Carra set to face Democratic challenger Williams in 36th District race

Republican State Rep. Steve Carra will face Democratic challenger Roger Williams in the Nov. 8 election.

Carra took a decisive lead over his party challengers Tuesday with 3,450 votes in St. Joseph County and 1,511 in Cass County, to receive the Republican nomination for state representative. Jack Coleman received 1,771 in St. Joseph and 615 votes in Cass, Scott McGraw had 1,243 ballots in St. Joseph and 1,287 in Cass cast for him, while Jerry Solis had 1,947 votes gained in St. Joseph County and 680 in Cass County.

Williams received 2,157 votes in St. Joseph County and 1,374 in Cass County. There were 13 write-in votes for state representatives recorded in Tuesday's election.

Carra, the current state representative in Lansing, has represented St. Joseph and Cass counties for the past two years. Last year, he announced a campaign for U.S. Congress, but the redrawn districts that were decided and went into effect this year placed Carra outside the district. Carra at that time announced he would run again for the state legislature.

Carra said before Tuesday's primary election that, if re-elected, he will continue to enact positive change in Lansing. During his brief run for Congress, he received the endorsement of former U.S. President Donald Trump. On Tuesday, Carra thanked his supporters via Facebook after it was projected he would win the nomination.

Total votes

Steve Carra (R): 4,961

Jack Coleman (R): 2,386

Scott McGraw (R): 2,530

Jerry Solis (R): 2,627

Roger Williams (D): 3,531

This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Steve Carra to face Roger Williams in 36th District race