SECOND CHANCE JAMES
Republicans are circling the wagon train over the possibility of flipping the U.S. Senate seat held by Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Township) in 2020. Republicans may underestimate Peters, who will be completing his first six-year term, though, because he’s not a flashy politician, and they assert he doesn’t have wide name recognition. That’s all true – but he has a long pedigree in Michigan politics, and that includes winning when others have counted him out, like beating forme


CHA-CHING
Congressional candidates are gearing up for a fight in 2020, with two Oakland County Congresswomen leading first-quarter fundraising in 2019
PRAYERS/PREPARATION UPDATE
The announcement by L. Brooks Patterson that he is battling pancreatic cancer and won’t seek an eighth term as Oakland County Executive has intensified speculation as to who will run for the job in 2020 – as well as morbid preparation in case the GOP incumbent is unable to finish his current term. If a vacancy occurs, the county board of commissioners has 30 days to appoint a new executive. Board chair Dave Woodward (D-Royal Oak), already planning on running for the post in 2


MOVIN’ ON UP
Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett (R) is currently preparing for his second write-in campaign later this year, but others are pushing ‘Ame


TO BE OR NOT TO BE
Michigan Congressman Justin Amash (R-Grand Rapids) is rumored to be toying with a bid for U.S. President on the Libertarian Party ticket in 2020, and some third party ticket leaders believe the nomination is his for the taking. Amash, a frequent critic of President Donald Trump, told The Detroit News that while he hasn’t ruled out a presidential run, he said “considering is too strong a word.” While Libertarian Gary Johnson in 2016 took less than four percent of the vote in M
REVOLVING DOORS
Term limits on various officials in Rochester Hills could open new opportunities, as incumbent state Rep. Michael Webber (R-Rochester, Rochester Hills, Oakland Township) will be ineligible to run for re-election to his 45th District House seat. The opening has Rochester Hills City Council President and fellow Republican Mark Tisdel seriously considering a run at the seat. Tisdel, who has served two four-year terms on city council, also will be term limited when his current te
HOW SAUSAGE IS MADE
More than 20 percent of laws introduced at the state level across the country are based on “copycat” or model legislation written by special interest groups. Examples of copycat legislation includes Michigan’s Asbestos Transparency Act, which actually shields some asbestos manufacturers from potential liability. The finding was part of a two-year investigation by USA TODAY, the Center for Public Integrity and the Arizona Republic that analyzed eight years of state legislation
FLEXING HER MUSCLES
The 91 Democratic women now in the House of Representatives are organizing as a power center within the majority party, creating a formal ca


NOMINATED, NOT CONFIRMED
NBC News, the first week of April, took a look at the stalled nominations for ambassadorships made by the Trump administration, including tw


PRAYERS AND PREPARATION
The announcement by L. Brooks Patterson that he is battling pancreatic cancer and won't seek an eighth term as Oakland County Executive

