The Field Narrows

Former Congressman Peter Hoekstra steps into the rung a scant few days ago, announcing his intention to challenge Democrat Debbie Stabenow in next November's Senate election here in Michigan, and already the Republican field is narrowing. Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner John McCulloch has announced that he is ending his candidacy for the GOP spot on the ticket, saying that he will throw his support, however much that may be, behind Hoekstra. Others already having announced an intention to run or said to beconsidering it are Kent County Probate Judge Randy Hekman and northern Michigan businessman Peter Konetchy, Gary Glenn of the Campaign for Michigan Families, and charter school executive Clark Durant.

Of the bunch, there's no real doubt that Hoekstra has the greatest name recognition. At this admittedly early juncture, that may be the linchpin. It is easy to dismiss outstate candidates of little stature such as Hekman and Konetchy. Hekman, being a judge, might garner local support in the Grand Rapids area, and it may be that Konetchy is of the Rick Snyder school of outsider governing and wants to run Congress like a business. Good luck with that; still, his website looks as though it would read well to tea partiers, and he may play a bit of a spoiler role if the conservative vote shows up en masse at the primary. Being from the same part of the state as Hoekstra, Hekman may take a few votes from the former Congressman there.

While Clark Durant may have name recognition among long time Republicans in Michigan, it seems unlikely that that would translate into the amount of support needed to win a statewide race, even only an internal one. Gary Glenn's effort, should it come to be, has all the appearances of mere symbolism. That isn't to take away from the social issues agenda of his group. But it is to say, sadly, that social issues don't appear to be on the agenda of the major parties as of today.

What is most likely happening now is that the Republican Party is slowly lining up being Hoekstra. That's a good thing, politically, anyway: Stabenow will certainly run a strong campaign and the earlier the GOP sets up its candidate the more time it can take go after the junior Senator. A primary battle likely would only help her while tearing down Republican hopes for a Senate gain in November 2012. The question then becomes: can Hoekstra, an outstater himself, win, and will it be worth it to conservatives if he does?