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BAGGAGE GETTING HEAVIER
Mike Rogers , the assumed GOP standard bearer in the November election, raised $1.96 million in the last quarter and has $3.45 million cash on hand. But former U.S. House member Rogers, a Livingston County native who now claims residency in White Lake of Oakland County, just can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to his image. Part of his problem is that he was considered years ago to be more of a reasoned and traditional conservative who has transitioned into a Trump part


BUY AN OFFICE
As Democrats coalesce around Secretary of State Jocelyn Benso n as their clear gubernatorial choice, as former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has staked out the independent lane, Republicans appear to be in a turmoil, despite Macomb/Oakland Congressman John James leading current polls. According to a prominent Republican with his ear to the ground, the MAGA crowd does not like James – and they likely won’t vote for him in the primary, despite what pollsters tell us. “He’s very r


HOLLIER SCORECARD
Even we were having a tough time keeping track of what office former Michigan State Senator Adam Hollier is gunning for nowadays. Democrat Hollier, who served in the Senate for one four-year term starting in 2018, had set his sites on a U.S. House seat in 2020 but came in second in a large field of contenders in the party primary behind Shri Thanedar (D-Detroit). Hollier tried a second time in 2022 but his nominating petitions were ruled as fraudulent and he never made the


SENATE CAGE MATCH
As new polling by Glengariff Group shows that Democrat Congresswoman Haley Stevens (Birmingham, Oakland County) is currently in a dead heat with Republican former Congressman Mike Rogers (White Lake), with Stevens polling at 43.7 percent to Rogers’ 44.1 percent, state Senator Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak, Birmingham, Clawson, Huntington Woods, Berkley, Beverly Hills and Detroit) has apparently set her sights directly at Stevens. A recent email accused both Stevens and Rog


WHOLE NEW GIG
Former Congressman Andy Levin (D-Bloomfield Township, Royal Oak, most of Macomb County) and infamous union organizer, has done a 180-degree turn now that he has hit his Medicare years. As 2025 closed out, Levin posted on LinkedIn that he and his wife Mary, longtime Bloomfield Township residents, had purchased “Stokely Creek Lodge, an iconic and stunning cross country ski and snowshoe resort in the hills above Lake Superior, just north of Sault Saint Marie, Ontario.” Levin, a


BAILING OUT
Wayne State University trustee Dr. Anil Kuma r of Bloomfield Township, who had announced his candidacy for Oakland County’s 11th District congressional seat, currently held by Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens who is running for Senate, announced he is dropping out, “citing personal reasons and a commitment to lead with integrity in this moment,” he said in a release. Democrats running for the open seat are Michigan state Senator Jeremy Moss , Don Ufford , Aisha Farooqi


SWITCHING GEARS
After weeks of whispers, Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II made it official in mid-January – he gave up his failing attempt at a gubernatorial campaign to try his hand at a run for the Democratic nod for secretary of state. Gilchrist’s departure from the governor’s race gives Democratic front-runner (and prolific marathon racer) and current Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson an apparent straight shot to the August primary anointment. Gilchrist’s as secretary


THE FINAL FIELD
With the exit of Garland Gilchrist from the gubernatorial contest for 2026, the final list of contenders seems to be shaping up. Left at this point on the Democratic side at Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanso n, although some are placing bets that the latter may well decide in coming months to also consider withdrawing due lack of traction at this point in the race. Of course, former Detroit mayor Mike Duggan will stay the c


CHANGING DISTRICT
Michigan District 7 for the U.S. House has a history of flipping in the last two election cycles and it could well happen come the general election showdown in 2026. Now held by Republican Tom Barrett , this sprawling district takes in a sliver of Oakland County (Milford and Lyon townships), along with the counties of Ingham, Livingston, Clinton, Shiawassee and Genesee. In the 2022 race, Barrett lost to Democrat Elissa Slotkin who has now moved on to the Senate. Barrett tri


NOMINATION BUZZ SAW
In less than three months state Democrats will convene to determine the fate of who will represent the party in the 2026 elections for a number of offices, among them the attorney general slot on the ballot. Three attorneys are vying for the party nomination: Oakland County Prosecuting Attorney Karen McDonald , former Western Michigan District U.S. Attorney Mark Totten and Eli Savit, Washtenaw Prosecuting Attorney. Thanks to the work of Detroit Free Press reporter Tresa Bal


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