There is plenty to be decided tomorrow at the ballot box. Along with state races for governor and the U.S. Senate primary, Berrien County voters are choosing candidates for the state House, state Senate, and county commission along with the Democratic race for Congress. In the races for state House in the 79th District, five Republicans and two Democrats are running. The Republicans are Joann DeMeulenaere, Bruce Gorenflo, Maria Moen, Troy Rolling and Pauline Wendzel. On the Democratic side, Joey Andrews faces Marletta Seats. The seat is currently held by Representative Kim LaSata, who is trying to make the jump to the state Senate after less than one term in the House. She faces fellow state Representative Dave Pagel in the Republican primary in the 21st District. Southern Berrien County voters have six Republicans to choose from in the primary to succeed Pagel, who is term limited. They are Steve Bury, Dana Daniels, Daniel Hinkle, David Mann, Brad Paquette and Kelly Priede. Only one Democrat in the race, so Dean Hill will be on the ballot in November.
Three Republicans are looking for your vote in the 26th state Senate District, which includes Van Buren, Allegan, Kalamazoo and part of Kent County. Bob Genetski, Aric Nesbitt and Don Wickstra are all on the ballot in the race today, with Garnet Lewis being the only Democrat on the ballot. They are seeking the office currently held by Senator Tonya Schuitmaker, who cannot run again due to term limits. She is seeking the Republican nomination for attorney general, which will be decided later this summer at the party convention. Schuitmaker faces state House Speaker Tom Leonard in that contest. The state House race in Van Buren County is uncontested on both side, with incumbent Republican Representative Beth Griffin set to face Democrat Dan Seibert in November.
There are nine candidates for governor seeking your vote for their party’s nomination in tomorrow’s primary. The polls would lead you to believe the November matchup will be Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette against Democrat and former state Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer. However, a late push by Dr. Abdul El-Sayed might make things interesting on the Democratic ticket. Schuette faces Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley, state Senator Patrick Colbeck, and Dr. Jim Hines in that race. The Democratic race is between Whitmer, El-Sayed, and Ann Arbor entrepreneur Shri Thanedar, who has been criticized by his party for ties to Republican candidates in the past. There are also two Libertarian candidates on the primary ballot for governor for the first time in Michigan. They are Bill Gelineau and John Tatar. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and we will have results online tonight at WSJM.com and on the Town Crier Wire.
The Michigan Secretary of State’s office is also cautioning voters to not split their ticket. Any ballot with votes for candidates from more than one party won’t count, and you’ll have to vote again. Spokesman Fred Woodhams says you can do your homework and know what you’re voting on by going to Michigan.gov/vote ahead of time.
