Unknown MSU Professor Wins In SD-28; Skaggs, Byrnes Lose; Price, Hoskins Wins

Article courtesy of MIRS for SBAM’s Lansing Watchdog newsletter

Michigan State University assistant Professor Rashida Harrison, a literal political unknown, defeated Ingham County commissioners Mark Polsdofer and Robert Pena in the 28th state Senate district covering MSU’s campus and surrounding neighborhoods. Harrison’s victory came as a surprise to some political observers who forecasted a win for the heavily endorsed Polsdofer.

Harrison narrowly won Ingham County by 314 votes and Shiawassee by 693. With 13 precincts left to fully report, she was up by 514 votes in Clinton County, giving her a margin of 1,521 votes.

Polsdofer was endorsed by outgoing Sen. Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) to be his successor, announcing his candidacy the morning after Singh made public he was not going to seek reelection this year in early March. He was also backed the Michigan Association for Justice, numerous unions, a battalion of local elected officials and business groups.

Harrison had the support of Detroit Action and former Ingham County Prosecutor Carol Siemon.

“To everyone who already cast your vote for me, thank you so much,” Harrison wrote Monday on Facebook. “Whatever happens, I am proud. This campaign took all of us: a team that worked for reduced or no pay at all because they believed in this, incredible partners like Kismet Marketing, and every single one of you who donated, shared, showed up, and voted. You made this real.”

Price Defeats Treppa

Rep. Natalie Price (D-Berkley), a second-term House member, defeated Amanda Treppa – the people and culture manager for Detroit Action, an economic and social justice organization – Tuesday for the Democratic nomination in the 10th Senate district.

Price previously served on the Berkley City Council and entered the race with long-standing relationships and an established policymaking track record.

“I’m totally good and super proud of our campaign and ready to analyze this race,” Treppa told MIRS about her loss. “And I will at some point come back to do something.”

The Democratic primary in the 10th Senate District, which covers part of Warren in Macomb County as well as Royal Oak, Ferndale, Oak Park and Madison Heights in Oakland County, raised the question of who was better suited for the seat: a state representative seeking to move to the Senate with legislation already in the works or a newcomer offering fresh blood?

Treppa, a human resources professional and labor reform activist, campaigned on bringing her life experiences to Lansing, pointing to her experiences as a recovering alcoholic, a child in foster care and someone who suffered a miscarriage.

She was endorsed by outgoing state Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak), who represents much of the new district; Sen. Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit), who has worked to promote Black female candidates; and Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald.

Price benefited from four rounds of mailers funded and distributed by the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. She also had been working on legislation responsive to district concerns, including new noise-control standards for busy Woodward Avenue and a proposal to withhold state tax payments to the federal government if President Donald Trump does not release appropriated funds to Michigan.

Skaggs Loses Senate Bid To EGR Commissioner

East Grand Rapids City Commissioner Abbie Groff-Blaszak defeated Rep. Phil Skaggs (D-Grand Rapids) and Ivan Diaz to win the Democratic nomination and a likely seat in the state Senate.

Groff-Blaszak wasn’t necessarily seen as more progressive than Skaggs, although items like securing paid family leave and creating a new tax structure where “everyone pays their fair share” were among her policy priorities. She comes from West Michigan’s non-profit world, spearheading local operations for the Leadership Academy, an educator advocacy and coaching organization.

Meanwhile, Skaggs was backed by various union groups and Grand Rapids Mayor David LaGrand. Diaz, a progressive candidate and Democratic Socialist, is a former healthcare union organizer and past Kent County Commissioner. He struggled to build a campaign presence beyond being active online and ended up in third place.

Son of Late Congressman Conyers Wins Senate Seat

John Conyers III, the son of the late U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr., won the 11 candidate field in the 3rd state Senate district over former legislators Adam Hollier and LaTanya Garrett.  The race featured Eboni Taylor, a candidate favored by progressive Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) and another candidate who had worked with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Korey Hall.

