April - 2021

CONGRESSIONAL RANKINGS

Michigan’s U.S. Senator Gary Peters has been ranked as the most effective Democrat in the Senate for the 116th Congress (2019-2020) by the Center for Effective Lawmaking, a joint partnership between Vanderbilt University and the University of Virginia Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. Members of the center considered a number of factors in their assessment and noted Peters for his “coalition building” that allowed him to have at least one Republican on each

CONGRESSIONAL RANKINGS

WHITMER RACE

Election campaigns for Michigan governor generally kick off about 18 months ahead the November balloting, so potential Republican challengers for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer are now starting to jockey, as evidenced by meetings in recent weeks with representatives of the Republican Governors Association and possible Michigan candidates for next year. Chief among them was twice-failed U.S. Senate candidate John James, an Oakland County businessman who has raised notable funding in th

WHITMER RACE

MYSTERY DUO

While one of the Detroit dailies, followed by national political writers, noted the confabs with the trio of Michigan hopefuls, Oakland Confidential has learned that there were actually five persons who met with the Republican Governors Association reps. The party is keeping a tight lid on the names of the added pair of hopefuls, with one insider describing the two as “obvious big names.” Both were part of recent polling and one, a woman, actually outpolled Whitmer. Look here

JAMES VS. SLOTKIN

While John James could run for governor in 2022, he could also pivot and run for the U.S. House, based on polling he has been doing of late. MIRS, the political and legislative newsletter from Lansing, reported in early April that James was the subject of the above-mentioned phone poll (reportedly 10 minutes in length) about both Democrats Gretchen Whitmer and Elissa Slotkin. A run for Congress has been suggested for James since his failed runs against both Senator Gary Peter

JAMES VS. SLOTKIN

WHAT WAS HE THINKING?

If John James – or any other Republican – is going to get elected to any state or local office in 2022, they need a strong party chair behind them. Many state Republicans – and Democrats – have been shaking their heads since state GOP party co-chair Ron Weiser used questionable judgement in late March at a North Oakland Republican Club meeting when he called Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General Dana Nessel, all Democrats, the “thre

BACK TO THE FUTURE

Because of a weird quirk in the law, outgoing Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner is still in office – his 2016 term doesn’t end until June 30, and incoming treasurer Robert Wittenberg doesn’t take office until July 1. Meiser said he has hired the fellow Democrat on his staff to teach him the ropes and “so we can have a proper transition. He’s showing a real talent.” While Meisner said he is concentrating on finishing his term, after losing his primary challenge to Oakland

FLYING HIGH

The Aspen Strategy Group Rising Leaders Program Class of 2021 has a local connection – state Rep. Mari Manoogian (D-Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township) is one of 31 members of the class, whose mission is to convene decision makers in non-partisan public and private forums to address key foreign policy challenges facing the United States. Manoogian said the group has met twice so far by Zoom, learning soft power and smart power theories of diplomacies, with the

FLYING HIGH

LUCIDO COMEUPPANCE

Controversy has almost become the middle name for Republican Peter Lucido, now Macomb County’s Prosecutor. During his time in the Michigan Senate before returning to Macomb, Lucido had a reputation for headline seeking on legislative issues and constantly jabbing at Gretchen Whitmer. Then he became the subject of headlines because of a number of sexual harassment complaints. He was eventually stripped of his committee chairmanship and was ordered to undergo what we would assu

LUCIDO COMEUPPANCE

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