Tea party favorite Gary Glenn and two other Republicans turned in nominating signatures Tuesday for the U.S. Senate race, likely making it a five-way primary in August among Republicans eager for the chance to take on Democratic incumbent Debbie Stabenow.
Glenn turned in 27,227 signatures on the last day to file. The Midland resident heads the American Family Association of Michigan that promoted Michigan's gay marriage ban in the state constitution.
He won the support earlier this year of more than 40 Michigan tea party groups trying to replicate the success of Indiana tea partiers, whose united support for state Treasurer Richard Mourdock helped Mourdock knock off longtime Sen. Richard Lugar in this month's GOP primary.
Glenn has far less money on hand than two of his GOP rivals, former U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra of Holland and Detroit charter school executive Clark Durant of Grosse Pointe. Both had more than $1.5 million on hand at the end of March, compared to less than $22,000 held by Glenn.
Two other Republicans who turned in their signatures Tuesday ? former Kent County Judge Randall Hekman of Grand Rapids and Roscommon businessman Peter Konetchy ? had around $7,000 and $3,000 on hand, respectively.
Glenn said Tuesday the fact tea party supporters collected more signatures for him than Hoekstra and Durant turned in shows he'll be able to overcome their financial advantage in the Aug. 7 primary.
"It's all about who shows up" to vote, Glenn said. "Today is just the first example of what it's like to have tea party support."
Hoekstra submitted more than 26,000 signatures, compared to 24,407 for Durant, 19,323 for Hekman and 15,500 for Konetchy. Stabenow turned in 30,000.
To get on the ballot, a candidate must have at least 15,000 valid signatures from registered voters, including 100 each from seven or more of the state's 14 congressional districts. Candidates try to give themselves a cushion by turning in extra signatures in case some are thrown out.
Three other GOP hopefuls didn't file petitions by the deadline and are out of the race: former Libertarian Scotty Boman of Detroit, businessman Chuck Marino of Brighton and former auto supply manager Rick Wilson of Grand Blanc.
Stabenow, of Lansing, is chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee. She's running for her third Senate term.
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