Rep. Kildee powers past challenger in Dem primary

From © Associated Press

August 3, 2010

Democratic U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee of Flint has beaten a Saginaw County challenger in the 5th District congressional primary.

With 90 percent of precincts reporting, the 80-year-old Kildee had 79 percent of the vote to 21 percent for Scott Withers, a 37-year-old from Birch Run Township who has worked in journalism and public relations.

Kildee is running for an 18th term in Congress. He faces Grand Blanc businessman John Kupiec in the general election.

In the Republican primary, Kupiec beat former General Motors Corp. and Delphi Corp. employee Rick Wilson of Genesee County's Grand Blanc Township.

With 99 percent of precincts counted, Kupiec had 56.5 percent of the vote to 43.5 for Wilson.