In a crowded Democratic 10th US House District primary, former Judge Marlinga notches a win

Former Judge Carl Marlinga snagged the Democratic nomination for Michigan’s 10th Congressional District after beating out three other candidates in the primary election Tuesday.

He will go up against incumbent U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Twp.) in the November general election. The race will be a rematch of the November 2022 election, where James beat Marlinga by just 1,600 votes in the 10th District. 

Marlinga ran against gun reform advocate Emily Busch, State Education Board Member Tiffany Tilley and financial planner Diane Young.

The Associated Press called the race after midnight Wednesday. With about 37% of returns in, Marlinga had about 48% of the vote in the four-way race, according to unofficial returns.

Young was in second with 26%, followed by Busch with 14% and Tilley with 13%.

The district stretches through Rochester, Rochester Hills and southern Macomb County in Southeast Michigan. 

Macomb County elected Marlinga from 1985 through 2004 to serve as prosecutor. He then worked as a judge on the Macomb County Probate Court and on the 16th Judicial Circuit Court from 2013 through 2022. In his primary campaign, he banked on constituents remembering his track record in the county and trusting him to represent them on a national level. 

Marlinga told the Advance before the primary election that criminal justice reform, protections for reproductive care, LGBTQ+ rights and environmental protections were important policy issues he would work on in Washington D.C.

During his primary campaign, Busch criticized Marlinga’s track record as prosecutor. In 1998, he blocked a 12-year-old girl, who had been sexually assaulted by her brother, from getting a late-term abortion as prosecutor. He has been outspoken in his support for restoring abortion protections nationwide since starting his bids for the House, however.   

Democratic lawmakers are looking to flip GOP-held seats in the House in November. If Marlinga wins in the fall, Democrats will be closer to having a majority in the House and be able to more easily pass progressive policy, like national abortion protections.  

Marlinga says he plans to keep connecting with constituents in the district and hopes the larger turnout expected from a presidential election topping the ticket will give him a win in his second bid against James.