Byrum claims victory in 8th District race

DETROIT (AP) - State Sens. Dianne Byrum and Mike Rogers battled to win the election yesterday in mid-Michigan's 8th congressional district, a seat that both parties have focused on in trying to control the U.S. House.

Byrum declared victory early today based on what her campaign said were better-than-expected margins of victory in traditionally Democratic Ingham County.

"We were talking about what was important to the families of this district, and what I was going to do as their representative, their voice, that made the difference in this race," she said from her victory party in Lansing.

Republican Gov. John Engler dismissed Byrum's claim and predicted that Rogers, a former FBI agent from Howell and the second-ranking Republican in the state Senate, would win.

"It's amazing," Engler said. "I know everybody's operating on the basis of these exit polls. I'm reacting to what I'm being told is the actual vote at the precinct level."

As of 3:30 a.m., Byrum, a hardware store owner and moderate Democrat from rural Onondaga, had a 150-vote lead, 108,152 to 108,002.

That amounted to 49 percent for each.

U.S. House 8th District

Rogers GOP 108,002

As of 3:30 a.m.

AP PHOTO

Michigan state Sen. Dianne Byrum, right, Democratic 8th District congressional candidate, speaks to local media at the UAW Local 652 Union Hall yesterday.