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.