Senate races to watch

1st District

Seat: Open; held by Democrat Hansen Clark, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick in the 13th District race

Where: Detroit, near the Grosse Pointes

Why watch: Well-known names dazzle in this race: Former Rep. LaMar Lemmons, who term limited out of the House in 2005; Coleman A. Young Jr., whose name is a Detroit legacy; and former Rep. Mary Waters, who recently escaped jail time on a misdemeanor tax charge and was party to a headline-grabbing case involving convicted Detroit political consultant Sam Riddle.

Also running: Democrats Dobey Gavin and Lisa Nuszkowski, and Republican Dakeisha L. Harwick

2nd District

Seat: Open; Democrat Irma Clark-Coleman is term-limited

Where: The district covers an economically and racially diverse swath of Wayne County from Highland Park to the Grosse Pointes.

Why watch: This race is exploding with eight candidates on the Democratic side, but will likely come down to a battle between Reps. Bert Johnson and Bettie Scott. Whoever wins will face Grosse Pointe Park financial planner John Chouinard, the only Republican running.

Also running: Hans Barbe, Tracey Blair, Olivia Boykins, Ken Daniels, Carol Kennedy, Kush Shaqiri, Rita Smith and Steve Smith

7th District

Seat: Open; Republican Bruce Patterson is term-limited

Where: Western Wayne County communities including much of the Downriver area as well as Canton Township, Huron Township, part of Northville, Northville Township, Plymouth, Plymouth Township, Van Buren Township and Woodhaven

Why watch: Could flip to the Democrats. Four Republicans are vying to challenge former Rep. Kathleen Law, the only Democrat on the ballot. Former Republican Rep. John Stewart is running as an independent and expected to caucus with the Democrats if elected.

Also running: Republicans Patrick Colbeck, Abe Munfakh, Dan Osterman and former state Rep. Deborah Whyman

9th District

Seat: Open; Democrat Dennis Olshove is term-limited

Where: Macomb County communities of Center Line, Eastpointe, Fraser, Lake Township, St. Clair Shores and Warren

Why watch: Former Democratic Reps. Steven Bieda and Frank Accavitti Jr. are in a tough match to capture the primary in this Democratic district.

Also running: Republicans Michael Ennis and John Vostoris

10th District

Seat: Open; Democrat Mickey Switalski is term-limited and hoping to nudge out U.S. Rep. Sander Levin

Where: Macomb County, including Clinton Township, Roseville, Sterling Heights and Utica

Why watch: One of two Senate seats Republicans hope to flip. They're counting on Tory Rocca, whose last name carries lots of credibility in Macomb.

Also running: Rocca will face one of two Democratic heavyweights in November: Paul Gieleghem is chairman of the Macomb County Board of Commissioners; Carl Marlinga is a former Macomb County prosecutor.

12th District

Seat: Open; Republican Majority Leader Mike Bishop is running for state attorney general

Where: Oakland County, including Auburn Hills, Oakland Township, Orion Township, Oxford Township, Pontiac, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Sylvan Lake, Clarkston and part of West Bloomfield Township.

Why watch: An abundance of candidates on the Republican side makes this exciting. The survivor will face one of two Democratic hopefuls in November: Ted Golden or Casandra Ulbrich

Also running: Republicans are former Rep. John Garfield, Lois Golden, Rep. Jim Marleau, Copper Rizzo, Kim Russell and Gene Taliercio

18th District

Seat: Open, Liz Brater is term-limited

Where: Parts of Washtenaw County including Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor Township, Dexter Township, Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township

Why watch: Two veteran legislators are duking it out for the Democratic nomination: Rep. Pam Byrnes of Chelsea and Rep. Rebekah Warren of Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor Democrat Thomas Partridge fills out the field.

Also running: Republicans John Hochstetler and Gary Wellings

20th District

Seat: Open; Republican Tom George is running for governor

Where: Kalamazoo County and part of Van Buren, including Antwerp and Paw Paw townships.

Why watch: Kalamazoo County voters are a 50-50 split and the field offers five serious contenders for a win in November, three on one side and two on the other. No wonder more money was raised for the Kalamazoo race than any other in the state.

Who's also running: Republicans include Rep. Larry DeShazor of Portage, Rep. Tonya Schuitmaker of Lawton and former Rep. Lorence Wenke of Galesburg. On the Democratic side are Rep. Robert Jones of Kalamazoo and Mark Totten, an assistant law professor at Michigan State University.

26th District

Seat: Open; Democrat Deb Cherry is term-limited

Where: Part of Genesee County including Davison Township, Grand Blanc and Grand Blanc Township; and part of Oakland County including Brandon, Groveland, Springfield and Waterford townships.

Why watch: This is the Republicans' best hope for flipping a Senate seat their way, with three well-known Republicans and a political newcomer vying for the nomination: Grand Blanc Mayor Michael Matheny, former state Rep. David Robertson, the Rev. Tim Terpening of Davisburg and former business executive Fran Amos. Strong Democratic candidates will make for an interesting battle in November.

Also running: Democrats are Rep. Jim Slezak of Davison and Burton City Councilwoman Paula Zelenko.

29th District

Seat: Open, term-limited Republican Bill Hardiman is running for Congress.

Where: Kent County communities of Cascade Township, Grand Rapids, Grattan Township, Kentwood, Lowell and Vergennes Township

Why watch: One of the four Senate seats observers say could flip to the Democratic side with Rep. Robert Dean or Grand Rapids businessman David LaGrand.

Also running: Rep. Dave Hildenbrand of Lowell, Judith Faye Kapteyn and Lori Wiersma, all Republicans.

-- Karen Bouffard