Detroit Evening Report, Aug. 2, 2022: Detroit voters weigh in on several key races in Michigan primary
Welcome to the Detroit Evening Report, a daily round-up of news that city residents need to know.
Today is primary day and Detroiters are voting in a number of key races.
In Wayne County, incumbent Sheriff Raphael Washington is running to hold on to his position. He was appointed last year to complete the term of Sheriff Benny Napoleon. Napoleon died in December 2020 from COVID-19. Washington faces two challengers on the Democratic ballot: Walter Epps and Joan Merriewether.
Detroiters and residents of select suburbs will select congressional candidates to run in November. In the Democratic primary for Michigan’s newly redrawn 13th Congressional District, nine candidates are running. They include Shri Thanedar, Portia Roberson, Adam Hollier, Sharon McPhail, Michael Griffie, Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, John Conyers III, Sam Riddle and Lorrie Rutledge. The district stretches from the Grosse Pointes through the east side of Detroit to Downriver suburbs such as Wyandotte and Taylor.
In the 12th Congressional District covering parts of Detroit’s west side, several western Wayne County suburbs and Southfield, Rep. Rashida Tlaib faces Democratic challengers Janice Winfrey, Shanelle Jackson and Kelly Garrett.
Detroit poll workers are watching closely for irregularities in today’s vote. There’s additional vigilance in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election – when pro-Trump voters demonstrated at Detroit’s TCF Center — now called Huntington Place — and raised questions about the accuracy of election results. Voters at one polling place today were told to put away their cell phones while at the site. Polls are open until 8 p.m.
Statewide, Michigan voters are choosing between a field of five Republican candidates for governor. The field is running to challenge Democratic incumbent Gretchen Whitmer. The GOP candidates include Tudor Dixon, Kevin Rinke, Garrett Saldano, Ryan Kelley and Ralph Rebandt. Five other Republican candidates failed to make the primary ballot after their petition signatures were ruled invalid. Former Detroit Police Chief James Craig was one of those candidates. He’s running a write-in campaign.
We’ll bring you a special election edition of the Detroit Evening Report tomorrow morning – so check back for results after you wake up.
In other news …
An Oakland County judge has blocked enforcement of Michigan’s 1931 ban on abortion. The order came just hours after the state Court of Appeals said county prosecutors were not covered by a May order and could enforce the ban. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade case in late June, destabilizing the right to abortion across the country. Judge Jacob Cunningham issued a restraining order against prosecutors in counties with abortion providers. He has scheduled a hearing for Wednesday.
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