Michigan is set to host its primary polls on August 2, 2022. The elections will put key offices with incumbents at stake, most of whom are Democrats. The Republican party has installed its top competitors for the primary elections.

The Republican primary for governor, a highly crowded race, was wild from the start. Five candidates were kicked off the ballot for failing to file enough valid nominating signatures, Associated Press reported.

Also Read: US primaries: What’s on the ballot for Michigan elections

The remaining candidates seem to share a common goal: To eliminate governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat and incumbent, from the top office. Ryan Kelley, a real estate broker, and Tudor Dixon are the frontrunners for the Republican nomination.

Kelley has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges after authorities said he rallied Trump’s supporters to storm the US Capitol. Businessman Kevin Rinke was sued in the 1990s for sexual harassment and racial discrimination — allegations he says were lies.

Chiropractor Garrett Soldano hawked supplements he falsely claimed treated COVID-19. Businesswoman Tudor Dixon, who has been endorsed by Trump, has previously acted in low-budget horror pictures, one of which included a zombie biting off a man’s genitals.

All of the candidates falsely say there was fraud in the 2020 election, with Dixon, Kelley and Soldano saying the election was stolen from Trump.

Also Read: US primaries: Why Ryan Kelley’s Michigan governor bid is controversial

Republican Representative Peter Meijer is hoping to hold on to his seat after voting to impeach Trump. The former president has endorsed businessman and missionary John Gibbs, who worked in the Trump administration under Housing Secretary Ben Carson.

Multiple state and Congressional offices in Michigan are also at stake in the upcoming primary elections. These include the Secretary of State, Attorney General and all US House of Representatives seats. No US Senate seat is up for grabs on August 2 in Michigan.