Elections

2014 Michigan State House Races

Cross-posted at The Western Right, Right Michigan, and Red Racing Horses.

All 110 seats in the Michigan House of Representatives will be up for election in November. Republicans currently hold a 59-51 majority, following a 63-47 majority after 2010. There are 40 open seats, 21 held by Republicans and 19 held by democrats.  There are 30 open due to term-limits and 10 just seeking another office.

Republicans gained one new seat (73) and one existing seat (39) due to redistricting, but also lost one existing seat (55) in 2012.  They also lost five incumbents (52, 71, 84, 91, 110), not counting party-switcher Roy Schmidt (76).  They could have won several more seats with a more effective redistricting plan.

Democrats want to take back the state house, but face a difficult playing field.  Of the Republican-held open seats, only 56 and possibly 65 are competitive.  They will try to defeat some Republican incumbents, but it is not clear how they will beat incumbents this year that they couldn’t defeat in 2012.

Meanwhile, Republicans will seek to gain seats.  The best opportunity is the open 84, which was lost due to scandal in 2012.  There are two lean dem open seats (21, 62) that may be competitive.  Republicans will also try to defeat several incumbents who picked up seats in 2012 (25, 71, 91).

There are a number of interesting primaries in August.  A bunch of Republican incumbents are being challenged due to their support of Medicaid expansion, Common Core, and the Detroit Bailout.  Most will win easily, but there is the potential for a few to be surprised (39, 79, 107).  The open seats feature more competitive primaries, many of which also feature establishment versus Tea Party battles.  Establishment candidates are receiving support from the Chamber of Commerce and Great Lakes Education Project.  More conservative candidates are receiving support from Americans for Prosperity and Madison Project Michigan.

State house fundraising is analyzed in the following article.

Michigan State House Fundraising

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Our ‘Conservative’ Candidates

Why is it harder for some to speak their 'conservative' principles outside of the election cycle? Why will some avoid conservative forums?

In the Republican primary, EVERYONE is a conservative.

I have done a great deal of door knocking as a candidate for the Grand Traverse County Commission.  I have held my record out as one of conservatism, but when approaching the potential voter, its natural to introduce myself as a “constitutional conservative,” or “conservative Republican.”  Usually, the latter is used (by habit), and I can read the face of the person I am talking with so as to determine whether they want to hear anymore.

One woman I spoke to said “Conservative? Everybody is a conservative nowadays!” She then described her potential of possibly not participating in the election process any longer. She explained her disappointment with the Republican candidates who make the claim, yet hardly stand for the values that are expressed in the platform, much less hold up to the promises they make while electioneering.

She was not the only one to express this perspective.

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Weekend Reading Assignment

logo-sphereThere is so much going on; much of which deserves a spot here but takes time to chronicle.

Current Michigan Gems?

Watchdog Wire – Did Frank Foster Lie To His Constituents? Going Negative on a challenger?  Mr Foster seems genuinely scared.  Liars Lie.

FedUpUSA – Oh, So Free Water Is Next? Crazy. Just shows how completely dumbed down the spawn of progressivism is in Detroit, and in this state, and elsewhere.

Activist Post – Michigan Dept of Agri Forces Farmer to Dump 248 Gallons of Organic Milk and Break 1200 Free Range Eggs Food.  They are throwing away FOOD. Government oversight is so beneficial is it not?

The Complete Patient – Food Dump Meant To Send A Message. Indeed it is. Another look at the story above.

Say Yes To Wes Blog – A Victory in the Supreme Court. Wes Nakagiri’s take on the Supreme court ruling and his opponent’s positions.

 

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I’m a Conservative, He’s a Conservative, She’s a Conservative, We’re a Conservative, Wouldn’t you like to be a Conservative, too?

Well, this day is off to a great start. Was just reading an article about Brian Ellis pulls $800,000 out of his pocket to bankroll his smear campaign in CD-3. Do I believe Brian Ellis is a slimeball? Just look at who is in his corner – slimy bastards, all of them (yes, including RTL).

BS_EllisAnyone with an IQ above room temperature should be able to figure out that a vote for Ellis is a vote against what our Founding Fathers gifted us.

Here is the part that needs to be taken seriously.

Ellis said Amash’s vote explanations don’t get him off the hook for what he’s done in Congress.

“He’s got an explanation for everything, but that doesn’t mean it’s right,” Ellis said.

Do remember what Brian Ellis just stated.

Political attacks in the race have not been a one-way street.

Amash has admonished Ellis for voicing support for Gov. Rick Snyder’s addition of more than 300,000 low-income adults to the Medicaid health insurance program. The expansion is being paid for by Obama’s Affordable Care Act.

“He supports Obamacare,” Amash said. “Medicaid expansion is a major part of Obamacare. … If you don’t support Obamacare, you shouldn’t support Medicaid expansion.”

Amen, Justin! Spot-on assessment. So, why this, and this? Your *pal* Lt. Governerd Brian Puss-cake cast the vote for Medicaid expansion. C’mon kid, yes you are a kid in my book, Justin – never do any favors for enemies.

OK, now here it comes…

Ellis said he supports repeal of the health insurance law, but understands the reasoning of Snyder and the Republican state legislators when they agreed to accept billions in federal aid for expanding the program.

“I thought it was a very tough call and I have faith in our elected leaders,” Ellis said. “They tried to do the best they could.”

And, there you go CD-3. “He’s got an explanation for everything, but that doesn’t mean it’s right”. Brian Ellis can’t even get out of his own way without being crushed by his own cognitive dissonance.

What to expect? Expect to eat Brian’s words if dumb enough to send him to Weeper Boehner’s D.C. Also, expect to keep eating Brian’s words until y’all in CD-3 can gather up the coin to outspend his nasty Democrat-lite pandering ass if actually dumb enough to send him there instead of Amash. Ellis has career incumbent written all over him, and the DC-GOP long-knives will make damn sure Ellis has a cash warchest to protect the big spending “Get your ass in line” status quo.

Ps. for those old enough to recognize the origins to the title of this post, hit the button.

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Just how stupid do they think people are.

A lot of interesting happenings this week.

The continuing conditioning of Michiganians to accept illegal aliens up in Vassar (among other places).

Netroots Nation Conference in Detroit (including appearances by Chief Fulla Manure & some guy who things that just because he plays the Hulk somehow IS  the Hulk).

More shenanigans with Detroit Water (along with our long time friend Maureen “The Moocher”  Taylor)  with the inhumane and appalling concept of having people pay for a service.

That “One small step” thing.

But, I’m going to focus today on the (yaaaaawwwwwnnnnnn) Michigan Gubernatorial “Race”, a link that someone sent me, and a troublesome detail that was missed by everyone covering the story this week.

And that detail?

That would be telling.

{Just kidding, details below the fold}

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