KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Voters are heading to the polls today in the primary election in Michigan.
In Kalamazoo County, the state House District 40 seat is wide open as Democratic Representative Christine Morse is not seeking reelection and is running for a new judge position in the county.
Two Democrats are facing each other today in that race – former Portage councilmember Lisa Brayton and public health expert Matt Longjohn. The winner will face Republican Kelly Sackett in November as she is running unopposed. Brayton ran as a Republican for the Kalamazoo County commission in 2020 before being elected to the Portage city council in 2021. She was disqualified for Portage’s mayoral race last year due to a residency issue.
Longjohn has been endorsed by the Kalamazoo County Democratic Party.
In state House District 42, House Minority Leader Matt Hall of Richland is facing a challenge from Rich Cutshaw of Scotts. The winner will face Democrat Austin Marsman in November.
House District 41 is represented by Democrat Julie Rogers, who is seeking reelection for a third term. On the Republican ballot, Terry Haines and Nicole Sabel are battling for the right to challenge her in November.
For law enforcement, Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf is facing a challenge from three other Republicans today. They are farmer and truck driver Joel Ibbotson, deputy Mark Noteboom, who was brought to the department to investigate voter fraud, and Barry County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Richelle Spencer, who is a K-9 handler.
Five candidates are on the ballot for St. Joseph County sheriff as current Sheriff Mark Lillywhite is not seeking another term and remains on leave after a drunk driving arrest in Kalamazoo County. Undersheriff Jason Bingaman, his cousin Joe Bingaman, Dennis Allen, Gordon Evilsizor, and Chad Spence face each other today in the Republican primary. No Democrat is seeking that office.
In Kalamazoo County, Sheriff Richard Fuller is unopposed in the Democratic primary. On the GOP side, James Charon and Sabrina Pritchett-Evans are on today’s ballot.
Kalamazoo Township supervisor Don Martin is being challenged in the Democratic primary today by David Combs, who is on the township Zoning Board of Appeals, County Board of Public Works, and is a county representative to the Regional Planning Council.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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