Paul Junge emerged victorious in the GOP primary for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District, securing the Republican nomination and setting the stage for a showdown in hopes of replacing retiring Democrat Rep. Dan Kildee.
Junge’s decisive win over opponents Mary Draves and Anthony Hudson, with 73% of the vote, was called by the Associated Press. This victory marks Junge’s third attempt at securing the 8th Congressional District seat.
With a background in the Department of Homeland Security during the Trump administration and as an investigative counsel for Senate Judiciary Committee chair Sen. Chuck Grassley, Junge ran his campaign on key issues such as fighting against inflation, addressing the border crisis, and combating the opioid epidemic.
In response to his win, Junge stated, “Stopping the rising cost of goods and improving the economy for working families is a top priority to my campaign. Equally as important, I will fight to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and poisonous synthetic opioids across our southern border, which are devastating forgotten communities across our state and across our country.”
His opponents, Mary Draves and Anthony Hudson, also brought their own platforms to the race. Draves, who runs an auto repair business with her husband, focused on energy independence and border safety, emphasizing the need to stop the influx of illegal immigrants and fentanyl over the border.
Hudson, an Army veteran from Texas, centered his campaign around border security and job creation, expressing a desire to bring jobs back to Michigan and combat the influence of foreign companies in the state.
Junge will now advance to face the winner of the Democratic primary, where three candidates are vying to succeed Rep. Dan Kildee, who has represented Michigan’s 8th Congressional District since 2012.
The upcoming general election will be a crucial one for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District, with both parties fielding strong candidates to compete for the open seat. Stay tuned for more updates as the race heats up.
