Thad McCotter Running Write-In Campaign After Acknowledging Ballot Mishap

GOP Rep. Taking Unconventional Action To Clean Up 'Mess'

U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter (R-Mich.) announced Tuesday that he will run a write-in campaign for reelection to his seat, agreeing with Michigan's secretary of state's office that the number of valid signatures on his submitted petitions were insufficient to qualify for the ballot.

"Having promised people I would seek another term in the United States Congress and, thereby, give them the chance to vote for or against me, the only way to clean up my mess is to run a write-in campaign for the Republican nomination for Michigan's 11th Congressional District," he wrote in an op-ed in the Detroit News.

His campaign submitted 2,000 signatures but his state's Board of Elections reviewed them and determined that fewer than 1,000 -- the number required to get on the ballot -- were valid.

McCotter has won election to Congress in every race since 2002. He briefly ran for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination. Businessman Kerry Bentivolio is on the GOP ballot, whereas Bill Roberts and Syed Taj are on the Democratic primary ballot in a swing district in the suburbs of Detroit.

"Yes, a write-in campaign is a difficult hill to climb but, as I am responsible for the hill, I will climb it to the utmost of my ability," McCotter said.

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