Rep. Bill Huizenga's conservative voting record is substantially similar to his Michigan Republican colleague, Rep. Fred Upton. Across the state, there are relatively few policy differences between Democratic Reps. Haley Stevens and Andy Levin, both with liberal voting records.

But to stay in Congress, Huizenga and Upton will have to fight it out in the 4th District Republican primary, based in western Michigan. Stevens and Levin face the same predicament in the 11th Congressional District in a Democratic stronghold north of Detroit. Redistricting in Michigan, conducted by an independent commission that approved district lines for the next census, has scrambled the Wolverine State's political maps.

Michigan is losing a seat due to comparatively slow population growth. Under the new 13-seat map, either party could likely win up to nine seats in a strong political year. And as usually happens in the decennial redistricting process, some House members are forced to run against each other as their only option to stay in Congress. And because there's relatively little disagreement on policy, campaigns are often run on opponents' alleged scandal, personal foibles, and mistakes. It can make for a "scorpions in a bottle" grudge match that is much meaner and nastier than when Republican and Democratic rivals face off in races dominated by consequential public policy issues.

Additional matchups will likely emerge as states finalize their maps, but here is a look at some of the member vs. member primaries already taking shape around the country.

DEMOCRATS FACE ANOTHER MEMBER VS. MEMBER PRIMARY

Michigan

Michigan will likely see two member vs. member primaries next year: one between Democrats Stevens and Levin and one between Republicans Upton and Huizenga.

Shortly after the state’s independent redistricting commission approved a new congressional map, Stevens and Levin both announced they will run in the state’s new 11th District, a solidly Democratic seat north of Detroit that in 2020 backed President Joe Biden by 20 points.

The map placed Upton and Huizenga in the same Grand Rapids-area 4th District. Huizenga announced his intentions to run in the district in a tweet, while Upton has not yet made his plans clear.


Upton was one of 10 House Republicans to impeach former President Donald Trump, and the former president has backed his current primary challenger, based on the outgoing district lines. It is unclear if the shift in the district will prompt Trump to back Huizenga instead.

Georgia

Rep. Lucy McBath will vacate her 6th District seat to run in the 7th District instead — against fellow Democratic Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux. Georgia’s redistricting process left the suburban Atlanta 6th District friendlier to Republicans. Bourdeaux is more of a centrist Democrat than the progressive McBath, and their primary could mirror similar divisions playing out in the larger Democratic Party.

Illinois

In Illinois, a new congressional map will likely leave Democrats in control of 14 of the state’s 17 congressional districts. Though the map will add Democratic seats, it doesn’t protect every Democratic incumbent, and freshman Rep. Marie Newman is now in the same district as Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia. But Newman declined a bid against Garcia, her fellow vice chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, instead announcing she would challenge Democratic Rep. Sean Casten in the new 6th District.

Illinois will likely see a Republican vs. Republican primary as well: First-term GOP Rep. Mary Miller was left without a seat after the redistricting process. She has indicated she will still run in a Republican district but has not yet announced whether it will be in that of Republican Reps. Rodney Davis or Mike Bost.

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West Virginia

In West Virginia, Republican Reps. David McKinley and Alex Mooney are running against each other for the same district after the state lost a House seat. Mooney is running ads in the state touting his endorsement from Trump, but early polls indicate McKinley is leading the race.