Lindsey beats LaSata in 17th district Republican senate primary

Political newcomer John Lindsey, 37, with an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, won the Republican primary for the new Michigan Senate District 17, beating current Sen. Kim LaSata. 

Both candidates moved into the reapportioned district which stretches from western Hillsdale County to southern Berrien County on Lake Michigan.  

Lindsey, who graduated from Bronson High School, returned to Michigan after serving eight years in the U.S. Army until 2016 as a sergeant in special forces. He then lived in the Nashville area and worked worldwide as an executive. 

Lindsey’s father heads the St. Joseph County Road Commission. He had expected to run in the district where Mike Shirkey was term limited until reapportionment. With help of the America First movement, he peppered the district with political signs and mailers over the last several months. 

Lindsey will face Democrat Scott Starr of Coldwater in the November general election. 

The new senate district took in rural areas of western Jackson County, eastern Calhoun, and western Hillsdale County. It covers all of Branch, St. Joseph, and Cass counties with the southern half of Berrien County.