Gary McDowell, the Democrat who is running for Bart Stupak’s congressional seat in closely divided Dist. 1, has inched ahead of Republican Dan Benishek, according to a new poll published by the Detroit News.
The Mitchell Research and Communications poll of 1,219 likely voters conducted Sunday night found that although Republican candidates for statewide office continue to lead by large margins, McDowell appears to have a opened 3 percent lead on Benishek.
The Dist. 1 race is being watched nationally because it is seen as one of the races that could determine whether Republicans are able to take back the House.
A September poll commissioned by Benishek showed him with a substantial lead in a two way race with McDowell.
The candidacy of Glenn Wilson, a conservative who is running as an Independent, has complicated Republican efforts to retake the seat.