‘Accidental congressman’ loses seat in Michigan

Republican Dave Trott prevailed in Michigan’s 11th District, currently held by Rep. Kerry Bentivolio, who mounted a lackluster write-in campaign after losing the GOP primary earlier this year. 

Trott, an attorney with the backing of the GOP establishment, also beat out Democratic opponent Bobby McKenzie in the general election. The Detroit Free Press called the race. Trott had a 56 percent to 40 percent lead over McKenzie with 80 percent of precincts reporting.  

Trott’s win will end the short tenure of Bentivolio, one of the few House incumbents to lose in his or her primary this cycle. He was dubbed the “accidental congressman” in 2012 and received ridicule in the past for his work as a reindeer farmer and Santa Claus impersonator. 

Bentivolio made it to Congress in 2012 largely because Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) failed to collect enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot that year.