Retired nurse Cindy Duran plans to challenge State Representative Al Pscholka in the state House district that runs along Lake Michigan in Berrien County.
The Gongwer News Service (subscription required) reports that Pscholka's vote for Medicaid expansion is part of the reason that Duran is launching a challenge in the Republican primary. Tea party activists have said that Republicans who voted for Medicaid expansion could face challenges in next year's primary.
Pscholka says he often gets questions about the vote, and says it does require some explaining. But he says expanding Medicaid will cut down on emergency room visits and encourage healthy behavior.
Duran says she's running to bring the Republican party back to a "conservative, limited government platform." But Duran acknowledges the long odds of knocking off an incumbent in a Republican primary.
