State Reps. Mark Huizenga (R-Walker) and Doug Wozniak (R-Shelby Twp.) won their respective special state Senate GOP primaries on Tuesday and are likely on their way to joining the upper chamber in November.
Republicans currently hold a 20-16 majority.
In a tight race for the 28th District in the Grand Rapids area of West Michigan, Huizenga took 9,531 votes, topping both Algoma Township Supervisor Kevin Green, who had 9,357 votes, and Rep. Tommy Brann (R-Wyoming), who earned 9,272 votes, according to unofficial returns.
The heavily Republican 28th District is open after former Sen. Peter MacGregor stepped down when he won the Kent County treasurer race in November 2020.
On the Democratic side, former Kent County Commissioner Keith Courtade defeated Gidget Groendyk of Rockford, 6,413 to 4,101 votes. Coutrade and Huizenga will square off on Nov. for the special general election on Nov. 2.
For the 8th District in Macomb County on the other side of the state, Wozniak defeated six other candidates, earning 9,510 votes, per unofficial returns. Coming in second was fellow Rep. Pamela Hornberger (R-Chesterfield Twp.), who had 7,861 votes.
That seat, which also skews Republican, is open because former Sen. Pete Lucido resigned after winning the Macomb County prosecutor race in November 2022.
For the Democratic primary, Martin Genter of Harrison Township beat John Bill of Rochester Hills, 9,562 to 3,999 votes. Genter and Wozniak will face each other in November.
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics.