Tag Archives: Politics

Biden & Peters Claim Victory in Michigan

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Just four years after a surprising upset in the Mitten state, Joe Biden has seemingly pulled the state back into the Democrat column. Senate incumbent candidate, Gary Peters, also pulled off a hard fought battle with challenger, John James to claim reelection.

The battle appears far from over, though, as legal challenges have already been raised and messy counts in Shiawassee and Antrim counties cast doubt on the credibility of the electoral process.

Biden appears to have largely been the beneficiary of massive increases in voter participation from the expansion of absentee and early voting. Voters who seldom turn out on Election Day were able to cast ballots with unprecedented ease this cycle, leading to celebration by some and criticism by others.

The election is still being held in limbo as several states hang in the balance around the country and even more court battles begin. Stay tuned for more unbiased election news in the coming weeks.

Michigan to Host Dueling Visits from Presidential Candidates this Week

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Michigan will receive visits from 2020 hopefuls, Joe Biden and Donald Trump, this week.

The former vice president arrives to deliver remarks at 1:15 pm today in Warren, MI and the president will hold a rally for supporters in Freeland, MI tomorrow at 7 pm.

The visits mark the kickoff of what is sure to be a busy push by both parties in the Mitten State between now and election day. Michigan was a hotly contested race in 2016 and appears to be tightening once again as discontent towards democratic Governor Whitmer’s coronavirus response has reinvigorated republicans and some independents. 2020 also appears poised to test whether years of anti-Trump sentiment can hold long enough and strong enough to flip the state that went red just four years ago.

Stay tuned for our coverage of both candidates and their remarks this week and throughout election season.

Governor Whitmer to Hold Press Conference: Fate of Gyms, Theaters and Sports Expected to be Addressed

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Governor Whitmer has scheduled a press conference this afternoon at 2:30 pm. A day after theaters, gyms owners and athletes across the state hoped to hear good news, it appears their wait may be coming to an end.

The announcement was expected yesterday afternoon, but the governor and other officials announced that no decision had been made at that time.

Today’s press conference seems most likely to give an answer in either direction and many expect that gyms, theaters and indoor high school sports will be able to resume following Labor Day weekend. Stay tuned for more coverage of the governor’s press conference this afternoon.

Meijer & Tlaib Grab High Profile Primary Victories before November Election

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Two primary races had their answer early on primary election night, while the race that drew most attention across the state and nation required more time to settle over night.

In a battle to challenge Republican turned Independent turned Libertarian party congressman Justin Amash for his 3rd District house seat, Peter Meijer overcame state representative veteran Lynn Afendoulis.

Meijer, a veteran and member of the affluent Meijer family in West Michigan, announced his candidacy immediately following Amash’s decision to split with the GOP ticket. The bid was an apparent answer to Amash’s centrist track of governance, which has challenged both sides of the aisle on policy and excess. The role has often left him playing the foil in a lane that has brought him a cult following, but a lot of political rivals along the way.

Meijer’s announcement was a clear shot across the bow that sought to capitalize on discontent among GOP Trump loyalists and supporters who have grown weary of Amash’s criticisms of the president. He will no doubt try to amplify that chorus between now and November in a race that is sure to draw national attention and forecast the political climate in West Michigan.

Meanwhile, across the state, incumbent Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan’s 13th district had to wait until the next day for confirmation, thanks in part to the historically large numbers of ballots being cast by mail. The race showcased the challenges sure to be found this November, as well as some unique factors that may come into play with this season’s demographic turnout.

Tlaib bested longtime Detroit councilwoman, Brenda Jones, in a rematch of 2018. Unlike that race, this year pitted the two in a one-on-one matchup.

Political aficionados and twitter activists watched this race from across the nation. Tlaib has made a name for herself nationally in her inaugural term, even if at times for notorious reasons. She famously screamed to “Impeach the mother f——-!” in front of a raucous crowd of supporters and underwent an inquiry into potential ethics violations during her 2018 campaign. That inquiry ended this week after the investigation, dating to fall of 2019, concluded. The house ordered Tlaib to pay back over ten thousand dollars she had withdrawn from the campaign coffers for personal, but stopped short of leveling the congresswoman with any official indictment.

