Kerry Bentivolio raced ahead of former Senator Nancy Cassis in the 11th U.S. House District Republican primary race.
Cassis, a Novi-native, trailed Bentivolio by 30 points, with 70 percent of the votes counted. Bentivolio is a teacher and reindeer farmer from Milford, and the only Republican candidate who actually appeared on the ballot. Cassis ran her campaign as a write-in, after declaring her candidacy following the resignation of incumbent Thaddeus McCotter.
On the Democratic side of the primary, physician Syed Taj led LaRouche Democrat William Roberts, 61-39.
The current 11th district house seat was abandoned earlier this year by Thaddeus McCotter. A special election will be held on Sept. 5 to elect a short-term replacement. Bentivolio is among the candidates running in that race too.
-Elaine Ezekiel, Michigan Radio Newsroom
