LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Voters across the Upper Peninsula and northern Michigan head to the polls Aug. 4 for the state primary, with early in-person voting already underway. WZMQ 19 has been sitting down with candidates across five races to give you their own words on the issues that matter most up here. Here’s a look at who’s running and what each seat covers.
U.S. House, Michigan’s 1st District
Michigan’s 1st Congressional District covers the entire Upper Peninsula and much of northern Michigan, making it one of the largest U.S. House districts east of the Mississippi River. Republican Jack Bergman, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant general, has held the seat since 2017 and is seeking a sixth term. He faces Matthew DenOtter and Justin Michael in the Republican primary. On the Democratic side, Callie Barr, Kyle Blomquist and Wayne Stiles are competing for their party’s nomination.
State Senate, 38th District
The 38th District covers Alger, Baraga, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Luce, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon and Schoolcraft counties, along with portions of Chippewa and Mackinac counties. Sen. Ed McBroom, a Republican, is term-limited and not seeking reelection, leaving the seat open. State Rep. David Prestin and former state Rep. Beau LaFave are running in the Republican primary, while Kelli J. Van Ginhoven is seeking the Democratic nomination.
State House, 108th District
The 108th District covers Delta, Luce, Menominee and Schoolcraft counties, along with portions of Chippewa and Mackinac counties. The seat is currently held by Republican David Prestin, who is running for state Senate instead, leaving it open. Casey Hoffman, Larry Johnson, Kurt Perron, Christopher J. Reynolds, Daryl Schroeder and Steven Viau are competing in the Republican primary. Rachel M. Keys is seeking the Democratic nomination.
State House, 109th District
The 109th District covers Alger, Baraga and Marquette counties, along with a portion of Dickinson County. Republican Karl Bohnak, a former television meteorologist, won the seat in 2024, becoming the first Republican to represent Marquette County in the state House since the 1950s. He is running unopposed in the Republican primary. Anna Aho Rink is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
State House, 110th District
The 110th District covers Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties, along with a portion of Dickinson County. Republican Gregory Markkanen, first elected in 2018, is seeking another term. He faces Brian Irizarry, who is seeking the Democratic nomination.
Full candidate interviews are being published on our website as they’re completed, ahead of the Aug. 4 primary.
