that he believed Vice President Kamala Harris’ selection through a virtual nominating roll call was conducted properly.
“I think many Democratic voters are accepting of this,” he said.
Wright spoke positively about Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, although he admitted to knowing little about Walz, who was chosen over Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and other candidates on Harris’ shortlist.
“I’ve heard he’s a good communicator,” Wright remarked.
Outside the Parks & Recreation Department building in Portage, Republican voter Vern Middleton had a different perspective. He believed that Walz, being from Minnesota, was too liberal to resonate with Michigan voters.
“Of course, Kalamazoo County is pretty liberal too,” Middleton added, referring to the county where he was casting his vote.
Democratic voter Brian Rucker in Vicksburg expressed his support for both Walz and Shapiro.
Shelby Meyer, a Republican voter in the primary, stated that Harris’ selection of Walz solidified her decision to vote against Harris in November.
She cited Walz’s handling of the 2020 riots and protests in Minnesota as a key factor in her decision.
Meyer, who has a military background and had a son who was a law enforcement officer in Kalamazoo, explained her reservations about Walz’s candidacy.
He passed away from leukemia when he was 32 years old.
“I have strong faith, and I don’t put my trust in politicians,” she stated, displaying the golden cross hanging from her neck.
