by: WOODTV.com staff
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — News 8's recent TV special took an in depth look at the hotly contested presidential election amid a global pandemic and a national outcry for social justice reform — and that race is just the top of the Nov. 3 ballot.
News 8 has also been keeping an eye on elections across West Michigan.
Of course the nation is voting in the presidential race between President Donald Trump, the Republican, and former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democrat. Recent polls show Biden is holding on to a lead over Trump in Michigan.
There are also several U.S. congressional seats at stake:
U.S. Senate
Incumbent Democrat Gary Peters is challenged by Republican John James. James previously challenged and lost to Democrat Debbie Stabenow.
Recent Polls show Peters is holding on to his lead over James, though the spread is only six percentage points.
U.S. House of Representatives
In the 2nd Congressional District, incumbent Republican Bill Huizenga faces Democrat Bryan Berghoef.
Michigan's 3rd Congressional District seat is truly in play for the first time in years after Rep. Justin Amash, an independent, is not running for reelection. The race is one of the most watched in the nation, with West Michigan considered a bellwether for the presidential election. It pits Republican Peter Meijer, a veteran, entrepreneur and grandson of Meijer co-founder Frederik Meijer, against Democrat Hillary Scholten, a former social worker and Department of Justice attorney. |Watch Oct. 1 debate
In the 6th District, longtime Rep. Fred Upton, a Republican, is challenged by Democratic state Rep. Jon Hoadley.
State-level races
There are three contested Michigan House races here in West Michigan:
60th District: Democrat Julie Rodgers, Kalamazoo County commissioner, faces Republican Gary Mitchell, a realtor and Ph.D., in the campaign to fill the seat Hoadley is vacating. |More
61st District: Republican Bronwyn Haltom, a former White House staffer and now a small business owner, and Democrat Christine Morse, a former attorney and current Kalamazoo County commissioner, are running for the seat, which is open because of term limits. |More
73rd District: Republican Bryan Posthumus, Democrat Bill Saxton and U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate Theodore Gerrard are running to fill an open seat. |More
Residents are also voting for two Michigan Supreme Court justices.
Ballot proposals
There are two statewide ballot proposals. The first deals with how some state money is directed to parks projects, removing the cap on the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. and the second Michigan ballot question is a constitutional amendment that would require search warrants to search electronic data and communications, as well as guarantee that electronic data and communications are secure from unreasonable search and seizure.
Watch the News 8 Voter Special Here: