Downticket races will be the focal point when Michigan voters head to the polls Tuesday for a statewide primary that does not include the hotly contested presidential race.
Monroe County Clerk Annamarie Osment said all regular polling locations will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
Tuesday is also the last day to return absentee ballots.
“Voters can still drop them in the dropbox until 8 p.m.,” Ms. Osment said. “We will have election workers standing by the box at 8 p.m. to pick up any last-minute ballots.”
Voters needing to deliver absentee ballots may bring them to their polling locations and put them through the tabulator, a newer change to Michigan’s voting laws.
“In the past, if you voted at home and brought in an absentee ballot, we’d have to revoke that ballot and you would have to fill out a new one. Now, they can stick it through the tabulator and it will count,” Ms. Osment said.
Party identification is not tracked in Michigan, but voters still may only vote on one side of the ticket.
Voters should bring photo identification to the polls, and any state or government issued ID is accepted. Ms. Osment said student identification cards are also permitted in Michigan. Voters who fail to present identification will be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility.
“My tips are make sure you are there before 8 p.m., bring photo ID, and don’t cross over, stick to one party, and check the front and back of the ticket,” said Trudy Hershberger, the Bedford Township clerk.
Focus on the U.S. Senate
With Michigan’s presidential primary having taken place in February, Tuesday’s focus is on candidates for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat, with two Democrats and three Republicans vying to advance to the Nov. 5 general election ballot. The winner in November could determine which party controls Congress in 2025.
The seat is currently held by Democrat Debbie Stabenow, who announced in 2023 that she would not seek re-election. A Republican has not won a Senate seat from Michigan since 1994.
The Democratic frontrunner is three-term U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D., Lansing), who has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Michigan Farmers Unions. Her Senate campaign puts her House of Representatives seat for the Lansing-area 7th District up for grabs, with Republicans hoping to grow their House majority.
The Republican frontrunner is former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
The other candidates include Democrat and actor Hill Harper, Republican former U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, and Republican physician Dr. Sherry O’Donnell.
Businessman Sandy Pensler, who dropped out of the race last month and endorsed Mr. Rogers, will still appear on the ballot because he withdrew too late. Democratic businessman Nasser Beydoun was disqualified from the race after he submitted his petition with a post office box instead of his home address. He has endorsed Mr. Harper.
Countywide races see little contest
In Monroe County, the primaries for the 5th and 6th congressional districts are uncontested, as are the 29th, 30th, and 31st districts in the Michigan House of Representatives.
In the 28th state House district, Republican incumbent state Rep. Jamie Thompson of Brownstone Charter Township will face Flat Rock resident Beth Socia. Ms. Socia previously ran in a Republican primary for the state Senate in 2022, receiving the fewest votes out of four candidates. The only Democrat running is Janise Robinson, a special education teacher in Taylor, Mich.
The only countywide ballot initiative is a senior-services renewal proposal that would generate $5 million over 10 years to fund services to Monroe County residents 60 years of age and older. If passed, it would renew the current millage, which is equal to $0.75 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
“The care of our elderly is very important to the Monroe County Democrats, so we want to encourage everyone to vote for the millage,” said Rick Kull, chairman of the Monroe County Democratic Party.
The Monroe County Democratic Party did not endorse any candidates for the U.S. Senate seat, but Mr. Kull said it will as Election Day gets closer.
No countywide seats have Democratic Party primary contests, but the party remains hopeful it can capture one of the nine county commissioner seats that now are all held by Republicans. The Monroe County Republican Party did not respond to requests for comment.
Townships seek help for emergency services, schools
Eight Republicans are vying for four seats on the Bedford Township board, including incumbents Todd Bruning, Joe Gore, and Craig Montri. They are joined by Kyle Dersch, Rob Pettrey, Christopher Schlegel, Joshua Stump, and Logan Tisdale. Ms. Hershberger said Rick Steiner, who has served on the board since 2004, will not be on the ballot after announcing his intent to retire.
Bedford Township will also have on the ballot a law enforcement levy renewal that provides about $571,000 over five years to pay for assignment of four Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies to the township and for purchasing equipment to serve Bedford Township. The levy costs $0.38 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
In Erie Township, three Republicans are looking to fill two spots on the township board. Voters will need to decide between incumbent Steve Mishka, Manny Evola, and Jolene Upchurch.
The Erie Fire Department also has a levy renewal on the ballot, which would generate $380,000 over five years to pay for firefighters’ equipment and vehicles. The levy costs $2 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
In Ida Township, Kelli Brandjord and Kimberly Sieler are competing for the Republican nomination for township treasurer, while Carl Whitson is challenging incumbent township board members Chris Curry and Tim Mata for their Republican nominations.
The Ida Township Fire Department is seeking to boost its levy by a half-mill, from $0.99 to $1.49 per $1,000 in assessed value, to support purchase of fire trucks and equipment, build a firehouse, and pay for general operations and maintenance.
Monroe Charter Township has contested Republican primaries for township supervisor and township clerk, with John Manor challenging incumbent Alan Barron for supervisor and Patricia Nadeau challenging incumbent Clerk Christina Smith.
Seven Republicans are vying for four township board seats: incumbents Guy Howe and Kevin Raymo along with Wayne Blank Sr., William Heck Jr., Bruce Kral, Brian Merkle, and Kevin Shipman. Two Democrats are seeking nomination to the board: Mary Gantzos and Cole McNew.
Whiteford Township, meanwhile, has three-way Republican primaries for both township supervisor and township treasurer. Nicholas Blaisdell, Darrell Rush, and Jeff Thomas want the party nod for supervisor, while incumbent Timothy Hill has challenges from Lee Strahan and Lawson Stone for treasurer.
The township also has six Republicans running for two township board seats: Doug Bulmer, Bob Lloyd, Maxwell Miles, Ronald Miller, Steven Morgan, and Carla Smith.
The Whiteford Agricultural School District will have two bond proposals on the primary ballot. The first would generate $9.6 million for updates to Whiteford Elementary School. The second would generate $400,000 for improving the athletic fields. According to a flier published by the school district, the bonds are to be sold in increments, so the current tax rate of $4.90 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
Ms. Osment said election results will begin to be tallied Tuesday night, but it is hard to tell when results will be finalized.
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