Six Republican incumbents will face challenges from Democrats in all seven districts.

Don Black has decided to retire as commissioner from the Seventh District and Republicans Rick Cain and Nathaniel Sherman will vie in Aug. 7 primary and face Democrat Rachel Collingsworth in the Nov. 6 contest.

Veteran Commissioner Mark DeYoung in the Fourth District will get a challenge from Democrat Mike Salisbury, a Wayland businessman.

Gale Dugan of Otsego will be opposed by Democrat Ben Snape in November in a race in the Sixth District.

In other county contests, incumbent Dean Kapenga will be challenged by Anthony Brown in the First District with Democrat Christi Allen waiting in the wings for November; Democrat Ken Whitcomb will take on GOP incumbent Jim Storey in the Second District; incumbent Republican Max Thiele will take on William Sorensen will do battle in the Aug. 7 primary to win the right to meet Democrat Kathryn Bamberg, and Tom Jessup will face Democrat Don Doggendorf in the Fifth District.

The complete list of candidates is somewhat of a surprise for the Allegan County Democratic Party, as Chairwoman Jill Dunham is hoping for a “blue wave” to overtake perhaps a complacent GOP. The Dems have been much more active than in the past, coming off a successful Sixth Congressional District candidates’ forum in Wayland and plans for one of the two Democratic attorney general candidates to speak next month.