But Conyers took the race with 24% of the vote over Hollier’s 19% and Taylor’s 18%.

Jokes have been made that the 3rd state Senate race included a Democratic primary with everyone and their cousin on Detroit’s east side. Main issues in the race featured frustrations of feeling left out of Detroit’s economic development strides, environmental issues that have been tied to the Stellantis’ Mack Assembly Plant, Highland Park’s struggles with substantial water debt and concerns surrounding over-surveillance.

The district is also a majority-senior community, meaning that winning depended on who could persuade the elders or connected to the elders, something Conyers was able to do with the name connection to his late father.

Hollier entered the race after getting pushed out of his Secretary of State run by Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II.

Brinks-Endorsed Physician Wins Dem Nominations In SD-9

Troy City Councilmember Theresa Brooks, a physician, won the Democratic primary in Michigan’s 9th state Senate district with 47%, defeating Oakland County Commissioner Brendan Johnson (30%) and Ren Nushaj, the city of Clawson’s direct attorney (27%).

All three candidates in the race offered a claim of legitimacy.

Johnson was an Oakland County commissioner with some high-level endorsements from within his county. Nushaj was a successful lawyer, able to both self-fund his campaign and obtain progressive endorsements, while Brooks had a strong base in Troy and was the preferred candidate by Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids).

The winner of this primary in Rochester, Rochester Hills, Troy and part of Sterling Heights – some of Southeast Michigan’s most politically purple communities – now will go up against Sen. Michael Webber (R-Rochester Hills).

The Republican incumbent won the seat 50.3% to 49.7% in 2022, during a year that was good for Democrats. His knack for coalition building, especially among the district’s diverse faith-based communities, is respected by Republicans statewide.

Progressive ‘Gentle Giant’ Defeats Byrnes In SD-2 Primary

Abbas Alawieh, co-founder of the “Uncommitted National Movement,” which called for voters in the Democratic primary to vote uncommitted in protest of President Joe Biden’s policies on the Gaza war and Israeli military actions, defeated Rep. Erin Byrnes (D-Dearborn) for the Democratic nomination in 2nd Senate district.

Alawieh is the former chief of staff to former U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, a Missouri Democrat and Black Lives Matter activist, from January 2021 through September 2023. He’s also served as a legislative director for U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) and a legislative assistant to the previous U.S. Rep. Andy Levin, the Bloomfield Township Democrat.

Alawieh was seen as a “gentle giant” and active presence in the district’s Middle Eastern community, which is one of the largest nationally. His support ranged from the national progressive leader Bernie Sanders to long-time heads in Michigan Democratic politics, like Gov. Whitmer and Wayne County Executive Warren Evans.

Meanwhile, Byrnes was able to work the data center issue in the district to her advantage, advocating for a repeal of all state-level tax breaks to data center developers.

The district includes Allen Park, where numerous residents and the local planning commission rejected a planned 26-megawatt data center project.

In other Senate news:

– Rep. Jason Hoskins (D-Southfield) – seen as a mentee to term-limited Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Bloomfield Twp.) – won in the 7th Senate district, including Southfield, Lathrup Village, Pontiac, Bloomfield Township and Birmingham. Hoskins knew the Southfield part of the district quite well, representing the area currently in the House and previously serving on its city council and as Moss’ legislative director.

Hoskins (56%) defeated Shadia Martini (36%) – a Bloomfield Hills business owner who’s made three attempts before to run for the state House – and Birmingham orthopedic surgeon Rakesh Ramakrishnan (10%).

– Sean Carlson, Oakland County’s deputy executive, won the Democratic nomination in the 13th Senate district with 59% of the vote, compared to 28% for Cecil George and 12% for D.C. Anderson. Carlson will face Republican Ryan Berman, who was unopposed in the primary, in a competitive general election.

A source told MIRS that Republicans are excited to “have fun” in the race, preparing to target any controversies that have taken place within Carson’s executive office and promoting Berman’s strong ties to the district’s Jewish community.

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