IRON MOUNTAIN — Voters in the Upper Peninsula will see mostly new candidates on the ballot in races for Michigan House seats in the Aug. 2 primary.

The exception is the 110th District, where incumbent state Rep. Greg Markkanen, R-Hancock, has a clear path in the Republican primary. Casey VerBerkmoes of Hubbell, who finished third in the Democratic primary in 2020, is so far the lone Markkanen challenger.

The deadline for candidates without party affiliation to file petitions for the Nov. 8 general election is July 21.

Under the state’s new legislative map, the cities of Iron Mountain and Kingsford and northern towns along the M-95 corridor in Dickinson County will be part of a reconfigured 110th District, joining Iron, Gogebic, Ontonagon, Houghton and Keweenaw counties.

State Rep. Beau LaFave, R-Iron Mountain, currently represents all of Dickinson County, as well as Delta and Menominee counties but will be forced out by term limits.

The new legislative map moves roughly the eastern three-fourths of Dickinson County into the 109th District, generally with Baraga, Marquette and Alger counties where state Rep. Sara Cambensy, D-Marquette, is also leaving due to term limits. That sets up a pair of primary races among newcomers.

The Democratic candidates vying to succeed Cambensy are Joe Boogren of Gwinn and Jenn Hill of Marquette.

Boogren, a retired Navy captain, has served as Forsyth Township supervisor since 2017. Hill, meanwhile, is vice president of the Citizens Utility Board of Michigan and was elected to the Marquette City Commission in 2018.

Republican candidates in the 109th District are Ron Gray and Melody Wagner, both of Gwinn. Wagner, a former police officer, earned her party’s nomination to challenge Cambensy in 2018 and 2020 but was not elected.

A preliminary candidate listing from Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson includes one Democrat and four Republicans in the new 108th District, which will cover Menominee, Delta, Schoolcraft and Chippewa counties.

Two of the GOP candidates are from the city of Menominee — attorney Casey Hoffman and businessman Mark Simon. The others are Kurt Perron of Brimley and David Prestin of Cedar River.

Perron, a Navy veteran, has served as president of the Brimley Area Schools Board. Prestin is a member of the Menominee County Board and has been active with Cedarville Township Volunteer Fire Department and Mid County Rescue.

The Democratic candidate in the 108th District is Chris Lopez of Escanaba.

State Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Waucedah Township, will seek election to a second four-year term, facing two Republican opponents in the U.P.’s 38th District. The challengers in the Aug. 2 primary are Matthew Furyk of Marquette and Kayla Wikstrom of Perkins.

The only Democrat running for the Senate seat is John Braamse of Marquette.