Kim Cole
Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole appeared headed for victory Tuesday in the Republican primary for Michigan’s 32nd State Senate District, building a commanding lead over challenger Max Riekse with strong support across Mason, Oceana and Muskegon counties.
With unofficial results available from three of the district’s five counties, Cole had received 11,911 votes to Riekse’s 3,269.
Cole carried Mason County by a margin of 3,731 to 324. He also won Oceana County, 3,046 to 505, and Muskegon County, 5,234 to 2,440.
The 32nd Senate District stretches from Muskegon County north through Oceana, Mason and Manistee counties to Benzie County. Unofficial results from Manistee and Benzie counties were not available as of posting time, but Cole’s substantial advantage in the three reporting counties made him the likely Republican nominee.
Cole, a resident of Pere Marquette Charter Township, has served as Mason County sheriff since 2013. He will face Democrat Rebecca Amidon of Manistee in the Nov. 3 general election. Amidon is currently an adjunct instructor of communications at Mid-Michigan College in Harrison. She was unopposed in the primary election.
Riekse resides in Fruitport.
Unofficial Mason County Republican primary results by precinct were:
- City of Ludington Precinct 1: Cole 233, Riekse 12
- City of Ludington Precinct 2: Cole 151, Riekse 9
- City of Ludington Precinct 3: Cole 186, Riekse 11
- City of Ludington Precinct 4: Cole 104, Riekse 8
- City of Ludington Precinct 5: Cole 139, Riekse 18
- City of Ludington Precinct 6: Cole 118, Riekse 8
- City of Scottville Precinct 1: Cole 106, Riekse 14
- Amber Township: Cole 357, Riekse 32
- Custer Township: Cole 203, Riekse 26
- Eden Township: Cole 98, Riekse 8
- Free Soil Township: Cole 158, Riekse 15
- Grant Township: Cole 144, Riekse 15
- Hamlin Township: Cole 665, Riekse 56
- Pere Marquette Charter Township: Cole 365, Riekse 30
- Riverton Township: Cole 173, Riekse 16
- Sherman Township: Cole 152, Riekse 18
- Summit Township: Cole 160, Riekse 16
- Victory Township: Cole 219, Riekse 12
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