There were once seven Democrats running for their party’s nomination to challenge Congressman Fred Upton this fall, and now the field is down to five. Aida Gray was the first to drop out, as her name is not among the list of candidates in the most recent listing by the Secretary of State’s office. Now comes word state elections officials are recommending Western Michigan University professor Paul Clements, who won the nomination but lost to Upton in both 2014 and 2016, be removed from the primary ballot in August. A supporter of Democratic candidate Matt Longjohn filed a challenge that Clements didn’t have enough valid signatures of registered voters in the 6th Congressional District to qualify. If the recommendation stands, voters will chose between David Benac, Rich Eichholz, George Franklin, Eponine Garrod, and Longjohn in August.
