Challenges emerge against candidates in 2 key U.S. House races in Michigan

LANSING, Mich. — Challenges submitted to Michigan election officials Tuesday argued that at least two prominent candidates for the U.S. House should be disqualified from having their names appear on the primary ballot.

A filing from Republicans targeted Democratic candidate Curtis Hertel of East Lansing, who's running in the battleground 7th District. Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar of Detroit, said he turned in a challenge against one of his Democratic primary opponents, former state Sen. Adam Hollier of Detroit, in the 13th District.

Charles Spies and Robert Avers, attorneys with the law firm Dickinson Wright, signed the challenge targeting Hertel. In it, they argued that Hertel made "fatal errors" by listing on his candidate affidavit and nominating petitions the office he's seeking as "U.S. Congress," instead of the U.S. House.

The lawyers said Hertel's documents failed to include the required title of the office he's seeking.

"This may be news to Hertel, but Congress has two distinct components: the Senate and the House of Representatives," the GOP complaint said. "Thus, naming merely 'Congress' — or even the 'U.S. Congress' — does not even identify the correct body (the U.S. House of Representatives or, alternatively, the U.S. Senate) let alone the correct 'office.'"

Hertel's campaign didn't immediately comment Tuesday on the challenge to his nominating petitions.

Hertel's nominating petitions did feature the correct district number, seven, according to an image reviewed by The Detroit News.

Hertel is seeking an open seat in the U.S. House that's currently held by Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, who's running for the U.S. Senate this year. The GOP candidate in the 7th District race is former state Sen. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte.

Tuesday was the deadline in Michigan for challenges to be filed against the nominating petitions of candidates for most offices seeking a spot on the Aug. 6 primary ballot. The Dickinson Wright lawyers filed the challenge against Hertel on behalf of Norm Shinkle, a former Republican member of the Board of State Canvassers.

The current four-person canvassing board will have to rule on the challenge.

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