Challenger defeats Cooper in Oakland County prosecutor race

PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) - Voters in Michigan’s second-largest county have ousted longtime prosecutor and former judge Jessica Cooper.

Karen McDonald crushed Cooper in the Democratic primary election for Oakland County prosecutor, capturing about 66% of the vote Tuesday. She will face Republican nominee Lin Goetz in November.

Cooper was elected prosecutor in 2008. She also was a judge in Southfield, on the county Circuit Court and the Michigan appeals court.

McDonald resigned as a judge to challenge Cooper. Her platform includes “finding smarter alternatives to incarceration” for nonviolent, low-level offenders.

She was endorsed by Attorney General Dana Nessel, Wayne County prosecutor Kym Worthy and Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.