The Michigan Board of State Canvassers on Friday heard appeals from two Republican congressional campaigns in the 1st District that had challenges lodged against their nominating petitions.

Josh Saul of Roscommon successfully overturned a recommendation from Bureau of Elections staff that he be disqualified. Saul will now challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, in the Aug. 6 primary.

JD Wilson of Houghton Lake, meanwhile, saw his appeal rejected.

Saul had faced disqualification because his petition sheets stated the title of the office as “House of Representatives,” potentially confusing signers that he was campaigning for the Michigan House, bureau staff said.

However, according to Michigan Advance, Saul gained the support of the board after arguing no one could reasonably conclude he was running for anything other than the U.S. House because the federal 1st District doesn’t overlap with the state 1st District.

The board, which is made up of two Democrats and two Republicans, unanimously rejected the staff’s recommendation.

In Wilson’s case, the board unanimously found his signatures were insufficient because he did use petition forms that met state election law requirements, Michigan Advance reported.

On the Democratic side, two candidates will compete in the Aug. 6 primary — Callie Barr of Traverse City and Bob Lorinser of Marquette.

Lorinser’s background includes being a family physician, a former diplomat, social worker and public health medical director.

Barr, whose husband is an Iraq war veteran, has worked as a teacher and attorney. She has advocated for military families through Blue Star Families and the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers.

Bergman has held the seat since 2017, winning reelection in 2022 with 60% of the vote to 37% for Lorinser. His Republican challenger, Saul, is a certified public accountant and Afghanistan combat veteran.

Saul has proposed a limit of two terms for any elected office and a law that would make it a felony for any member of Congress who votes for a bill they didn’t read.

Bergman, a retired U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant general, serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and the House Budget Committee.

Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-3500 ext. 226 or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.