Three candidates have announced they are running for the 6^th Congressional District seat held by Republican Fred Upton.

Joining Upton on the ballot are a former state representative, Libertarian Lorence Wenke of Kalamazoo, and Democrat Paul Clements of Kalamazoo and

Upton has served in Congress since 1986, when he defeated Mark Siljander in the primary and cruised in the general election that year. The 6^th Congressional District includes a large chunk of southwest Michigan and all of Allegan County.

Wenke, owner of a floral business, was a Republican state legislator until he lost in a primary contest because of his support of gay rights. He also has been a candidate for state senate and has left the Republican Party, declaring he is conservative on fiscal issues, but moderate on social issues.

Clements, a political science professor at Western Michigan University, earned his bachelor’s degree from Harvard and his doctorate from Princeton.

PHOTOS: Fred Upton   Paul Clements   Lorence Wenke