Begole, Rathbun seek Republican nomination for Shiawassee County's state House seat

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that state Rep. Brian BeGole has been endorsed by Right to Life of Michigan PAC rather than his opponent.

LANSING — A pair of Republicans are campaigning leading up to the Aug. 6 Primary election for the right to move on to November's General election in the 71st state House district.

Brian Begole, who was elected as the district's state representative in 2022, is being challenged by Kevin Rathbun of Corunna for the Republican nomination to represent the district that includes much of Shiawassee County, not including Sciota and Woodhull townships in the Laingsburg area, as well as southern portions of Saginaw County and southwest Genessee County.

The winner of the Primary election will face Democrat Mark Zacharda, an Ovid native.

Here's what you need to know about the race:

Brian Begole

Begole, who lives in Antrim Township near Perry, was elected to his 71st District seat in 2022, defeating Zacharda in the general election. He ran for the House after 32 years in law enforcement, including six as Shiawassee County sheriff. Begole is a member of the Shiawassee Valley Fraternal Order of Police and previously served as an executive member of the board of the Michigan Sheriff’s Association. He has been endorsed by the Right to Life of Michigan PAC.

The son of a former local judge and nephew of a police chief, he advocates for services to veterans, protections for the unborn, the 2nd Amendment and supports agricultural and family farms. He also opposed Chinese companies owning land and building manufacturing plans while receiving tax breaks. He recently introduced a bill to make the AR-15 the state’s official firearm.

Begole services on the criminal justice, local government and finance and energy, communications and technology committees in the House.

He is working on a barn he and community members salvaged materials from farms across the county, and also restores vintage snowmobiles.

Kevin Rathbun

Rathbun, of Corunna, ran for the 71st District seat in 2022, losing to Begole in the primary. Born in Owosso and a graduate of Corunna High School, his is married to his wife Ashley Parsons and the couple have four children. He joined the Army out of school, where he served 20 years, including two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. He is endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

Rathbun said he moved back to Shiawassee County, after having lived most recently in Washington, D.C., to raise their children with small town values.

He opposes new taxes, believes the 2020 presidential election was “stolen” from Trump, and opposed critical race theory being taught in schools. He is pro-life.

“It doesn't take an economist to see what high taxes does for a state's economy,” Rathbun said in a statement on his campaign website. “With millions fleeing high-tax states like California and New York, it is more important than ever to make sure that Michigan will not be brought into the lie that social services will create a better society.”

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Begole, Rathbun seek Republican nomination for Shiawassee County's state House seat