Republican state Rep. Karl Bohnak and Democrat Anna Aho Rink face off Tuesday, Nov. 3, in a Michigan House District 109 race that could help decide which party controls the state House.
Election results are pending. This article will be updated as election officials release vote totals.
Former legislative staffer Nick Palmer projected that spending in the race would exceed $2 million, TV6 reported Oct. 30.
The district spans Alger, Baraga and Marquette counties along with portions of Dickinson County, according to the Michigan House Republicans website. It includes the cities of Marquette, Ishpeming, Negaunee, Munising and Norway.
What’s at stake
Republicans hold a 58-52 advantage in the Michigan House, while Democrats control the state Senate, according to 270toWin. Democrats need a net gain of four House seats to secure a 56-seat majority.
Bohnak defeated Democratic incumbent Jenn Hill in November 2024, receiving about 51.6% of the vote, according to official state results archived by the University of California, Santa Barbara.
The candidates
Bohnak was first elected to the state House in November 2024, according to his official legislative biography. He serves as vice chair of the House Committee on Economic Competitiveness and sits on the Natural Resources and Tourism, Health Policy, and Transportation and Infrastructure committees.
Before entering politics, Bohnak spent about 33 years as chief meteorologist at WLUC-TV6 in Marquette. He worked there from 1988 to 2021, according to WZMQ.
Rink is a physician assistant who worked for 17 years at Planned Parenthood’s Marquette clinic, according to her campaign website. She identifies health care access, public school funding, housing affordability and environmental protection as priorities.
Rink had raised about $360,000 to Bohnak’s $140,000, TV6 reported Oct. 30. Both candidates also received substantial in-kind contributions from their parties. Rink received about $690,000 in in-kind support compared to Bohnak’s $570,000.
When and where to watch results
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Nov. 3, according to the Michigan Secretary of State. Anyone in line by 8 p.m. local time may still vote.
Most of the district observes Eastern time. The Dickinson County portion observes Central time, where polls close at 9 p.m. Eastern, according to Michigan Public’s election guide.
Voters can follow returns through the Michigan Secretary of State’s election results page. Election-night totals are unofficial until canvassing and certification are complete.
