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Paul Mitchell Wins 10th District Seat; More Results From Primary Voting

LANSING, Mich. (WWJ/AP) - The voting has ending and results for Tuesday's primary election in Michigan are being released.

Mitchell (JHewett)
Paul and Sherry Mitchell. (WWJ/Jon Hewett)

Republican Rep. Candice Miller's decision to step aside after 14 years representing the Thumb and northern Macomb County sparked a five-way Republican primary.

It was a close race, but businessman Paul Mitchell won the race for the 10th District, "who would have believe that I could go from a family that dad built --- to an opportunity to represent all of you in Congress," said Mitchell during his victory speech. "Only in America does that happen."

Mitchell is expected to be favored in the November general election.

The primary also sets the stage for this fall's battles for control of the state House, which Democrats are eager to win after years of GOP rule.

Retired Marine Lt. Gen. Jack Bergman has won the Republican nomination for U.S. House in Michigan's 1st District.

The political newcomer upset state Sen. Tom Casperson and former Sen. Jason Allen in the primary election Tuesday.

Bergman ran as a straight-talking conservative and relished his outsider status, campaigning against two veteran politicians who largely ignored him while attacking each other.

His campaign ads urged voters to "send a Marine" to Washington and promised he would "get the job done."

Bergman would succeed retiring three-term Republican Dan Benishek in Michigan's northernmost district.

Bergman had a 40-year military career and also worked for Republic Airlines. The Minnesota native lives in the Upper Peninsula town of Watersmeet.

Lon Johnson, the former head of the Michigan Democratic Party, has won the party's nomination for Congress in the 1st District.

Johnson defeated a former Kalkaska County sheriff on Tuesday in a district that covers the Upper Peninsula and 16 counties in the Lower Peninsula. The November election is expected to be highly competitive after Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Benishek said he wouldn't run again.

Johnson defeated Jerry Cannon of Fife Lake, who was making a second run for Congress after losing to Benishek in 2014.

Johnson quit his party post to focus on the campaign. He lives in Kalkaska County.

Although a Republican has held the seat since 2011, Democrats believe they can win the 1st District again. Before Benishek, Democrat Bart Stupak represented the district for 18 years.

U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg has won the Republican primary in southern Michigan's 7th District.

He easily defeated Doug North on Tuesday in a rematch of the 2014 primary. Walberg has served three consecutive terms in Congress. He also won a two-year term in 2006.

Walberg, who lives in Lenawee County, will face Democratic state Rep. Gretchen Driskell of Saline in the November election. The district has leaned Republican since it was redrawn following the 2010 census.

Nonetheless, the National Republican Congressional Committee has listed Walberg's seat as one that needs to be protected. His campaign had $1.5 million on hand by summer.

Business groups have backed Walberg, who wants to repeal President Barack Obama's health insurance program.

U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence has won the U.S. House 14th District Democratic primary.

Lawrence on Tuesday defeated Vanessa Moss and Terrance Morrison. She now moves on to the November general election.

Moss of Southfield is a family law attorney and has not previously held elective office. Morrison is a former business owner and ex-Detroit city employee.

Lawrence was Southfield's mayor from 2001 until winning the 14th District seat two years ago.

The heavily Democratic district includes part of Detroit, some western Wayne County suburbs and Downriver communities, and parts of Oakland County.

U.S. Congressman John Conyers defeated Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey.

Conyers was first elected to the House in 1964 and is the longest serving member - he tells WWJ that he wants to run again because he 'still likes it' and he feels like he's helping people.

Although he remains concerned about the continuing high unemployment rate in Detroit and still has work to do: "My agenda has been jobs, political justice, economic justice and peace."

Conyers, 87, says he doesn't think about age or winning his own election, more important is that Hillary Clinton wins the presidential election in November.

Voters across Metro Detroit opened up their pocketbooks on election day-- with a majority of tax issues passing.

Wayne County voters saying 'yes' to a tax renewal that benefits county parks, charter amendments county wide and public safety tax renewals were all passed -- with the exception of Taylor - where a change in the city charter was not approved. Wayne voters also turned down a partnership with Eastpointe and Hazel Park.

Macomb County voters approved nearly all issues and  tax renewals on the ballot.

Voters in Oakland County saying 'yes' to many of the tax issues addressed on Tuesday including the passage of a tax renewal for the Detroit Zoo -- an issue put before voters in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb.

For more information on Wayne County elections, click here

For more information on Macomb County elections, click here

For more information on Oakland County elections, click here

 

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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