Democrat Mulls Rematch in Michigan House Contest

By Emily Cahn

Posted March 11, 2015 at 2:10pm

Retired Army Maj. Gen. Jerry Cannon is mulling another bid against Rep. Dan Benishek, R-Mich., according to two sources with knowledge of the Democrat’s plans.

Democrats billed Cannon — a veteran of the wars in Vietnam and Iraq — as a top recruit in 2014. But he went on to lose to Benishek by a 7-point margin last year, a poor cycle overall for Democrats.

If Cannon runs again, he may face a primary. State Rep. Scott Dianda, a Democrat who represents a legislative district in the Upper Peninsula, is also considering a bid, according to party operatives.

Benishek came to Congress in 2010, winning an open-seat race to succeed former Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich.

Benishek nearly lost re-election in 2012, defeating former state Rep. Gary McDowell by less than 1 point. That same year, Mitt Romney won the district by 8 points.

Yet in 2014, Benishek became a more astute campaigner, picking up the “most-improved” candidate title from national Republican operatives.

But it’s unclear whether Benishek will seek a fourth term. During his 2010 campaign, Benishek was a vocal supporter of term limits , and signed onto a pledge to only serve three terms .

“I am happy to tell voters I strongly favor term limits,” Benishek said in a 2010 news release . “Three terms and you’re retired seems about right to me.”