A candidate for the Michigan State Senate has withdrawn following a major medical incident.
Michael Tipton has withdrawn from the race for the 22nd State Senate seat after suffering a massive heart attack on Tuesday while vacationing in Florida.
Livingston County Democratic Party Chair Judy Daubenmier said that emergency responders quickly got him to a hospital and a stent was inserted.
“He remains in intensive care and a valve clip surgery to repair a leaky valve is planned at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville to help him get stronger for open heart surgery at a later date,” said Daubenmier.
“Mike has many friends within the Democratic Party and the community. We all are extremely worried about him, and our thoughts are with his wife, Judith Minton, and his children at this time,” she said, adding that the expectation was Tipton would have been “a fantastic candidate and run a strong race, but all that matters right now is that he recover completely.”
His daughter, Katie, is with Mike. “Everything is taking small positive steps in the right direction,” she said.
Tipton had been the only Democrat to file for the newly drawn district. State Sen. Lana Theis (R-Brighton Township) is running for the GOP nomination, and is being challenged by Mike Detmer of Howell.
