Congressional District 3

Congressional District 3

2006 Contest
Republican Candidates – Vern Ehlers (Grand Rapdids)
Democrat Candidates - James Rinck (Grand Rapids)

Current Rep – Vern Ehlers (R-Grand Rapids)
Years in office – 13 (1993-present)

2004 Results
Vern Ehlers – 66.58%
Peter Hickey – 31.48%

Presidential results:
2004 (Approximate – my numbers)
Bush - 59.08%
Kerry – 39.94%

Barone’s numbers
Bush – 59%, Bush 60%
Kerry – 40%, Gore 38%

Cook’s partisan index – Republicans +9

Republican Michigander’s prognosis – Safe Republican.

District covers:
All of these Counties: - Barry, Ionia
Kent County: - All except Alpine, Solon, Sparta, and Tyrone Townships.

This district is solid for the GOP, and even solider for Ehlers. Bush won all three counties easily, and won every municipality except Grand Rapids itself (cancelled out by suburbs) and Ionia’s North Plains township.

This district is the 2nd safest district in the state for republicans. Democrats have a primary between James Rinck and Peter Hickey.

UPDATED 8/11/06 - Rinck won the primary by 507 votes.

Rinck - 11,794
Hickey - 11,287