MARQUETTE, MI (AP)-- Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Lon Johnson is resigning so he can run against Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Benishek in Michigan's 1st Congressional District.
Johnson formally announced his candidacy Thursday night at the Marquette County Democrats' summer picnic in Ishpeming. The 44-year-old has a residence in Kalkaska County east of Traverse City.
The competitive 1st District includes the entire Upper Peninsula and all or part of 17 counties in the northern Lower Peninsula.
Benishek has held the seat since 2011. Johnson lost a 2012 state House election in northern Michigan before becoming party leader in 2013.
He previously worked for a Tennessee-based private equity firm.
Democratic state Rep. Brandon Dillon of Grand Rapids says he is interested in serving as the new party chairman.