Michigan State Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) won the Democratic primary late Tuesday evening in the race to fill an open seat in Michigan's 8th Congressional District. The Associated declared McDonald Rivet the winner after she secured over 55% of the vote with 48% of votes tabulated.
Earlier this year, U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee announced he would not seek reelection in this highly contested district following a cancer scare.
In this Democratic primary, McDonald Rivet defeated Flint’s former mayor Matt Collier and Michigan State Board of Education president Pamela Pugh. Rivet will now face Republican Paul Junge in November general election.
The Michigan's 8th Congressional District includes Bay, Saginaw, Genesee Counties, most of Midland County and some of Tuscola County.
Rivet is serving her first year in the Michigan Senate. Before, she was a Bay City Commissioner, served in Michigan Health Improvement Alliance and Michigan Department of Education. She also held varies roles in Skillman Foundation, Greater Midland, Michigan Future, Inc. and Michigan Head Start Association.
Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta previously reported that Michigan’s 8th Congressional District is rated as a “tossup" for the upcoming November election.
