LONG MEMORY
Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, western Oakland and Wayne counties) said the endorsement she received from retiring Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (D-Southfield, Detroit, West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills) in her primary battle for the newly redistricted 11th District against fellow Rep. Andy Levin (Bloomfield Township, Royal Oak, Huntington Woods, parts of Macomb County) “was a highlight of my career type moment. She is an icon and means so much to legions of women around metro Detroit and the country.” Between Stevens and Lawrence, their current districts represent almost 70 percent of Oakland County and the new district. “I’ve seen Haley’s strong work ethic in action, and her unparalleled ability to listen to different communities and reach across the aisle,” Lawrence said. Lawrence is known to support women and people of color – but could some degree of bad blood between her and the Levins be part of her support for Stevens? Andy’s father, former Rep. Sandy Levin (D-Royal Oak) and late uncle Sen. Carl Levin endorsed Lawrence primary challenger Rudy Hobbs, now an Oakland County Deputy Executive, in her first congressional run in 2014, who she beat. “There’s a longtime rivalry between Lawrence and the Levins,” said one staffer.