With three top-of-the-ticket candidate visits and a VP debate, Michiganders once again had a front-row seat to the battle for our future
LANSING — From the vice presidential debate to the many campaign stops across the state, it has been a busy week in Michigan. With just over 30 days from election day, let’s take a look at all of the important races happening in Michigan.
The Senate race is heating up as Slotkin slams Rogers’s failures to help Michiganders on abortion, health care, and jobs. In the House, Kristen McDonald Rivet is running to fill retiring Congressman Dan Kildee’s seat to ensure it’s not taken by a MAGA extremist who would try to block any progress from being made. Similarly, Curtis Hertel is running to fill Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin’s seat to protect Michiganders in the 7th US Congressional district and win back the House in November.
For the open state Supreme Court seats, Justice Kyra Harris Bolden and Kimberly Ann Thomas have been pounding the pavement reminding voters to find the non-partisan section of the ballot and bubble in Bolden and Thomas. At the state level, hopeful state House representatives are talking to their communities about the importance of protecting Dems’ majority to keep delivering for Michiganders.
Up and down the ballot, Michigan Dems are fighting to push back the dangerous MAGA extremism that threatens Michigan families.
Take a look down below for more updates about the state of the races from the top of the ticket to the bottom:
Presidential Race:
This week, Michiganders saw Governor Tim Walz outline how the Harris-Walz administration will build a brighter future for Americans, in stark contrast with J.D. Vance who, with Donald Trump, will drag us backward. The truth of who Trump and Vance are was on full display as Governor Walz offered voters a better version of what this country could be:
WZMQ: MSU Professor on VP debate and Muslim-American voters
- Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Ohio Senator JD Vance will take the stage tonight, giving voters another chance to learn about both campaigns with just over a month left until Election Day. Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes said it’s expected the two will answer questions about abortion rights, economic policy, gun control, and immigration.
- “I expect to see the governor talk a little bit about his personal story but also talk about what it is that he and the vice president plan to do as president and vice president to make this country stronger and better for everyone,” Barnes said. “I imagine he’s a little bit nervous. I don’t blame him for that because that’s this is a big deal and it’s his first time doing something like this, but I know that he’s going to get quite comfortable and he will be answering questions with honesty and sincerity, just like he does everything else that he does. All of that will come through folks, televisions, and into their homes tonight.”
Before Trump and Vance made separate visits to Michigan this Wednesday and Thursday, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Lavora Barnes reminded voters of the reality of how Trump and Vance would abandon Michigan workers at the first chance. Trump did nothing when the auto plant in Warren closed, despite promising otherwise, and Michiganders know another Trump presidency would be no different. During his visit, Vance even refused to commit to honoring the $500 grant to protect hundreds of jobs at the GM Lansing plant:
Detroit News: Harris to criticize Trump, Vance in Flint speech for risking EV auto jobs
- At a press conference Friday morning at the United Auto Workers Local 652 in Lansing, Democratic Lansing Mayor Andy Schor said he was “angry” and “pissed off” after hearing of Vance’s comments about the Lansing GM plant, arguing the lack of commitment from the GOP vice presidential nominee threatened 650 local, union jobs.
- “In one fell swoop, JD Vance put that all at risk,” Schor said. “He showed that a second Trump term would be a disaster for Lansing, for Michigan and for our country.”
Vice President Kamala Harris spoke in Flint today, emphasizing her constant commitment to delivering for working Michigan families, marking the stark contrast with Trump and Vance’s history of broken promises:
Senate Race:
This week, Mike Rogers once again proved that he is nothing more than a Big Pharma puppet as he opposed Medicare negotiating drug prices. That negotiating saves Michiganders thousands on prescription drug costs every year, but Rogers doesn’t care about Michigan families because they aren’t the ones lining his pockets — drug companies are:
Michigan Advance: Rogers says Medicare negotiating drug price reductions is ‘sugar high politics’
- According to audio obtained by the Michigan Advance, Rogers said that when it came to negotiating drug prices, it was his belief that the federal government “shouldn’t be engaged in that…”
- Michigan Democratic Party spokesperson Sam Chan sent a statement to the Advance. “After being bankrolled by Big Pharma, Mike Rogers wants to keep prescription drug prices high while Michigan families pay the price. It’s clear that Rogers is only in this race to enrich himself and his wealthy special interest backers even when it hurts working Michiganders,” said Chan.
State Supreme Court:
This week, Justice Kyra Harris Bolden and Kimberly Ann Thomas continued to engage with every community across Michigan. The court will be a big part of deciding the future of our rights, freedoms, and economy in our state. We are so proud that our endorsed candidates want a more just legal system and are making the case, like, state Supreme Court candidate Kimberly Ann Thomas going to the UAW’s International Leadership Conference to support union workers:
This week, Justice Kyra Harris Bolden spoke with The Gander about her beliefs, her perspective, and how her experience on the Court so far has impacted how she considers cases going forward:
The Gander: 5 things to know about incumbent Michigan Supreme Court candidate Kyra Harris Bolden
- Kyra Harris Bolden said that she approaches every issue that comes before the Michigan Supreme Court with a thoughtful perspective and an open mind, prioritizing fairness and, above all, justice…
- Ahead of the election, Bolden has rounded up support from Reproductive Freedom for All, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, the Michigan Nurses Association, the Michigan Democratic Party, and other groups with lengthy records of defending reproductive rights.
State House Race:
Democrats are doing incredible work to win in key state House races across the state. For instance, State Representative Betsy Coffia (HD-103) participated in a debate with her Republican challenger Lisa Trombley that highlighted the many differences between the two women. Whether on abortion, housing, or gun violence, Coffia spoke about her concrete ideas to improve her district — while Trombley offered vague notions at best:
Michigan Advance: Trombley, Coffia paint contrasting pictures for northern Michigan
- Coffia and Trombley showed a stark contrast on things like climate change, gun control and abortion, while also addressing more local topics, like northern Michigan’s difficult housing market and the struggles of area cherry farmers…
- “I grew up in a hunting family. That’s part of how we fed ourselves in the winter, was venison,” Coffia said. “I’m an excellent shot with a pistol and I enjoy target shooting with my sheriff in Grand Traverse (County). And this is about reasonable protections for public safety and especially our children. There is more we can do.” Coffia said she wants to look at additional action in the term ahead.
In the UP, state House Rep. Jenn Hill is facing weatherman turned MAGA conspiracy theorist Karl Bohnak in Michigan’s 109th congressional district. Bohnak has followed the beat of Trump’s extremist drum, pushing unfounded claims of election fraud and vaccine conspiracies:
The Independent: In Michigan, a ranting, QAnon-adjacent fired weatherman is trying to pass himself off as a moderate Republican
- In that same interview, Bohnak expressed confidence in a belief that the 2020 election had been stolen by Joe Biden via “massive fraud”. There was also an oblique reference to vaccines being related to Nazi experiments, as Bohnak opined about how infamous war criminal Josef Mengele “injected poison…”
- “Karl Bohnak is the embodiment of MAGA chaos, spouting extremist conspiracy theories left and right with no attachment to reality. He has become an embarrassment to the UP who is no longer fit to be a weatherman and certainly isn’t fit to represent Michiganders in the state House,” state Democratic Party chair Lavora Barnes commented to The Independent.
This is just a fraction of what’s happening at every level of the ballot, but Michigan Dems are proud to be fighting for Michiganders every day. Til next week,
Signing off,
Michigan Dems
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