THE MUD FLIES
While the Democrats have largely coalesced behind Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Lansing) as their party’s likely nominee in Michigan’s Senate race to replace longtime Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow (D), some of the big names are just now jumping in on the Republican side. And those big dogs are leaping right into piles of mud, and slinging it. Notably, former Congressman Mike Rogers (D-Howell) and former Detroit Police Chief James Craig are working overtime to take each other out. Craig has endorsed former President Donald Trump, stating on an interview with The Messenger, “...I stand with him.” Trump promptly reposted the interview on Truth Social. Craig is also playing up his anti-vax credentials and his pro-UAW support. In 2019, Rogers criticized Trump on foreign policy and election integrity issues, and before launching his Senate campaign he said he would not support him in 2024. Craig will likely throw darts at Rogers for living in Florida for the last 10 years and for his record on privacy rights that he developed as the longtime chair of the House Intel Committee – which the MAGA crowd disdains. Michigan Republican campaign strategist John Yob said in a social media post that he hadn’t made up his mind but Rogers was “his last choice.” They’re also trying to out-”pro-life” each other, despite Michigan voters overwhelmingly voting in 2022 to enshrine women’s reproductive rights in the Michigan Constitution. Each have still stated they would work to overturn abortion rights. Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who is working to pass a slate of legislative bills to repeal abortion restrictions and further protect reproductive health and access, said at a roundtable in Birmingham in mid-October she is concerned. “We have to remain vigilant. A federal ban could undermine our rights and laws.”