Michigan Political Week in Review: Primary Edition
With the August 3 primary upon us, it’s hard to escape the onslaught of political mailers, door-knockers, and phone calls.
But we hope you’re not burned out on politics just yet; the frenzy of candidate outreach and activity culminates in Tuesday's primary elections. Don’t forget to vote. The primary elections could be the deciding factor in some races, so get to the polls and make your voice heard. Don’t know where your polling place is? Find out at Michigan.gov/vote.
Michigan LCV has released its final round of pre-primary endorsements:
Kim Russell for State Senate in the 12th district
John McNeil for State Representative in the 89th district
Steve Bieda for State Senate in the 9th district
Previous Endorsements:
Governor:
Rick Snyder (Republican primary)
Virg Bernero (Democratic primary)
State Senate:
Rebekah Warren (Senate District 18)
Mary Valentine (Senate District 34)
State House:
Ned Staebler (House District 53)
Lisa Brown (House District 39)
Deb Kennedy (House District 23)
Dan Scripps (House District 101)
Ann Arbor Mayor:
John Heiftje
The race for governor has taken an interesting turn, with the most recent EPIC-MRA polls indicating new front-runners on both the Republican and Democratic sides. In the GOP primary, Rick Snyder has taken the lead, with a recent poll showing him winning 26% of the vote. And Democrat Virg Bernero has taken an 8-point lead over his primary competition Andy Dillon.
Still undecided on which gubernatorial candidate to vote for in the primary? Check out Michigan LCV’s head-to-head comparison of the gubernatorial candidates’ positions on environmental and conservation issues.
A disastrous oil spill in the Kalamazoo River in Calhoun County has generated political attention. State Senator Glenn Anderson (D-Westland) called for urgent action on his proposal to permanently ban oil and gas drilling in the Great Lakes, and hold oil companies financially responsible for pollution clean-up. If approved by the Legislature, the proposal will appear on the November ballot for voter approval.
MLCV’s Political Director Ryan Werder was on-site in Battle Creek Thursday, and had the opportunity to talk to gubernatorial candidate Virg Bernero, who was also visiting the site of the spill, about the threat oil and gas drilling poses to our freshwater resources.
In more positive news, the Michigan Legislature is back in session, and on Wednesday the Senate passed the “Complete Streets” legislation, sending the bills to the governor’s desk for final approval. Complete Streets will require state and local agencies to consider pedestrians and nonmotorized vehicle users when planning for new road development and construction.
President Obama was back in Michigan on Friday, to visit a Chrysler plant and the Detroit-Hamtramack General Motors plant where the battery-powered Cheverolet Volt will be produced. He spoke to an enthusiastic crowd of auto workers about the continued resurgence of the auto industry, and even managed to get behind the wheel of a new Volt.
Photo: Brett Neilson
