Gov. Snyder Endorses Hoekstra In Senate Race

SOUTHFIELD (WWJ/AP) - Gov. Rick Snyder has endorsed Pete Hoekstra in the Republican race for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Debbie Stabenow.

Snyder and Hoekstra made the announcement Monday in Southfield. Governors usually avoid picking favorites in a contested primary, but Snyder says the former congressman from western Michigan is needed to fix a "broken" Washington.

Hoekstra told WWJ Newsradio 950 one of his focuses would be the banking industry.

"I'm serving on the board for a small bank, and what I'm seeing there now is, once again, the heavy hand of the federal government making it difficult, if not impossible, for the banking community to do the banking business," said Hoekstra.

Hoekstra also pointed to his record of past record of fighting for less government regulation in other areas, including public education.

"I fought hard against my presidents, all of our presidents, but one that I helped elect, George Bush's 'No Child Left Behind' because I thought it was a massive expansion of the federal government's role in K through 12 education," he said.

"Go talk to the Michigan Education Association, and what they will tell you is that they want control of education back in the state," Hoekstra said.

The five-candidate Republican field includes charter school executive Clark Durant, former Kent County Judge Randy Hekman, Roscommon businessman Peter Konetchy and Gary Glenn of Midland, president of the American Family Association of Michigan.

Durant has the endorsement of three former heads of the Michigan Republican Party: Saul Anuzis, Betsy DeVos and Spencer Abraham, a former senator who was defeated by Stabenow in 2000.

The primary election is next August.

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