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MILFORD (WWJ/AP) - Tea party favorite Kerry Bentivolio has won the Republican primary in Michigan for the U.S. House seat abandoned by former Rep. Thaddeus McCotter and will face off against Democtatic nomination Syed Taj in November.
Bentivolio is a reindeer farmer from the Oakland County community of Milford who has never held elective office. He was the only Republican on Tuesday’s ballot after McCotter failed to produce enough valid petition signatures to qualify. McCotter resigned last month.
Former state Sen. Nancy Cassis and Drexel Morton of Wayne County’s Canton Township waged write-in campaigns after McCotter’s candidacy imploded. Cassis had the backing of the most elected officials in Michigan’s Republican-leaning 11th district, which includes Oakland and Wayne counties near Detroit.
Meantime, Taj won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House seat formerly held by McCotter.
Taj defeated Bill Roberts of Wayne County’s Redford Township, a Lyndon LaRouche supporter who called for President Barack Obama to be impeached.
Taj, a physician and trustee in Wayne County’s Canton Township, will be the underdog in Michigan’s Republican-leaning 11th District, which includes portions of Oakland and Wayne counties near Detroit.
McCotter was expected to win re-election easily but resigned after failing to produce enough petition signatures to qualify for the ballot.
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