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Republican Paul Mitchell Elected in Michigan’s 10th District

Businessman wins seat being vacated by retiring Candice Miller

Republican Paul Mitchell succeeds Rep. Candice S. Miller in Michigan's 10th District. (Photo Courtesy Paul Mitchell for Congress Facebook page)
Republican Paul Mitchell succeeds Rep. Candice S. Miller in Michigan's 10th District. (Photo Courtesy Paul Mitchell for Congress Facebook page)

Businessman Paul Mitchell is going to be the next representative for Michigan’s 10th District, with The Associated Press projecting he will defeat Democrat Frank Accavitti.

Mitchell led Accavitti 63 percent to 32 percent with 46 percent of precincts reporting. 

[Election Results 2016]

He will replace House Administration Chairwoman Candice S. Miller, who is retiring after seven terms.

The reliably Republican Eastern Michigan district is effectively the thumb of the mitten north of Detroit. The population is anchored in Detroit’s outer suburbs. The district also takes in farmland and lakefront towns.

The race was not expected to be tight. Coming into Election Day, the contest was rated Safe Republican by The Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report/Roll Call. Miller, first elected in 2002, had never won an election with less than 63 percent of the vote. 

[Miller Running for Public Works Commissioner Instead of Congress]

Mitchell spent over 35 years in the private sector and wants to see more voices from business involved in policy decisions in Washington.

He also wants to reduce regulations and overhaul the tax code, saying in an interview that “It’s 74,000-plus pages, of which even a wizard could not figure out what’s really in it.”

Mitchell also said he would be among Republicans pushing to abolish the estate tax, citing the effect on family farmers.

He previously sought election to the House in 2014, when he lost the Republican primary in Michigan’s 4th District to the current representative, John Moolenaar. Mitchell won this year’s GOP primary with 38 percent against four opponents.

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