Reindeer rancher Kerry Bentivolio will get a head start on Congress if he wins in November.

The Republican won the GOP nomination for the same-day special election for former Rep. Thaddeus McCotter’s (R) seat Wednesday night, defeating the same candidate he beat last month for his party’s nod in the general election.

McCotter’s resignation prompted a special election to replace him for the final few weeks in Congress later this year. Bentivolio remained the only Republican on the ballot in the August primary and defeated a write-in candidate, former state Sen. Nancy Cassis, for the GOP nod.

On Wednesday night, Bentivolio defeated Cassis again in the special election primary — this time with her name on the ballot — as well as three other candidates. He will face UAW official Dave Curson in the special election in November. On the same day he’ll face Democrat Syed Taj, a doctor and Canton Township trustee, for a seat in the 113th Congress.