Great Lakes Wire

Two embattled Republican House members who each found themselves in the news for separate unflattering reasons lost their primaries Tuesday, accounting for the only incumbents to lose in Tuesday’s election.

Rep. Neil Friske (R-Charlevoix) – arrested in June after chasing an adult dancer from his Lansing condo in the middle of the night while possessing a gun – fell to Parker Fairbairn, a 25-year-old in the automobile industry and fifth-generation Northern Michigander.

In the end, it wasn’t all that close; Fairbairn beat the incumbent 63.05% to 36.95% in a rematch between the two candidates.

Friske has yet to be charged with a crime, but stories of other questionable interactions with women have haunted the freshman House member and Freedom Caucus member.

Meanwhile, in the 50th House district primary, Jason Woolford, president of Mission Cry/Christian Resources International and a U.S. Marine, unseated Rep. Robert Bezotte (R-Howell), 33.63% to 30.24%. A third candidate, Dominic Restuccia, had 22.32%, and Kristina Lyke had 13.81%.

Woolford had received Bezotte’s endorsement early in the race until days before the filing deadline when Bezotte got back in. Unfortunately for the incumbent, he had filmed an endorsement video for Woolford, which the challenger aired days before the election.

The election results punctuate a difficult year for Bezotte, who started with his wife of more than 50 years serving him with divorce papers and then claiming “mental, emotional and physical abuse.”

In all, 35 House members faced primary challenges:

– Rep. Mai Xiong (D-Warren), endorsed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s PAC, defeated former Rep. Richard Steenlandin HD-13 by capturing a majority vote of 55% in Steenland’s hometown of Fraser and 71.32% overall. Steenland received just 19% of the Democratic primary vote while Patricia Johnson Singleton received 9.5%. Xiong cruised to victory despite news over her Warren home allegedly being purchased with investor funds transferred as part of a Ponzi scheme run by her sister Kay Yang.

Xiong did not lose a single precinct in her victory.

– In one of the more serious challenges was in District Five where Rep. Regina Weiss (D-Oak Park) survived a competitive Democratic primary challenge from Crystal Bailey by winning 50.5% to Bailey's 37.6%.

Weiss was running in a new district due to court-ordered redrawing of Detroit's portion of the House map With former Sen Virgil Smith Jr guiding her Bailey made progress there as Weiss introduced herself to voters

Weiss won Detroit by362 votes (2:591to2:229)while cleaning up Oak Park & Royal Oak by more than1:000votes Kevin Keys III took6:1percent& Eric Love Sr another5:6%

– Rep Mike McFall(D-HazelPark) turned what looked on paper like competitive race w/former Warren Mayor Jim Fouts into71%-29route Fouts mayor Michigan's third-largest city16years only managed win three precincts his home city while freshman House member took Hazel Park Madison Heights w/as much91%

– In109thHouse district primary Rep Jenn Hill(D-Marquette)easily won over two Democratic opponents80:17%-15;71for Marquette County Road Commissioner Randy Girard Margaret Brummwon final4;12%

She will face Karl Bohnakin general election Bohnak chief meteorologist WLUC Marquette1988until2021 won landslide74;72%; But good news Democrats Hill received9;639votes politically competitive district Bohnak's6849

Overall2858more voters participated Democratic primary109ththan Republican primary

– Friske’s fellow Freedom Caucus member Rep Matt Maddock(R-Milford)victorious defeating Kevin Ziegler59%-41 %51stHouse district Republican Ziegler attempted make things interesting making issues Maddock public missteps but Maddock MAGA-brand popular conservative politics successful again northern Oakland County Ziegler won three precincts Milford but that would be it

Elsewhere:

Rep Josh Schriver(R-Oxford)won Republican Randy LeVasseur65-35 percent66thHouse LeVasseur hoped make issue Schriver controversial social media posts promoted Great Replacement theory

Rep Alabas A Farhat(D-Dearborn)survived Democratic Ziad Abdulmalikin HD3 Abdulmalik scored endorsements American Arab & Muslim Political Action Committee(AMPAC), Yemeni American Political Club Vote Peace USA Michigan Community Conversation well-financed Farhat supported Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan numerous endorsements

Rep Peter Herzberg(D-Westland)defeated Layla Taha favored US Rashida Tlaib(D-Detroit)&three other Democrats Westland-based25thHouse around54percent five-candidate field Herzberg won seat earlier this year backing Mayor former Kevin Coleman Smalenberg ran grassroots Republican candidate earlier Cavitt term prepared run recall Organizers objected Cavitt supporting Speaker Joe Tate D-Detroit vote kick off year never able get signatures needed put recall question ballot Cavitt won six counties Both legislative leaders Tate Hall R-Kalamazoo won respective convincingly Tate defeated serious opponent Lory Renea Parks75%-19new9thstate Hall64;5over Richard Cutshaw benefit several door-to-door workers conservative Make Liberty Win PAC working behalf

Rep Gina Johnsen(R-Lake Odessa)soundly defeated Jon Rocha78house72%-28race Rocha unsuccessfully tried run Johnsen political right Reps Douglas C Wozniak Shelby Township Natalie Price Berkley Helena Scott Veronica Paiz Harper Woods Tyrone Carter Cynthia Neeley Flint Brian BeGole Perry Ken Borton Gaylord also all without incident

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