(AREA) — Retired businessman Paul Mitchell has won the open Republican primary in Michigan’s Thumb-area congressional district and is now favored to succeed outgoing Congresswoman Candice Miller. The 59-year-old former CEO of a vocational school company spent millions of his own money on the race, which was closely watched Tuesday. Mitchell, who lived in St. Clair County for a number of years, moved back to the Republican-leaning district after losing an open Republican primary in the 4th Congressional District in 2014. He led the opposition against a state constitutional amendment that would have increased sales taxes to boost transportation and other spending. Mitchell, of Dryden, defeated State Senator Phil Pavlov, State Representative Tony Forlini, former State Senator Alan Sanborn and military veteran David VanAssche in the five-man primary. Michigan’s 10th Congressional District covers Huron, Lapeer, Sanilac, St. Clair and portions of Tuscola and Macomb counties. Mitchell will face Democrat Frank Accavitti, Jr. in the General Election in November.
