Republican Tim Walberg wins 7th district Michigan House seat over Democratic incumbent Mark Schauer

Tim Walberg

File photo

DETROIT (AP) — Republican Tim Walberg has beaten Democratic incumbent Mark Schauer in Michigan's 7th Congressional District, taking back the seat he lost to Schauer two years ago.

Both national parties poured in more than $1 million over the past month and a half to try to sway voters in the key race.

The National Republican Congressional Committee said last week it had spent more on the Walberg-Schauer rematch than any other race in the country.

With 81 percent of precincts reporting, Walberg had 50.6 percent of the vote to 44.8 percent for Schauer, a 49-year-old former state senator from Battle Creek.

The 59-year-old Walberg is a former pastor from Tipton who served in the state House from 1983-98.