State Sen. Mike Kowall, R-White Lake, has suspended his campaign for Congress in the new district where he would have faced a Republican primary against U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Livonia.

  Kowall announced he was suspending his campaign during Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's State of the State address Wednesday evening.
  Kowall wrote:

  "During the past year, Michigan Republicans have shown what’s possible with principled, conservative leadership.

  "We’ve eliminated Michigan’s structural budget deficit. We’ve replaced the Michigan Business Tax. We’ve eliminated job-killing regulations and streamlined state government.

  "Our economy is responding. Unemployment is down. Job creation is up. And our families are beginning to have hope in the future again.

  "In one year, Michigan Republicans have accomplished a lot to turn our state around -- but there’s still more work to be done.

  "Therefore, after much reflection and discussion with my family, I’ve decided to continue my work in the Michigan Senate and to suspend my candidacy for Congress in 2012."

  McCotter briefly sought the Republican nomination for president earlier this year.
The congressional district includes much of west Oakland County and much of Kowall's state Senate district.