Conyers isn’t the only member of Michigan’s Congressional delegation to announce his retirement. Stay tuned for news about another U.S. Representative leaving under more ordinary circumstances.
That’s how I finished Conyers resigns, setting up scramble for his seat. It’s time to me to pass along this item from Wochit News: U.S. Representative Levin To Step Down.
On Saturday, U.S. Representative Sander Levin of Michigan said he would not run for reelection next year. He is stepping down after more than three decades in Congress. The 86-year-old Democrat is a member of the House of Representatives’ powerful Ways and Means committee. The committee deals with tax and economic policies as well as spending on programs such as Social Security and unemployment. In a statement acknowledging his decision to step down, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi praised Levin. Pelosi said, “Since his days as a student activist, Congressman Levin has been a fearless and dedicated voice for justice and progress.”
Levin does not plan to be idle in retirement. The Detroit Free Press reported that he plans to “join the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, where he will continue to work on issues that have engrossed him in Congress, such as health care and trade issues.”
The Free Press also noted the effect Levin’s retirement will have on Michigan’s Congressional delegation.
His departure from Congress at the end of 2018 is just the latest departure of veteran Michigan representatives, many of whom held powerful positions as the chairs of key committees, including U.S. Reps. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, Dave Camp, R-Midland, Candice Miller, R-Harrison Township, Dale Kildee, D-Flint and Mike Rogers, R-Brighton. When they left Congress over the last six years, they had a combined length of service of 141 years and significant clout in the halls of the nation’s Capitol.
In the last three election cycles, eight of Michigan’s 14 members of Congress have retired. If U.S. Rep. John Conyers, D-Detroit, resigns from office or decides not to run for reelection in 2018 because of a sexual harassment scandal, only U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, would remain from Michigan’s stable of veterans with more than 10 years of experience in Congress.
It looks like Upton will remain in the U.S. House of Representatives, as he has decided not to run for U.S. Senate, a possibility I mentioned in Whew! Kid Rock is not running for U.S. Senate. WOOD-TV reported on that announcement in Upton seeks re-election in House, no Senate run.
After speculation of a possible run for U.S. Senate, Rep. Fred Upton announced he will not be seeking the nomination.
First Kid Rock, now Fred Upton. If I were Debbie Stabenow, I’d be breathing a lot easier.
Enough of the Senate contest. The Free Press also speculated on who might replace Levin.
But now, it’s time to turn the reins over to the next generation. Names that have popped up as possible successors to Levin include his son Andy Levin, a Bloomfield Township Democrat and president of Levin Energy, which deals with clean energy initiatives, and state Sen. Steve Bieda, D-Warren.
This is a contest I actually will have to vote in, as Levin is my Representative. I have a long time before I have to decide, as the primary election isn’t until August, but I’m not enthused about either possible candidate mentioned above. Fortunately, Daily Kos lists two more.
Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner also acknowledged he was considering, though he said he didn’t have a timeline for when he’d decide. Businessman Kevin Howley, who lost a 2012 race for Oakland County executive 57-43, said he was looking at who else runs before deciding.
I like those two more than the previous two, as I know both of them. Between the two, I’d vote for Meisner. He has the nickname of “The Gentleman Assassin” — he can kill while smiling and being polite. I like that. Just the same, I’m hoping that Jim Townsend, who used to be my State Representative, declares his candidacy. He’s someone I could support enthusiastically.
Modified from Sander Levin to retire, likely leaving Fred Upton as dean of Michigan’s Congressional delegation at Crazy Eddie’s Motie News by removing the embedded videos.
for Levin. Seems like the changing of the guards has begun in earnest. As much as I might have admired the sheer amount of service many of these retiring and probably soon-to-be-retiring Congressional representatives have logged in, there comes a time when enough is enough. New blood, new ideas, perhaps some fresh progress. One can hope, anyway.
I’ll do my best to consider the choices available and pick the best one from among them. After all, I get to vote in both the primary and general. And, yes, it’s time for a changing of the guard here in Michigan. This will happen on both the state and federal level here next year, as all state offices are up for election, from state House of Representatives to the Governor.
We have all our state-wide offices (Governor, etc.), a subset of State Senators, and all of our state reps up for re-election, as well as all of our US Reps. The one US district that has what we would think of as a traditional urban area is probably the most flippable back to Blue. That said, there is another metro area in our state that just looks like a collection of suburbs and exurbs – it’s been ancestrally GOP – that might be competitive, especially if the DCCC and affiliated organizations put some money in for a good ground game. That’s my district and I like the candidate. Right now, I’d be happy to see our state legislation’s supermajorities chipped away considerably and recapturing at least a few of those statewide offices. More importantly, the continued rebuilding of local Democratic organizations and their ability to win or be competitive in local elections again strikes me as the real name of the game. That’s where our bench will be re-developed. I’m starting to get more cautiously optimistic, even in a red state. Trump is underwater even here (even if only barely underwater).
Good luck to all the Democratic candidates down there in your red state, especially in your district.
Thanks! Our Congressional Rep is one who likes to hold his town halls just across the state border, in order to only deal with his donors and not us rabble, and he’s definitely made some folks pissed off with both his ACA repeal vote and this TaxScam vote. Those will not be forgotten. This is the first year since I have been here that we have had a serious Democratic challenger to him – usually we just get protest candidates from third parties. So, will definitely be curious to see how well the numbers shake out. I think if our Democratic challenger keeps sticking to bread and butter issues like healthcare, Social Security, education/student loans, etc., he’s got at least a fighting chance. Hopefully he gets the backing he needs, and not just from us small time individual donors.