Jack for Senate!

From the Gazette:

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Hoogendyk preparing to challenge Levin

KALAMAZOO -- State Rep. Jack Hoogendyk (R-Texas Township) has filed papers to run for U.S. Senate, hoping to challenge incumbent Democrat Carl Levin for his seat in November, he confirmed Friday.

Hoogendyk's formal announcement could come as early as next week.

Levin, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was first elected in 1978 and has since won re-election by wide margins. He is well known by state voters and his committee chairmanship has given him a prominent role in the debate over the war in Iraq.

Hoogendyk said he could mount a competitive campaign, starting with this weekend's activities at the Republican State Convention in Lansing, where he was soliciting support for his campaign. "The whole point of this weekend is to build the relationships, the credibility, and the support that we need to take on the giant,'' he said. Hoogendyk said he would challenge Levin's record on defense, spending and immigration issues.

The filing deadline to run for U.S. Senate is May 13.

One potential challenger for the Republican nomination, former state lawmaker Andrew "Rocky'' Raczkowski, dropped out of the race after recently learning he would be sent overseas later this year. Raczkowsk, a major with the U.S. Army Reserves from Southfield, lost to Levin in 2002.

The only other Republican in the race to date is Troy engineer Bart Baron, who has garnered little support in past campaigns for Congress.

Hoogendyk was first elected to the state House in 2002 and cannot run for re-election this year because of term limits.