Free Republic

7th District candidate threatens legal action over gay marriage ads By DEE-ANN DURBIN The Associated Press 7/26/2004, 5:15 p.m. ET WASHINGTON (AP) — As Michigan's Aug. 3 primary approaches, a Republican candidate in southern Michigan's 7th District congressional race is threatening to sue two other candidates for implying in their campaign ads that he supports gay marriage. Former state Sen. John "Joe" Schwarz was deciding Monday whether to go to court to get the ads off the air. A television ad by state Rep. Gene DeRossett, which features two male figurines on a wedding cake, says Schwarz "is against a...

7th District GOP race pits five conservatives against a moderate By DEE-ANN DURBIN The Associated Press 5/19/2004, 11:45 p.m. ET BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (AP) — Michigan's 7th congressional district stretches from Washtenaw County in the east to Battle Creek in the west. On the way, it takes in the city of Jackson, the farms of Hillsdale County and every kind of Republican voter, from religious conservatives to ticket-splitting moderates. This summer, six candidates are aiming to win the hearts of the district's Republicans and find out just how conservative the voters are in this longtime GOP stronghold. Five of the...

Right to Life endorses Bisbee in primary for conservative 7th congressional district The Associated Press 4/26/2004, 10:35 a.m. ET JACKSON, Mich. (AP) — State Rep. Clark Bisbee has received the endorsement of Right to Life of Michigan over other Republican candidates who advocate against abortion in the race for a conservative congressional seat in southern Michigan. "It's going to help out tremendously," Bisbee, of Jackson, said Monday about the endorsement for the Aug. 3 Republican primary for the 7th District seat. Right to Life of Michigan doesn't typically endorse in primaries that feature more than one candidate who advocates against...

DeRossett, Schwarz leading race for congressional seat The Associated Press 4/20/2004, 6:42 p.m. ET LANSING, Mich. (AP) — State Rep. Gene DeRossett and former state Sen. John Schwarz are leading fellow Republicans in the race for a congressional seat in southern Michigan, according to a poll released Tuesday. A third candidate, attorney Brad Smith, won the endorsement of the conservative Club for Growth on Tuesday. The endorsement could bring an infusion of cash to Smith's campaign; the Washington-based group said its members will donate total contributions "in the six-figure range." Smith is the son of U.S. Rep. Nick Smith, R-Addison,...

Right to Life wants to stop Schwarz Abortion rights candidate vies for 7th District By Stacey Range Lansing State Journal Six Republicans are hustling to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Nick Smith, but an early endorsement by the ever-powerful Right to Life of Michigan could stop several anti-abortion candidates in their tracks. The reason: Right to Life wants to block the nomination of former state Sen. Joe Schwarz of Battle Creek, the only abortion rights GOP candidate. "We want to make sure the nomination goes to someone who supports us," said Larry Galmish, director of the Right to Life political action...

Nearly half undecided in 7th District House race Thursday, November 20, 2003 Staff and wire reports Former state Sen. John J.H. Schwarz of Battle Creek would be an instant front-runner in the race to be Jackson's next representative in Congress, according to a poll released Wednesday. State Rep. Clark Bisbee of Jackson leads five Republican candidates with 17 percent support, but the race would change significantly if Schwarz becomes a candidate, the poll found. Schwarz, who ran for the seat and lost to incumbent U.S. Rep. Nick Smith in 1992, has not said whether he will run in 2004. Smith...

Andrews: DeWeese sets sights on congressional seat Paul DeWeese isn't ready to let last year's state Senate defeat end his career in politics. The former Republican state representative from Williamston lost a long, tough and expensive race to Democrat Virg Bernero. Now he is renting an apartment in Eaton Rapids to position himself for a 2004 campaign. This time, his target is Congress. He hopes to succeed U.S. Rep. Nick Smith, R-Addison, who is retiring. DeWeese is already on the campaign trail. His loss to Bernero wasn't for a lack of money or effort. He spent nearly $350,000 and was...