ARE YOU FLIPPIN’ KIDDING

It’s no joke that Oakland County has become the place to watch this November as long-held Republican Senate districts across the state could witness upsets. Analysis by Michigan Information and Research Service (MIRS) done after the primary led them to release a list of the state’s “10 Senate Districts Most Likely to Flip” in the general election. Those include current Sen. Mike Kowall’s 15th Senate District, where Republican House Rep. Jim Runestad, a strong Tea Party conservative candidate, is facing off against Democrat Julie Pulver. According to MIRS and Target Insyght, Pulver has been polling 52-36 percent over Runestad in his current 39th House District area, which makes up about a third of the Senate district. However, the district includes a large portion of northern Oakland County, which has traditionally favored Republicans. Others on the flipping list of potentials include the 13th Senate District where Democratic challenger Mallory McMorrow tallied more primary votes than Republican incumbent Marty Knollenberg; and the 12th Senate District, where GOP Rep. Mike McCready could have trouble winning swing voters in Pontiac and other spots in the district against Democrat Rosemary Bayer.