The Michigan Capitol. (Susan J. Demas/Michigan Advance photo)

In a year marked by combative battles from the presidential race down to local elections, many Michigan House candidates running in partisan primaries on Tuesday have launched fiery campaigns to clinch their party’s nomination.

After candidates are weeded out, the November election will determine partisan control of the state House next year, as all 110 seats are up for election. The state Senate isn’t on the ballot until 2026.

Currently, Democrats hold their first bicameral control of the Michigan Legislature in 40 years. The last time Democrats were in charge of the Michigan House before the current majority was 2010.

Democrats gained a slim majority in the House in the 2022 election 56-54. That margin proved delicate when two Democrats House members stepped down after winning mayoral races in their districts in November 2023.

Until an April special election, the House had an even 54-54 split that put a bottleneck on most legislation passing. Democrats won the special elections, restoring their previous 56-54 majority.

Republicans see an opening to retake the chamber after Democrats passed a slew of progressive legislation, including new laws for gun reform, abortion rights, clean energy, labor rights and LGBTQ+ rights.

“While Republicans are unified around creating a better future for America, Lansing Democrats continue to be in disarray by supporting the very policies that have handcuffed hardworking Michiganders that continue to put them last,” said Mason Di Palma, spokesperson for the Republican State Leadership Committee. “While Democrats have no message for the American people, the choice is clear this November: if we want a stronger, better Michigan we have to elect state Republicans.”

There are several dynamics going on in primaries. Half of Michigan House members this year are freshmen in the House and many incumbents are facing primary challenges — some serious.

Lawmakers are longer hamstrung by tight term limits. When voters passed term limits in 1992, legislators could only serve a maximum of three, two-year terms in the House and two, four-year terms in the Senate. Thanks to reforms voters passed in 2022, lawmakers can spend a total of 12 years in the Legislature — and so several incumbents seem interested in spending six terms in the House.

Redistricting is also a factor. New maps drawn by the new independent redistricting panel were in effect for the 2022 election, which created more competitive districts than in the past when the Legislature was responsible for crafting districts and the governor signed off.

But some metro Detroit districts recently redrawn due to a federal court order, so this will be the first election those lines, which many believe are more favorable to Republicans, will be in effect.

But House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit, said last month that he’s confident that Democrats will keep control of the House.

“Without wavering, our members and supporters have stepped up to keep Democrats in the majority,” said Tate. “We are carrying this momentum into 2024 and will continue to build on our success.”

Here’s a look at House primary races in northern Michigan on Tuesday:

Republican primaries

103rd District

Traverse City had a long history of Republican representation in the House until Rep. Betsy Coffia, D- Traverse City, was elected to the newly drawn district in 2022. The new map split Traverse City, which has a high number of Democratic voters compared to the rest of the area. Coffia’s margin came down to less than 800 votes.

Now there are three Republicans looking to flip the district. Tripp Garcia of Traverse City is running to create affordable housing in northern Michigan, implement workforce development programming and make health care for elderly residents more affordable.

Katie Kniss of Traverse City is running as a “Mama Bear” interested in ending critical race theory curricula in schools, standing against vaccine mandates and supporting anti-abortion policies.

Lisa Trombley of Traverse City is a former government contractor who is running to put families struggling to afford basic costs of living first before special interest groups.

Kniss and Trombley both serve in leadership positions in the Grand Traverse County Republican Party.

107th District

Rep. Neil Friske, R-Charlevoix, one of the most conservative members of the Michigan House, is currently being investigated by police on sexual assault, assault and weapons-related offenses, but no charges have been filed. Friske was arrested in June and says he’s being “framed,” agreeing with a GOP radio host that U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, is working against him.

Bergman has thrown his support behind Friske’s opponent, Parker Fairbairn, who chairs the Emmet County Republican Party. Both Friske and Fairbairn have roots at family farms in northern Michigan, with Fairburn securing the Michigan Farm Bureau AgriPac’s endorsement.

109th District

A slate of Republican challengers are vying in the central Upper Peninsula for the chance to knock off Rep. Jenn Hill, D-Marquette, in November.

Former police officer Melody Wagner has won the Republican primary for the seat for three straight election cycles.

The other candidates are George Meister of Meister’s Tree Farms in Marquette; Burt Mason, who serves on the board of directors of the Baraga County Chamber of Commerce; and Karl Bohnak who had a career as a meteorologist in the Upper Peninsula.

Democratic primaries

109th District

Rep. Jenn Hill, D-Marquette, is facing competition for the Upper Peninsula seat from Margaret Brumm, vice chair of the Marquette Board of Water and Light, and Randy Girard, who serves on the Marquette County Road Commission.

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