McKenzie enters race for Michigan 11th Congressional District

  Bobby McKenzie, a former counterterrorism advisor, has jumped into the 11th Congressional District race as a Democrat.
  McKenzie, 39, announced Thursday that we was running for the seat held by Milford Republican Kerry Bentivolio.
In making his announcement, the Canton resident was critical both of Bentivolio and Bentivolio's Republican primary opponent David Trott.

  "The men and women of this district deserve better than a divisive Tea Party extremist like Kerry Bentivolio, and we deserve better than the prospect of David Trott, a man who made a fortune off the bankruptcies and foreclosures that have devastated our region," McKenzie said in his announcement.
  McKenzie was raised in Dearborn Heights, earned an economics degree from Michigan State University and a master's degree in security studies from Georgetown University.
  For the past 15 years, he has worked for U.S. intelligence at the state department.
  He may face an uphill battle in the 11th Congressional District representing western Oakland and northwest Wayne counties.
  New district boundaries that took effect after the 2012 election shifted the district more into Oakland County from Wayne County, where Republicans are stronger.
  However, Bentivolio, 62, is in his first term and faces a challenge from Trott in next year's GOP primary.
  A Bentivolio spokesman said Democrats are desperate.
  "The Democrats are desperate to build support for their radical liberal agenda in Washington," Bentivolio spokesman Matt Chisholm said. "McKenzie will be just another rubber stamp for President Obama and his failed economic policies.  We look forward to having a debate with McKenzie about Obamacare and the best path forward for our country."
  Trott, meanwhile, announced endorsements Thursday by Republicans who didn't favor Bentivolio as the replacement for former Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, who abruptly quit Congress in 2012 over election fraud by some of his staff.
  Those endorsements include former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, state Sen. John Pappageorge, and Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson.
  The 11th Congressional District now represents the Oakland County communities of Auburn Hills, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, part of Clawson, Commerce Township, Farmington, Highland Township, Lake Angelus, Lyon Township, Milford, Milford Township, Northville, Novi, Novi Township, part of Rochester Hills, South Lyon, Troy, Walled Lake, Waterford Township, part of West Bloomfield Township, White Lake Township, Wixom and Wolverine Lake, and the Wayne County communities of Canton Township, Livonia, Northville Township, Plymouth and Plymouth Township.