Sec 23:  Judicial vacancies, filling; appointee, term; successor; new offices.

A vacancy shall occur in the office of judge of any court of record or in the district court by death, removal, resignation or vacating of the office, and such vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the governor. The person appointed by the governor shall hold office until 12 noon of the first day of January next succeeding the first general election held after the vacancy occurs, at which election a successor shall be elected for the remainder of the unexpired term. Whenever a new office of judge in a court of record, or the district court, is created by law, it shall be filled by election as provided by law. The supreme court may authorize persons who have been elected and served as judges to perform judicial duties for limited periods or specific assignments.

So it seems that, due to a constitutional lack of provision with respect to Senate confirmation of a Gubernatorial appointment, Justice Weaver and Governor Granholm set up a situation wherein the Democrat Party gets to throw their own "incumbent" onto the general ballot . . . likely from Jenny's own donor list.  I don't know whom the MDP was planning on running this year, or even if they had targeted both seats, but the reality of the matter is that neither of their choices would have had the advantages that come with incumbency.  Now, one will.