LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan’s primary features a viable challenge to an incumbent congresswoman and campaigns for two U.S. House seats where a Republican and a former GOP member are retiring. Tuesday’s election, which is being marked by a surge of mail-in absentee ballots during the coronavirus pandemic, also will shape races in November for a couple of potentially competitive congressional districts that Democrats flipped in the midterm. Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib and Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones will have a one-on-one rematch after a close 2018 race. Republicans are picking nominees to replace Reps. Justin Amash and Paul Mitchell.
Michigan is navigating uncharted waters as more absent voter ballots have been cast than in any other election in state history, according to the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office, and clerks figure out how to process the influx of ballots and manage to safely have in-person voting during the coronavirus pandemic. Through the spending of federal funds, recruitment efforts and local clerks being flexible to change, Michigan is adapting to a new election model and testrunning for the November presidential election.