Whether in spite of these news items or perhaps because of the national recognition she has received from them, Tlaib walked away with a solid victory and will likely make her way back to the halls of congress for a second term this November.

Bernie Sanders Earns First-Ever “Detroit Action” Presidential Endorsement

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE via Bernie 2020
March 6, 2020

DETROIT – Detroit Action, a grassroots organization that fights for the equity and equality of black and brown Michiganders, on Friday endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders for president. In their first-ever endorsement in a presidential primary, Detroit Action highlighted Sen. Sanders’ career of standing in solidarity with working class communities of color.

“The most important action that we can take right now, is doing whatever it takes to ensure that we elect someone with whom we can truly work to dismantle this oppressive administration,” said Executive Director of Detroit Action, Branden Snyder. “We believe that a vote for Senator Sanders is a strategic intervention into the Democratic primary system and against neoliberal economic policy and the political status quo that candidates like former Vice President Joe Biden represent. While we believe Senator Sanders would move us much closer to a country where everyone has the freedom to thrive, our endorsement recognizes that no candidate is perfect and that we must continue to hold them accountable. It is a decision to help our communities interpret the choices before them and to advance our platform for justice.”
 “Detroit Action knows what it takes to organize and turn out the vote,” said Bernie 2020 Michigan State Coordinator Michael Fasullo. “Together, we’re going to continue our work of reaching out, lifting up and empowering black and brown working class Michiganders across the state.”  
 Detroit Action began their member-led presidential primary endorsement process in February, with the goal of not supporting any candidates whose policy positions have directly or indirectly lead to the disenfranchisement of black and brown people. Sen. Sanders was selected due to his support of policies detailed in Detroit Action’s Agenda For A New Economy, including Medicare for All, criminal justice reform and housing for all.
 Detroit Action will be reaching out to 40,000 Detroiters in the lead up to the Michigan primary to elevate the experiences of working class black and brown voters. In the lead up to November, Detroit Actionplan to knock on close to 275,000 doors of black and brown working class families in Metro Detroit to learn about the issues they care about and mobilize them into action. 
 Sen. Sanders has also welcomed support in Michigan from U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib, Detroit City Council President Pro Tempore Mary Sheffield, DNC Member Michelle Deatrick, School Board Trustee of Kenowa Hills in Grand Rapids Eric-John Szczepaniak, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, State Representative (District 15) Abdullah Hammoud, Mayor Marcus Muhammad of Benton Harbor, State Representative (District 4) Isaac Robinson of Detroit, State Representative (District 53) Yousef Rabhi of Ann Arbor, Council Member (Ward 5) Ali Ramlawi of Ann Arbor, and Council Member Dave Abdallah of Dearborn Heights, as well as The Young Democrats of Michigan and the Progressive Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party.

Bernie Sanders Adds Stops to Michigan Swing Ahead of Primary

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE via Bernie 2020
March 5, 2020

WASHINGTON －Sen. Bernie Sanders will travel to Michigan this weekend to rally supporters in Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Ann Arbor ahead of the March 10 primary. 
Sen. Sanders’ previous trips to the Great Lakes State include joining the picket line in solidarity with striking United Auto Workers (UAW) members in Hamtramck, as well as rallies at Macomb Community College in Warren and Cass Technical High School in Detroit.

Here is the itinerary:

6:00 p.m. Bernie 2020 GOTV Ann Arbor Rally with Sen. Bernie Sanders, hosted by Students for Bernie at University of Michigan
University of Michigan, The Diag, 913 S University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Information for the public: Doors open at 4:30 p.m. EST. This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Entrance is provided on a first come, first served basis. Parking is limited; guests are encouraged to walk, bike or use public transportation/rideshare apps.

Former Michigan Senator Carl Levin Endorses Joe Biden

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE via 2020 Biden for President
March 4, 2020

Building on the momentum coming out of Super Tuesday, former Michigan Senator Carl Levinreleased the following statement endorsing Joe Biden for President of the United States:

“Like many Democrats in Michigan and across the country, I have struggled with the question of which Democratic presidential candidate has the best chance of defeating Donald Trump this November. All the Democratic candidates would be superior to four more years of endless Trump lies and divisiveness and incivility. All would end Trump’s relentless injection of venom against those who disagree with him and his endless elevation of his personal interest and ego above the interests of the nation.

