Knollenberg Falls in Southeast Michigan District

Central Michigan University professor Gary Peters has knocked off Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R) in Michigan’s 9th congressional district.

With 81 percent of precincts reporting, Peters led with 51 percent to Knollenberg’s 43 percent.

Peters had made an issue of Knollenberg’s close ties to the Bush administration, and benefited from an anti-incumbent attitude among voters in Michigan’s longtime economically depressed regions.

Peters also took advantage of heavy funding by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and benefited when the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) canceled planned ad buys in favor of Knollenberg in the weeks immediately preceding Election Day.

–Michael O’Brien