Pete Hoekstra

Ode To Hoekstra: TPM Bids Farewell To A National Security Freak

Eric Lach | August 5, 2010, 9:31AM

Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI)

Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) lost the Michigan Republican gubernatorial primary Tuesday, and since he'd given up on his own congressional re-election bid to seek the governor's office, it now looks like one of the Obama administration's most vocal critics on national security won't hold public office next year.

In his years in Congress, Hoekstra has made national security a specialty of sorts, at least in the sense of pegging his name to some very out-there stances.

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MI-GOV

GOPer Snyder, Dem Bernero Win MI-GOV Primaries

Eric Kleefeld | August 3, 2010, 10:42PM

MI Gov. candidate Rick Snyder (R)

[Update Aug. 4, 8:30 ET]

The Michigan primaries have now selected Democratic Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero and Republican businessman Rick Snyder as the nominees in the race to succeed term-limited Dem Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

With 50% of precincts reporting, Bernero leads state House Speaker Andy Dillon by 59%-41%. In the Republican primary, Snyder has 36%, followed by Rep. Pete Hoekstra with 27%, state Attorney General Mike Cox with 23%, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard with 12%, and state Sen. Tom George with 2%.

The TPM Poll Average for the general election, based on pre-primary data, shows Snyder beginning the race ahead of Bernero by 44.6%-27.2%.

Snyder has marketed himself as a competent technocrat, pitching himself in his ads as "one tough nerd." As the Detroit Free Press reports: "Snyder, who's never run for elected office before and has spent nearly $6 million of his own money on his campaign, was banking on Democrats and independent voters to cross over to his side in an effort to upset the GOP establishment, which is largely behind Cox and Hoekstra. Free Press interviews with voters suggest some and perhaps many are doing so."

Correction: In a previous version, this post incorrectly reported that Bouchard had 24% of the vote.

MI-GOV

5 Things To Know About Today's Michigan Gubernatorial Primary

Eric Lach | August 3, 2010, 1:08PM

Rick Snyder (R) and Virg Bernero (D), candidates for Michigan governor

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm is being term-limited out, and the men hoping to replace her are facing off in a primary today. Five Republicans and two Democrats are vying for a spot in the general election this fall, the first Michigan gubernatorial election since 1982 that won't feature an incumbent or lieutenant governor. Here's what you need to know:

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