State Sen. Jason Allen (R-Alanson) has announced that he will not seek a recount of the Congressional Dist. 1 Republican primary, which he lost to Crystal Falls surgeon Dan Benishek by just 15 votes.
On Friday the state board of canvassers certified the results of the primary, adding 14 votes to Benishek’s original one vote margin of victory.
“It is time to put the primary behind us and move to the general election. It is time for all conservatives to band together to defeat Gary McDowell,“ Allen said. “I look forward to working with Dan Benishek in the fall campaign. The First Congressional District is long overdue for conservative representation in Congress. I believe Dan Benishek will be an outstanding Congressman for Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.”
Certified vote totals by county have been posted on the website of the Secretary of State.
Benishek, a political newcomer, appears to have won on the strength of support from Upper Peninsula counties.
Michigan’s 1st Congressional District, held since 1993 by Democrat Bart Stupak of Menominee, is one of the largest in the country and includes the entire Upper Peninsula and the northern third of the Lover Peninsula.
Showing posts with label Dr. Dan Benishek. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dr. Dan Benishek. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Tea Party's Benishek goes against State Sen. Jason Allen for Stupak's seat - the first open seat in north Michigan in 19 years
The state and nation will be watching the Republican primary to replace Congressman Bart Stupak, D-Menominee, as two well-funded front-runners have been dropping the gloves in mailers and television ads leading up to the election.
It will be the first time in 19 years there is an open seat in Northern Michigan and Republicans hope to flip it back their way in the fall.
Sen. Jason Allen, a long-time Northern Michigan political player from Alanson, will face newcomer Dan Benishek, a surgeon from Crystal Falls, for the Republican nomination.
Allen has been running strong since joining the race in the spring, but Benishek has been riding a tidal wave of anti-Stupak sentiment that has brought him cash from outside the district and Tea Party support.
For Benishek to win, he will have to pull together both Tea Party voters and independents to get over Allen's name recognition and endorsements from groups such as the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.
Die-hard supporters could also divide the vote with Tea Party Republican Tom Stillings of Torch Lake Township, five-time Republican candidate Don Hooper, Linda Goldthorpe and self-described GOP "everyman" Patrick Donlon of St. Ignace also in the hunt.
The winner will face term-limited Michigan Rep. Gary McDowell, D-Rudyard, who is expected to be a fierce pro-life, pro-second amendment competitor come November.
It will be the first time in 19 years there is an open seat in Northern Michigan and Republicans hope to flip it back their way in the fall.
Sen. Jason Allen, a long-time Northern Michigan political player from Alanson, will face newcomer Dan Benishek, a surgeon from Crystal Falls, for the Republican nomination.
Allen has been running strong since joining the race in the spring, but Benishek has been riding a tidal wave of anti-Stupak sentiment that has brought him cash from outside the district and Tea Party support.
For Benishek to win, he will have to pull together both Tea Party voters and independents to get over Allen's name recognition and endorsements from groups such as the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.
Die-hard supporters could also divide the vote with Tea Party Republican Tom Stillings of Torch Lake Township, five-time Republican candidate Don Hooper, Linda Goldthorpe and self-described GOP "everyman" Patrick Donlon of St. Ignace also in the hunt.
The winner will face term-limited Michigan Rep. Gary McDowell, D-Rudyard, who is expected to be a fierce pro-life, pro-second amendment competitor come November.
Dr. Dan Benishek and 6 other GOPers vying for Stupak seat
Oh how things have changed for Dr. Dan Benishek.
The Republican, appearing on the ballot today for the Michigan congressional seat that’s long been held by Democrat Rep. Bart Stupak, didn’t have a website, campaign staff or much of a war chest before March 21.
But then Stupak — a pro-lifer who was the last hope for those wanting President Obama’s health-care bill to die — voted for the sweeping overhaul of the nation’s health-care system. Hundreds of people vented their frustration with Stupak by donating money — often 5 or 10 dollars — to Benishek, a physician and first-time candidate.
The Daily Caller spoke to Benishek in March when the dollars started coming in, and he sounded almost overwhelmed. “I just want to do a good job,” the new candidate said then. “I just can’t believe what’s going on. I’m trying my best to be good.”
But fast-forward to today — when he’s facing six Republicans, including an aggressive campaign of state Sen. Jason Allen — and he sounds confident, like a completely different candidate.
“It’s been an amazing ride to tell you the truth,” Benishek said Monday afternoon by phone, after a day of campaigning in his Upper Peninsula district.
As for how things have changed, Benishek now has a spiffy website and campaign consultants (and the ability to fundraise online, which was not always available).
The number of volunteers who have joined his campaign has stunned him, he says. Even Joe the Plumber of 2008 election fame has stumped with him. Yet, as he looks back on the primary, another volunteer stands out: a 75-year-old retired dentist who has been to over 2,000 homes, going door-to-door for him.
“I mean I can’t keep up with the brochures,” Benishek said with a laugh while talking about how the die-hard supporter kept calling him demanding more campaign literature to distribute.
He said he never really expected the rough tussle between candidates he has experienced. “I was never in politics before in my life,” he said. “When you haven’t done it before, you don’t know who to trust, you don’t know what to do and it’s definitely been an experience.”
Voters head to the polls for primaries in three states today — Michigan, Missouri and Kansas — where several key races will be decided.
The Republican, appearing on the ballot today for the Michigan congressional seat that’s long been held by Democrat Rep. Bart Stupak, didn’t have a website, campaign staff or much of a war chest before March 21.
But then Stupak — a pro-lifer who was the last hope for those wanting President Obama’s health-care bill to die — voted for the sweeping overhaul of the nation’s health-care system. Hundreds of people vented their frustration with Stupak by donating money — often 5 or 10 dollars — to Benishek, a physician and first-time candidate.
The Daily Caller spoke to Benishek in March when the dollars started coming in, and he sounded almost overwhelmed. “I just want to do a good job,” the new candidate said then. “I just can’t believe what’s going on. I’m trying my best to be good.”
But fast-forward to today — when he’s facing six Republicans, including an aggressive campaign of state Sen. Jason Allen — and he sounds confident, like a completely different candidate.
“It’s been an amazing ride to tell you the truth,” Benishek said Monday afternoon by phone, after a day of campaigning in his Upper Peninsula district.
As for how things have changed, Benishek now has a spiffy website and campaign consultants (and the ability to fundraise online, which was not always available).
The number of volunteers who have joined his campaign has stunned him, he says. Even Joe the Plumber of 2008 election fame has stumped with him. Yet, as he looks back on the primary, another volunteer stands out: a 75-year-old retired dentist who has been to over 2,000 homes, going door-to-door for him.
“I mean I can’t keep up with the brochures,” Benishek said with a laugh while talking about how the die-hard supporter kept calling him demanding more campaign literature to distribute.
He said he never really expected the rough tussle between candidates he has experienced. “I was never in politics before in my life,” he said. “When you haven’t done it before, you don’t know who to trust, you don’t know what to do and it’s definitely been an experience.”
Voters head to the polls for primaries in three states today — Michigan, Missouri and Kansas — where several key races will be decided.
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