Democrats in Michigan had high hopes this year of defeating controversial Rep. Justin Amash and thus picking up the Grand Rapids-area 3rd District that has been in Republican hands for all but two years since 1912.
But Amash switched from Republican to independent in 2019 and most recently announced he would seek the Libertarian nomination for president. With the five-term incumbent not seeking reelection, most Michigan Republicans agree that the chances of likely Democratic Party nominee and immigration lawyer Hillary Scholten in November are severely diminished.
“Amash was the weakest contender and probably was going to lose the primary,” veteran pollster Steve Mitchell told Newsmax. Mitchell had been polling for conservative State Rep. Jim Lower, who had been opposing Amash in the August 4 primary.
With Lower since dropping out of the race, the present favorite for the Republican nomination is former U.S. Army Sgt. Pete Meijer. The son of billionaire supermarket magnate Hank Meijer, the young Meijer saw action in Iraq and has done relief and charitable work in the private sector.
Already, he has been endorsed by House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, Calif., House GOP Whip Steve Scalise, La., and freshman Rep. and former Navy SEAL Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas.
Of the four other Republicans in the August 5 primary race, the only one considered to have a shot at winning is State Rep. Lynn Afendoulis. A former newspaper reporter and cousin of a state legislator with the same name, Afendoulis is expected to have strong financial backing from fellow Greek-Americans nationwide.
Both Afendoulis and Meijer are considered strong conservatives and supporters of President Trump.
In a statement that was a little-disguised “good riddance” to Amash, 3rd District Republicans led by District Chairman Terri Lynn Land declared they were “excited to re-elect President Trump and to usher in new and effective representation for the Third Congressional District.”
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.