Sen. Schuitmaker Upset House Speaker Won’t Debate In Attorney General Race

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senatorschuitmaker-7

State Senator Tonya Schuitmaker of Lawton is upset that her opponent in the race for the Republican nomination for attorney general is ducking a debate. Schuitmaker has agreed to a televised debate on PBS affiliates in the state prior to the Michigan Republican Party’s state convention later this summer, at which the nominee will be chosen. House Speaker Tom Leonard’s camp, however, is dismissing the idea without giving an explanation as to why. Both are term-limited in their respective legislative offices, though Leonard is eligible to serve two terms in the Senate if he were to run. The attorney general’s office is open this fall as Bill Schuette has served his two terms and is ineligible for another. He’s instead running for governor. On the Democratic side, Dana Nessel is likely the A.G. nominee after former U.S. Attorney Patrick Miles dropped out of the race earlier this year when he didn’t get enough support at a delegate convention. The Democrats will also officially nominate a candidate later this summer for the office, as it’s one of the few state offices that is not on the primary ballot in August.