The gubernatorial campaigns of five Republican Party candidates for Michigan governor have been rocked this week by the State Elections Bureau recommending they be dropped from the August primary ballot because they didn’t meet the minimum requirements for petitions signatures.

However, Democrat Joseph Alfonso also failed to pick up the required 1,000 signatures in order to run for Congress in the Fourth District, which includes all of Allegan County. This means Republican Bill Huizenga of Holland could run without opposition in both the primary and general elections.

Incumbent Fred Upton earlier this year decided not to seek re-election to an office he has held since 1987.

Republican candidates for governor James Craig, Perry Johnson, Michael Markey, Michael Brown and Donna Brandenburg all have been determined to lack the minimum requirement of 15,000 signatures. The State Board of Canvassers will meet Thursday to decide ultimately if they will be kicked off the Aug. 2 ballot.

Craig and Johnson have been the top two candidates in polling.