“I have concluded that Vice President Joe Biden has the best chance of defeating Donald Trump – and the best chance of winning Michigan’s electoral votes.

“First, Joe Biden has the best chance of attracting votes of a broad cross-section of voters in Michigan and across the country, including some moderate voters who might vote for Trump or might not vote at all, rather than voting for a self-described socialist such as Sen. Bernie Sanders whose ideology is unappealing to those voters.

“Second, a major issue for me is the health of our auto industry, which accounts directly or indirectly for one in 10 jobs in our country. Joe Biden has a demonstrated record of standing up for auto workers, while Bernie Sanders at a critical moment for the industry’s survival did not.

“When the future of that industry was in doubt in 2008 and 2009, and big parts of the industry were in danger of going under in a tail spinning economy, Joe Biden was in the trenches as a senator and as Vice President-elect, fighting for and voting – along with my brother Sandy and I – for the bill that would contain the $19 billion that the industry needed to survive. Twice in the Senate, Joe Biden took tough votes that provided the assistance. Both he and then-Sen. Obama voted on Oct. 1, 2008 – in the midst of their heated presidential campaign – for the Troubled Asset Relief Program that provided that assistance to the auto industry and to financial markets. They did so even though a Republican president had requested the aid. Bernie Sanders voted no.

“The second key vote providing funding to save our auto industry came on Jan. 15, 2009. Obama was now the President-elect and Biden was the Vice President-elect. It was only five days before their inauguration. President Bush had authorized $13.5 billion of TARP funds to help the auto industry survive. But the law creating TARP divided the rescue program in half and set up a Congressional vote on the second half of the aid – including $4 billion in crucial aid to the auto industry. Obama and Biden pushed hard for approval, despite continued controversy over the aid. Once again, they were there for auto workers when it mattered. Sanders voted to disapprove the funding.

“If Bernie Sanders is our nominee, I foresee Trump, despite his own inconsistencies on support for the auto industry, would make a powerful media pitch that if Sanders had his way on those two key votes, much of the domestic auto industry would have gone under.

“I worked with Joe Biden for 30 years. I know personally of the facts that I am recounting here because I was there in person on the floor of the Senate when he cast those tough votes. By the time of that second vote in January 2009, 17,000 Americans a day were losing their jobs and more than 9,000 homes were going into foreclosure every day in our country. Joe Biden was taking practical steps to stop those losses, while Bernie Sanders was taking an ideological position. Both are good men and have good hearts and care about working people. But it was Biden who fought for us and acted effectively at a critical moment to bring those job losses and foreclosures to an end and to provide immediate and practical support for our critical auto industry here in Michigan. Biden’s experience in foreign affairs will help restore America’s role as a coalition builder and as a moral force in the world. With those qualities and with his more broad-based appeal I believe he has the best chance of defeating Trump in Michigan and helping our state and nation to get back on track.”

Levin’s endorsement adds to the growing support that Joe Biden has already garnered in Michigan, including former Governor Jennifer Granholm who endorsed earlier today. In addition, the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, State Representatives Joe Tate, Karen Whitsett, and Tenisha Yancey, and State Senator Marshall Bullock have also endorsed Biden. Nationally, Biden for President has previously announced more than 1,500 endorsements from national, state, and local leaders, including current and former U.S. senators and representatives, governors, state elected officials, community leaders, and national security professionals.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer Endorses Joe Biden

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE via 2020 Biden for President
March 5, 2020

Whitmer Named Fourth National Campaign Co-Chair

After historic wins in states across the country on Super Tuesday, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer released the following statement endorsing Joe Biden for President of the United States:

“Working families in Michigan need a president who will show up and fight for them, and Joe Biden has proven time and again that he has our backs. He had all of our backs when he worked with President Obama to expand health care to millions of people under the Affordable Care Act, including 680,000 Michiganders who now have coverage through Medicaid expansion. He had our backs during the auto industry rescue that saved GM and Chrysler. And he’s proven that he will continue to fight for those values and more as our next president.

“Joe Biden understands we’re at a crossroads in our country — he understands what’s at stake when working families are wondering whether they’ll be able to afford a doctors’ bill, or prescription drugs, or to put food on the table for themselves and their families.

