
Marquette, MI – November 6, 2024 – In the 109th District State House of Representatives, former TV weatherman and political newcomer Republican Karl Bohnak has apparently staged a surprising upset win over incumbent Democrat State Representative Jenn Hill.
While not officially called, with 99% of the votes in, Bohnak has taken 26,189 votes to Hill’s 24,847. This will mark the first time in decades that a Republican has represented the area in Lansing.
Republican incumbents Greg Markkanen in the 110th District and Dave Prestin in the 108th District also scored easy wins in yesterday’s vote.
In the 1st Congressional District race, incumbent Republican Representative Jack Bergman has cruised to an easy win over Democrat challenger Callie Barr, taking 58% of the vote to Barr’s 38%.
In the race to fill the open U.S. Senate seat between Democrat Elissa Slotkin and Republican Mike Rogers, the vote is too close to call at this time.
In municipal races in Marquette County:
Two open seats on the Marquette City Commission are going to newcomer Cary Gottlieb with 4,782 votes, and incumbent Commissioner Jermey Ottaway with 3,709.
2 seats on the Marquette Board of Light and Power are going to incumbent Jerry Irby with 4,099 votes and Richard Holmes with 2,880.
Voters in the City of Marquette approved 4 out of 5 proposed amendments to the City’s Charter, with the only being rejected was one that would have removed term limits for members of appointed boards and committees. That was defeated by a vote of 6,546 NO to 2,478 YES
There were three open seats on the Marquette Area Public Schools Board of Education. The top three vote getters yesterday were incumbent Kristin Cambensy with 6,842 votes, Cassidy Thomas took 5,846 and incumbent Glenn Sarka had 4,750.
On the Negaunee City Council, voters selected incumbent David Kangas with 1,287 votes and Traci Dietz with 976 and Amanda Ghanavati with 890 to fill three open full terms. A partial term on the council is going to Jon Becker with 1,039 total votes.
The Ishpeming City Council had 3 open full-term seats, they are going to Ben Argall with 1,566 votes, Brett Argall with 1,207 and incumbent council member Jason Chapman with 1,139. A partial term on the Ishpeming City Council went to Kurt Kipling with 1,218 votes.
In some of the key ballot proposals in Marquette County:
A county-wide millage request for 0.55 mills to fund current and future obligations for the Marquette County Medical Care Facility passed by a vote of 25,488 YES to 8,323 NO
In the Gwinn School district, A request for 3.1 mills for 30 years to improve the Middle & High School building was rejected by voters 2,458 NO to 2,082 YES
Voters in Ely, Humboldt and Republic Townships approved a request for 0.197 mill for 6 years to support the Iron Ore Heritage Recreation Authority Millage.
In Marquette Township, a request to renew 0.88 mill for 2 years to be distributed to the Peter White Public Library passed 1,932 YES to 631 NO
Voters also did approve all other ballot proposals across Marquette County.
-mediaBrew Communications News