By Associated Press - Wednesday, August 5, 2020

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. (AP) - Longtime Republican Rep. Fred Upton on Tuesday defeated a primary challenger in his congressional district in southwestern Michigan.

The 17-term lawmaker is next waiting to learn his opponent in November.

Teacher Jen Richardson of Kalamazoo was leading favorite Jon Hoadley, a state legislator, despite being outraised 18-to-1. More than 80% of precincts were reporting early Wednesday.

Upton beat real estate agent Elena Oelke in the 6th Congressional District’s GOP primary. The seat covers Allegan, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, Berrien, Cass and St. Joseph counties.

Democrats will target Upton in the fall after he had his closest-ever election in the 2018 midterm, when he won by 4 percentage points.

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