U.S. House of Representatives incumbent member Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, appeared to fend off a challenger for the party's nomination in Tuesday's primary.

By the time The State News went to press, Rogers, in District 8, received slightly more than 87 percent of the votes in Ingham County over challenger Patrick Flynn, who received slightly more than 12 percent of the vote.

Democratic candidate Jim Marcinkowski was unopposed.

The district covers Clinton, Ingham, Livingston and parts of Oakland and Shiawassee counties.

Rogers, who is seeking his fourth term in the House, said in a statement he was grateful for the votes.

"The pressures of elections hardly compare with the pressures on Michigan families and the economy," Rogers said. "I will continue to fight for alternative fuels like ethanol to lower energy prices, and for economic and retirement security for all Michigan workers."

Flynn said the days leading to the primary were exhilarating.

"Its been very exciting to be part of this whole process," Flynn said.

Despite losing, Flynn said running was a great experience.

"I've always had the philosophy that I was going to do the best with what I had and leave the rest in the hands of the voters," Flynn said. "I have great peace."

For others, the day of the election was like any other.

Because he didn't face a challenger in the primary, Marcinkowski said he spent the day working across the district talking to people.

He was eager to get his campaign for the general election started.

"Tomorrow we will begin to hold Mike Rogers accountable for what he's done in Washington and restore hope for the middle class," Marcinkowski said.

In other elections around the state, Republican Mike Bouchard was leading Keith Butler in the U.S. Senate GOP primary Tuesday, as each Oakland County candidate sought to make his first statewide splash.

The winner faces incumbent Democrat Debbie Stabenow in November.

With nearly 17 percent of the precincts counted, Bouchard had 58 percent, or 58,882 votes. Butler had 42 percent, or 42,307 votes.

In the U.S. House race, Republican challenger Tim Walberg took an early lead against Rep. Joe Schwarz in Tuesday's GOP primary, helped by a staunchly conservative message that targeted the moderate congressman in the southern Michigan district.

With 17 percent of the district's precincts reporting, Walberg had 64 percent, or 6,046 votes, to Schwarz's 36 percent, or 3,398 votes.

Bouchard was leading in most counties reporting returns, but Butler was doing fairly well in the southwest part of the state.

Bouchard, the Oakland County sheriff, and Butler, a minister and former Detroit City councilman now living in Troy, are fairly well-known in southeast Michigan. But they battled to win votes and boost their name recognition statewide in a race that has been overshadowed by Michigan's gubernatorial campaign.

Bouchard was scheduled to await campaign results with supporters in Birmingham.

"It remains to be seen," Butler said of the race's outcome, noting he was doing well in some key Republican areas. "It shows if you stay up there and work hard, you can make a difference."

Stabenow did not have a primary opponent. She planned to kick off a three-day campaign swing Wednesday with stops in Detroit, Flint and Grand Rapids, followed by a northern Michigan swing Thursday through Marquette, Traverse City and Alpena, with a final stop Friday in Lansing.

Bouchard loaned his campaign $250,000 as the election neared and the race appeared to be getting closer. Butler earlier had spent more than $500,000 of his own money on his campaign.

Either Republican could have a tough time beating Stabenow. The first-term senator has better name recognition and a healthier campaign bank account.

Stabenow reported nearly $4.4 million in cash on hand as of July 19, more than Bouchard and Butler had spent combined at that point in the primary election. Stabenow's campaign already has bought more than $2.5 million worth of air time for campaign TV commercials before the November election.

Butler and Bouchard agree on many of the issues facing Michigan. Both are anti-abortion, oppose gay marriage and generally back President Bush in Iraq.

Bouchard tried to distinguish himself by emphasizing his legislative and law enforcement experience. Butler tried to use the political experience against Bouchard, labeling him a career politician.

Butler, 50, built a megachurch from scratch. Word of Faith International Christian Center now has 21,000 members at its Southfield church and thousands more in satellites across the U.S.