WASHINGTON - Senate and House incumbents in three U.S. states are trying to beat back challengers Tuesday in the kickoff to a busy month of primaries.
In Kansas, three-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts faced Milton Wolf, a radiologist and the second cousin of President Barack Obama.
Wolf, whose is allied with small government, anti-tax tea party sits on the other end of the ideological spectrum from Obama.
Voters in Washington state consider the qualifications of a dozen candidates vying to replace a two-decade congressional Republican who is retiring.
In Michigan, a pair of establishment-minded Republicans leaned on outside groups — and their own fortunes — in bids to knock off incumbent House members who often side with the tea party.
Dave Trott is challenging first-term Rep. Kerry Bentivolio and has contributed almost $2.5 million of his own money to the race. Brian Ellis, an investment adviser who lent his campaign $1 million, is challenging Rep. Justin Amash, who was elected in 2010 but has sparred with fellow Republicans since.
A third member of the state's congressional delegation, Rep. Dan Benishek, is expected to survive his primary challenge from tea partier Alan Arcand.
Voters are also set to nominate Republican Terri Lynn Land to face Democratic Rep. Gary Peters in the Senate race. Six-term Sen. Carl Levin, a Democrat, is not seeking re-election and Michigan's race is considered competitive.
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Associated Press writer Philip Elliott contributed to this report from Washington D.C.
Detail Link: http://www.timescolonist.com/incumbents-face-challengers-in-3-us-state-primaries-1.1295686
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