Free Republic

Republican state Senator Tom Casperson says he is running for Representative Dan Benishek's seat. Casperson has served almost 11 years in legislature. He is the first Republican to announce his bid for the seat. Lon Johnson and retired Army National Guard Major General Jerry Cannon are two Democrats who've said they are running. Benishek already announced he will not seek re-election next year after his term is up.

KALAMAZOO, MI — Controversial Michigan Republican National Committeeman Dave Agema is close to endorsing Ted Cruz for president and is considering a Congressional run. Agema, who attended a Monday morning Cruz rally at the Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo, said he is impressed by Cruz's knowledge of the U.S. Constitution, because "we have a president right now that is, in my opinion, ruining the constitution by his executive orders." A tea party favorite and social conservative, Agema said his initial list of top candidates in the crowded GOP presidential field included Cruz, Ben Carson, Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum and Bobby...

It’s not just Democrats considering a challenge to Michigan Rep. Dan Benishek, who plans to run for a fourth term after pledging to serve only three. Several Republicans in the state were mentioned as potential primary challengers to the 1st District incumbent. State Rep. Peter Pettalia had been encouraged to run before Benishek announced his intent to seek another term, and “that talk hasn’t stopped” since, Pettalia told CQ Roll Call. The legislator declined to say which “supporting groups” have reached out to him. But, as a “loyal Republican,” Pettalia noted he’d have to give “deep thought” to challenging a...

Team HC -- We are pleased to announce that Mr. Cain has received the endorsement of Congressman Dan Benishek (R-Michigan)!!!

Jenny Sanford, ex-wife of disgraced former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, steps into the GOP presidential primary fray with an op-ed Thursday praising Herman Cain. Ms. Sanford says she hopes Mr. Cain will keep fighting for his far-reaching tax overhaul plan even as he fends off what she calls personal allegations enflamed by the media. “I know this story well,” she writes in The (Columbia) State newspaper. “A ‘fresh face’ appears on the political scene and puts forth new proposals that challenge the status quo and then is attacked viciously on his proposals and then his character.” That sounds like...

GOP tries to seize opportunity with Stupak goneBy JOHN FLESHER The Associated Press updated 10/17/2010 1:00:53 PM ET CHEBOYGAN, Mich. — Tea party activists rejoiced when Rep. Bart Stupak decided against seeking re-election after helping rescue President Barack Obama's health care plan. Now one of their own hopes to exact the ultimate revenge by winning Stupak's seat. Michigan vast 1st District, which reaches across 600 miles of woodsy northlands, is usually an afterthought on the national political scene. But with the seat open for the first time in 18 years and control of the House at stake, Democrats and Republicans...

Sarah Palin endorsed Dan Benishek in Michigan's First Congressional District: Dan Benishek for Congress in Michigan There’s a lot of talk about the race in Michigan’s 1st Congressional District. Dr. Dan Benishek is the kind of commonsense voice we need in Washington to replace the retiring Bart Stupak. As a physician, he understands why Obamacare must be repealed and replaced with true health care reform. Dan is determined to work to get our country’s fiscal house in order. As a self-described “hunter and fisherman and proud member of the NRA,” he’s great for Michigan 1st District, which like Alaska, is...

Here is a great response ad by GOP Candidate for Michigan’s 1st Congressional District – Dr. Dan Benishek. Dem Candidate Gary McDowell has been accusing Benishek of wanting to harm Social Security (that’s an original attack!). Benishek does a good job of putting that aside, and goes on the attack himself by tying McDowell to Pelosi and Obama.

The canvassing process in Michigan’s 1st district, where there is a recount needed to sort out the winner of Tuesday’s Republican primary, may start moving faster. After the initial unofficial vote count, surgeon Dan Benishek was just one vote ahead of state Sen. Jason Allen in the northern Michigan district currently represented by retiring Rep. Bart Stupak (D). The count: 27,091 to 27,090. The winner will face state Rep. Gary McDowell (D) in what is expected to be a very competitive race in November. Here’s what happens next. Michigan law gives county election boards 14 days to certify results —...

There is no text with this story, just the ad video. See below for direct link.

Docs4PatientCare began as a grassroots movement led by a prominent physician in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Hal Scherz,who felt he must act in response to the AMA's support of Obamacare. Attempting to enact his big-government health care scheme, President Obama and his supporters frequently claimed that a “majority” of doctors supported his health-care plans. When the American Medical Association – which had opposed HillaryCare – signed onto Obama’s plan last year, the organization seemed to make the President’s case. Most people assumed that the AMA represented most of the doctors in the country. But in fact, the AMA represents less than...

Dan Benishek, a 57-year-old surgeon, is considered a rising political force who got a campaign boost when Bart Stupak voted for the Obama Health Care Reform.

Benishek, who has never run for office, doesn’t have a campaign Web site (for now, a Facebook page that has increased from 700 to 14,000 followers will do) or staff for that matter (his wife is taking press calls while he searches for a campaign manager). But by late last night, the RNC had stepped in and set up a PayPal account for him so he could raise money online. “I didn’t have an online way to get any money, so they were all upset with me. But I got something up finally late last night and I don’t know,...

Dr. Dan Benishek was flipping the channels between the Michigan State basketball game and Fox News last night when the phone calls started coming through. The Republican doctor running for a seat in Congress representing Michigan’s Upper Peninsula area had just become a Tea Party hero — and he wasn’t prepared. More than $20,000 in campaign donations poured in Sunday night alone. Benishek’s secret? He’s running against Bart Stupak, the eight-term Democrat whose last-minute deal allowed President Obama’s health-care legislation to pass. “It’s hard to sort it all out, to tell you the truth, because I’m not a pro at...

Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak's (D) distinction as the man who secured passage of health care reform for Democrats could make him a national target of Republican and conservative interests. He now has a Republican challenger, who in about 24 hours since Stupak cut a deal with the White House -- giving Democrats the necessary number of votes -- has gotten a lot more well known. Dan Benishek, a surgeon who announced his candidacy one week ago, went from about 3,500 Facebook friends Sunday afternoon to 14,500 by mid-Monday. Benishek has also received mentions from a few well-known conservative bloggers, including...