Through the primary election on August 2, on every Tuesday and Thursday on the MLC Blog we will be highlighting races for which the primary is the key race due to the voter base.  Candidate’s website and professional information is listed when available.

District Overview

The 66^th House District is located in Van Buren and a portion of Kalamazoo County, including Alamo Township, Cooper Township, and Parchment.  The district has a 55% Republican base.

Commentary

Current Representative Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton) is term limited and unable to run for reelection.  Given the district base, keeping this seat in the Republican column shouldn’t be a problem for the party this November.  Republican candidate Matthew Nilson is a West Point graduate and retired Colonel in the U.S. Army Special Forces.  Fellow Republican candidate, Beth Griffin, has been active in local politics and is viewed as the front runner in this race.  She served on the Van Buren County Commission for two years, has chaired the Area Agency on Aging, Region IV since 2013, served on the Southwest MI Planning Commission, and currently serves on the Van Buren County Special Courts: Mental Health Court and Drug Treatment Court.  Democratic candidate Annie Brown ran against Representative Nesbitt in 2014 and received 42.51% of the vote in the general election.

Democratic Candidates:

• Annie Brown – South Haven School Board member, former columnist with the Herald Palladium, and former writer for former House Speaker Lewis Dodak.  Small business owner.
  • Endorsement – Sierra Club-Michigan.
• Dylan Kerley – Full time student at Central Michigan University’s Global Campus.

Republican Candidates:

• Beth Griffin – Former Van Buren County Commissioner and guest teacher.
  • Endorsements – Small Business Association of Michigan; Michigan Chamber of Commerce; Detroit Regional Chamber; Great Lakes Education Project; Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan; Michigan Freedom Network; Lawton Police Chief; Michigan Bankers Association.
• Greg Kolich – Machinist.
• Matthew Nilson – Army Veteran, planning and marketing director.

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