Secretary of State gets another term

Republican Secretary of State Ruth Johnson has defeated Democratic challenger Godfrey Dillard in her bid for a second four-year term as Michigan’s top elections and driver services official.  Johnson is a former Oakland County register of deeds and ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 2006. She was elected secretary of state in 2010.  This year, Johnson has campaigned on her efforts to improve Michigan motor vehicle registration and driver’s license system.  She says she plans to build on efforts to improve online services and reduce the waiting in line that long has been the complaint of Michigan motorists.  Dillard is a prominent civil rights lawyer and campaigned on making voting easier.  Libertarian James Lewis, U.S. Taxpayers’ Robert Gale and Natural Law Party’s Jason Robert Gatties also were on Tuesday’s ballot. (AP)