LANSING, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – A familar face could emerge as the GOP nominee for a state Senate seat that Arlan Meekhof must relinquish at the end of next year.
Meekhof, the current Senate Majority Leader from West Olive, is term-limited. MIRS News reported to its subscribers on Monday that current state House Representative Daniela Garcia (R-Holland Twp.) “is expected to get into the Ottawa County-based Republican primary in the 30th District against former Rep. Joe Haveman (R-Holland) and maybe (current) Rep. Roger Victory (R-Hudsonville).” The news agency added that, “(Governor Rick) Snyder attended a fundraiser for … Garcia last week … the move is a bit of a departure for (Mr.) Snyder, who typically reserves fundraisers for potentially vulnerable House Republicans in recent years. In at least the case of Garcia and (Rep. Brett) Roberts (R-Charlotte), the Governor’s appearance at their fundraisers casts the impression he is getting involved in Republican Senate primaries.”
MIRS added that “none of the aforementioned House members have publicly announced Senate campaigns, although it is rumored they will do so.” Garcia can still run for reelection next year, while Victory is term-limited out of the House. Haveman joined Hope Network as its director of government relations when he was term-limited out of the Lower Chamber in 2014 and did publicly endorse Garcia to succeed him in the Legislature that year.
In addition, current state Senator Tonya Schuitmaker (R-Lawton), whose district includes Allegan County, is also term-limited out of office at the end of 2018. MIRS made no mention of possible hopefuls for her seat during its “Capitol Capsule” on Monday.
