BRANCH COUNTY, MI (WTVB) – Andrew Fink broke open a close race Tuesday night with a strong performance in Branch County as he outdistanced three other candidates in the Republican Primary for the 58th District State House seat.
Fink defeated Andy Welden 3,134 to 2,883 in Hillsdale County but Fink easily carried Branch County to earn the right to be on the November general election ballot.
Fink had 3,386 votes in Branch County compared to 1,427 for Andy Welden, 1,378 votes for Daren Wiseley and 763 votes for Adam Stockford.
District wide, Fink beat Welden by almost 2,300 votes. Wiseley finished third while Stockford was fourth.
Tamara Barnes easily won the Democratic Primary by almost 2,200 votes over Steven Sowards who dropped out of the race in April due to health concerns.
Republican Eric Leutheuser will have to give up his State House seat at the end of the year due to term limits.
