Many incumbents to face challengers in August

By Lisa Brody

Many Oakland County incumbents, from Congress to local legislators, will face challengers in the primary election on Tuesday, August 6, including Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens.

For the U.S. Senate seat which Senator Debbie Stabenow is vacating, three Democrats, Nasser Beydoun of Dearborn, Hill Harper of Detroit, and Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin of Holly are running. Five Republicans are running to be the stand bearer in November, former Congressmen Justin Amash and Peter Meijer, both of Grand Rapids, Sherry O'Donnell of Stevensville, Sandy Pensler of Grosse Pointe Park, and former Congressman Mike Roger of St. Joseph.

For Representative of Congress in the 11th District, representing the majority of Oakland County, incumbent Democrat Haley Stevens of Birmingham is being challenged in the primary by Ahmed A.G. Ghanim of Ferndale. Two Republicans are running in the primary, Charles Frangie of West Bloomfield and Nick Somberg of Bingham Farms.

Following redistricting, the Birmingham/Bloomfield area will now be represented in part by the 6th District in the Michigan House of Representative, where incumbent Democrat state Representative Natalie Price faces a challenge from fellow Democrat Joseph R. Fisher of Royal Oak. The winner of the primary will battle Republican Brent M. Lamkin of Royal Oak in the November election.

Incumbent state Representative Samantha Steckloff (D) of Farmington Hills will go against Republican Kevin J. Hammer of Farmington Hills in November. The district covers part of Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, Beverly Hills and Franklin, as well as parts of Farmington Hills and Southfield.

In the 20th state House district, which has a small part of Bloomfield Township along with West Bloomfield and Commerce Township, Republicans Hermon Barbe of West Bloomfield and Brendan Cowley of Commerce will duke it out to face incumbent Democrat Representative Noah Arbit in November.

In the 54th state House District, incumbent Republican Donni Steele of Lake Orion will face Democrat Shadia Martini of Bloomfield Hills in November in a rematch of their 2022 race. This district covers a large swatch of Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills, Auburn Hills and Orion Township.

In the 56th state House District, covering most of Troy, Clawson and parts of Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and Royal Oak, incumbent Democrat Representative Sharon MacDonnell of Troy will face Republican Dave Kniffen of Troy in November.

At the county level, all five of the main offices are up for reelection, with incumbent county executive David Coulter, a Democrat, facing a challenge from Republican Nik Gjonaj in November. Democratic Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald will take on Republican Scott Farida in November. Incumbent Republican Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard will face in November the winner of the Democratic August primary in which Nate Cook of Clarkston and Amrit Kohli of Ferndale will faceoff.

For Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds, incumbent Democrat Lisa Brown and Republican Barb Pallotta will face each other on the ballot in November.

For county treasurer, Republicans Donna Blake and Isaiah Hellner of Oxford and Susan Kuhn of Troy will compete in August for the title to take on incumbent Democrat Robert Wittenberg.

Incumbent Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash faces a challenger, fellow Democrat Jim Stevens of Rochester Hills. The winner of that contest will face the winner of the Republican primary between Steve Johnson of Highland and Steve Klein of Waterford.

On the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, current chair Dave Woodward of Royal Oak, a Democrat, who represents part of Royal Oak, Birmingham and Troy in the 1st District, faces a challenge from Democrat Charlie Gandy-Thompson of Royal Oak. The winner will take on Republican Regina Wilk of Royal Oak in November.

In the 9th District, representing parts of Bloomfield Township and Pontiac, incumbent Democrat commissioner Angela N. Powell of Pontiac will see Republican Eugene Davis, Sr., of Bloomfield Township in November.

Democrat incumbent Marcia Gershenson of Bloomfield Township will face Republican challenger Johnnett Eggert of West Bloomfield in November for the 11th District, which covers part of Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield and Orchard Lake.

In the 18th District, covering part of Bloomfield Township, Franklin, Bingham Farms, Beverly Hills and Southfield, Democrat Linnie Taylor will face Republican W. Jackson in November. They are both from Southfield.

Incumbent Democrat commissioner Charlie Cavell of Ferndale will face Republican challenger Paul Taros of Birmingham in November in the 19th District, which takes in most of Birmingham, part of Royal Oak, Ferndale and Huntington Woods.

Elected officials terms are up in Bloomfield Township, with only board of trustees members facing primary challenges. Democratic Supervisor Dani Walsh will face Republican challenger Michael McCready for the supervisor position in November. Incumbents clerk Martin Brook and treasurer Michael Schostak are unchallenged for their positions.

For trustee, of which there are four open positions, Democrats seeking the position are Jeffrey E. Axt, Oscar Garner Jr., Roman Grigoriev and incumbent Valerie Sayles Murray. Republicans seeking a position are Mark Antakli, incumbent trustee Neal Barnett, Malissa Bossardet, Margo Cargill and incumbent Christopher M. Kolinski.

Six candidates are running for six open spots for the Bloomfield Township Public Library Board. The candidates are Keith Cardune, Dani Gillman, Judy Lindstrom, Joan Luksik, Joy Murray and Shane Spradlin

For judge of the 48th District Court, incumbent Judge Diane D'Agostini is running unopposed.

U.S. Congressional and state House of Representative seats are two-year terms, while all county and township elected positions are four-year terms.

Candidates have until this Friday afternoon to withdraw from the 2024 ballot.