With primary over, attention shifts to Michigan's fall races

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — With the primary complete, Michigan candidates on Wednesday quickly turned their focus to November — when voters in the presidential battleground will also decide a competitive U.S. Senate race, several House contests and which party controls a legislative chamber.

Tuesday's election, held during the coronavirus pandemic, was marked by a record number of absentee ballots that is only expected to grow in three months.

What to look for this fall:

SENATE SHOWDOWN

Both first-term Democratic Sen. Gary Peters and Republican challenger John James were unopposed in the primary. Peters, who has led in polling, is one of two Democratic incumbents running in a state President Donald Trump carried in 2016.

He is emphasizing his bipartisan work and push for federal funding amid the health and economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. His campaign has questioned James' past unequivocal support for Trump, his opposition to the health care law and has said voters cannot trust him.

James, a Black veteran who runs a family automotive logistics company, is criticizing Peters as a career politician who has failed to attend congressional meetings and receives health coverage from a legislative retirement system instead of an “Obamacare” exchange.

AMASH RETIREMENT

Fifth-term Rep. Justin Amash's decision to not seek reelection in western Michigan's 3rd District has sparked a competitive race. Amash, who supported Trump's impeachment, left the GOP last year.

Iraq War veteran Peter Meijer, whose grandfather helped build the Meijer chain of stores, handily won the five-way GOP primary and will face Democrat Hillary Scholten, a lawyer who ran unopposed and worked for the Justice Department during Barack Obama's presidency.

Democrats will try to flip the...