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Toss-up Michigan Senate's 29th District goes to Democrat Brinks

Winnie Brinks campaign photo
Winnie Brinks Facebook

Two former Michigan House members squared off in the Michigan Senate’s 29th District with the winner replacing term-limited Senator Dave Hildenbrand. Democrat Winnie Brinks, with roughly 60-percent of the vote, defeated Republican Chris Afendoulis.

“We’ll be talking a lot about healthcare. I’m sure we’ll be talking about roads with the new governor. We’ll be talking about education and making sure that we can ensure that residents have clean water. That they can trust it or test it for the right stuff and making sure that there are not chemicals in your drinking water that will make you sick either now or in 20 years. Those were the issues that people were talking about on the campaign trail and I anticipate that we’ll be able to start addressing some of those things too as we move into January.”

Brinks says her campaign felt confident and cautiously optimistic heading into a race considered by many to be a toss-up.

Patrick joined WGVU Public Media in December, 2008 after eight years of investigative reporting at Grand Rapids' WOOD-TV8 and three years at WYTV News Channel 33 in Youngstown, Ohio. As News and Public Affairs Director, Patrick manages our daily radio news operation and public interest television programming. An award-winning reporter, Patrick has won multiple Michigan Associated Press Best Reporter/Anchor awards and is a three-time Academy of Television Arts & Sciences EMMY Award winner with 14 nominations.