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Candidates spend big in northern Michigan primary elections

David Cassleman

Primary elections in northern Michigan were some of the most expensive races in the whole state this summer, according to a report from the Michigan Campaign Finance Network.

Candidates spent more than $450,000 in the senate district that includes Traverse City, Petoskey and Sault St. Marie. That made the 37th District Republican primary the state’s most expensive race.

State Representative Wayne Schmidt beat Representative Greg McMaster in the 37th District.

But it wasn’t the only campaign in northern Michigan with big spending.

Republican candidates in the 107th House primary spent nearly $350,000 between them. It was the second most expensive House primary in the state.

Representative Frank Foster lost that election to challenger Lee Chatfield – even though he spent more than three times as much cash as Chatfield.

Foster was the only incumbent representative to lose a primary in the state.