Mike Harris Leads MI 43rd District Special Primary Election

OAKLAND COUNTY — Republican Mike Harris was leading a caucus of Republicans vying for the state's 43rd district seat in a special election. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Harris leads all candidates with 49 percent of the vote. Next was Heidi R. Warrington with 31 percent, followed by Anthony M. Bartolotta at 15.3 percent and Linda Ybarra Bozzone at 4.7 percent.

Harris, a former Waterford Township police officer, seems destined to face Democrat Kent Douglas, who ran unopposed in Tuesday's special primaries, in the May 3 special election for the vacant seat. The house seat became vacant after Republican Andrea Schroeder died in October 2021.

Harris will be the favorite to win the northern Oakland County district, which includes Waterford Township, Clarkston and Independence Township, leans heavily Republican. Although the seat's term will end on Dec. 31, the winner will gain name recognition to run again in the area once the state's redistricting is complete.