“Michiganders have grit. We’re tough. We know what it’s like to be overlooked and counted out. And we know that when you get knocked down, you pick yourself up and get back to work. Joe Biden has been right there with us in the tough fights. He showed up for the people of Michigan when our health care and our auto industry were on the line. He helped us pick ourselves up and get back to work. I know he’ll do the same as president.

“Joe Biden is the candidate we need to defeat Donald Trump in November. He’s always had our backs. Now, I’m proud to have his.”

Whitmer’s endorsement adds to the growing support that Joe Biden has already garnered in Michigan, including former Michigan Senator Carl Levin and former Governor Jennifer Granholm who both endorsed Biden yesterday. In addition, the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, State Representatives Joe Tate, Karen Whitsett, and Tenisha Yancey, and State Senator Marshall Bullock have also endorsed Biden. Nationally, Biden for President has previously announced more than 1,500 endorsements from national, state, and local leaders, including current and former U.S. senators and representatives, governors, state elected officials, community leaders, and national security professionals.

Whitmer joins Delaware Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, Louisiana Congressman Cedric Richmond and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti as national campaign co-chairs, serving as a top advisor and surrogate as the campaign expands its efforts to clinch the Democratic nomination and defeat Donald Trump.

Michigan Congresswomen Elissa Slotkin, Haley Stevens, and Brenda Lawrence Endorse Joe Biden

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE via 2020 Biden for President
March 5, 2020

Today, Michigan Congresswomen Elissa Slotkin, Haley Stevens, and Brenda Lawrence released the following statements endorsing Joe Biden for President of the United States:

“Today, I filled out my absentee ballot for Joe Biden. I did so for a host of reasons, but most importantly because I hear from my constituents every day that they want an end to the all-or-nothing politics that have so polarized our country. All-or-nothing doesn’t get us lower drug costs or more affordable healthcare. It doesn’t raise water quality standards. It doesn’t protect our country from national security threats that endanger every American, regardless of party. In Michigan, we have a rich tradition of hard work, decency, and passionate pragmatism. That is what is expected of us in our lives, and that is what I believe we need from our elected leaders. That is why I support Joe Biden,” said Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin.

“When the auto industry was on its back, Joe Biden was determined to get workers raring to go again. He knew Michigan would be devastated if GM and Chrysler went bankrupt. But Joe Biden never quit, and now our auto industry is back on its feet. As a Member of Congress who flipped a Republican seat in 2018, I know the workers and families in my community. They’re fighters. And they’re not looking for lip service or promises that can’t be delivered. They’re looking for a leader who knows what their challenges are, and who rises above politics to deliver. That’s Joe Biden and it’s why we need him in the White House,” saidCongresswoman Haley Stevens.

“I proudly announce my endorsement of presidential candidate Joe Bidden, in a hope to restore America’s faith in our democracy. We must have a president who values telling the truth and who won’t dole out empty promises or stoke fear and anger. The people of this great country deserve a president who will not only listen but respect women’s voices and rights. Like so many Michiganders, Joe Biden and his family have known real loss and economic insecurity — and like us he’s persevered, never forgetting where he comes from. In order to bring about real change, for everyday Americans, we need to elect Joe Biden as President to help us in our fight to lower prescription drug costs, protect women’s reproductive rights, and provide for an affordable and accessible education. Joe Biden in the White House means we can accomplish these goals and so much more. Let’s rebuild America — let’s elect Joe Biden as our next President of the United States,” saidCongresswoman Brenda Lawrence.

Slotkin, Stevens, and Lawrence join a growing list of prominent Michigan leaders supporting Biden, including Governor Gretchen Whitmer, former Governor Jennifer Granholm, and former Michigan Senator Carl Levin, who announced their support this week. In addition, the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, State Representatives Joe Tate, Karen Whitsett, and Tenisha Yancey, and State Senator Marshall Bullock have also endorsed Biden.

Biden leads the field in congressional endorsements with support from more than 70 U.S. Representatives and nine U.S. Senators, including the most endorsements from members of both the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Nationally, Biden for President has previously announced more than 1,500 endorsements from national, state, and local leaders, including current and former U.S. senators and representatives, governors, state elected officials, community leaders, and national security professionals.