Progressives want Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign for Michigan governor to be their next big victory
"Sanders won Michigan in the 2016 primaries. Trump won the state in the
presidential race. Tuesday’s primary in the 2018 governor’s race
symbolizes the Democratic Party’s growing pains, pitting
a progressive push for Medicare-for-all against the Obama legacies of
the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion. It’s highlighted issues
of race and identity — if El-Sayed wins the primary and the general, he could be the first Muslim governor in America...."
El-Sayed was under some sort of cloud because he supposedly did not vote in enough consecutive elections to run for office. This seems to have been cleared up, and he is, IMO, the most attractive of the candidates. Young people like him.
ReplyDeleteI expect him to come in dead last.
Sri Thanedar has spent $11 million of his own money on very engaging ads, but there is the "monkey scandal"; apparently he abandoned or mistreated monkeys used in his science experiments in his lab.
I expect Gretchen Witmer to win because Sri and El-Sayed will split her opposition vote. She has been strong on "women's issues" (rape and abortion), and she was in the state legislature. The only primary signage I have seen is for Witmer. She has party clout in southeast Michigan where all the voters are. She appeals to identify politics voters and not the growing percentage of the electorate flying confederate flags.
Michigan generally thrives under moderate Republican governors. We have an open primary, so I may cross over and vote for all the Republicans who were not endorsed by Trump or Trumpites.
If I had to call it, though, Bill Schuette, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, will be the next governor.
ReplyDeleteAt one time, and I assume still, the greater Detroit area had more Muslims than any other part of the United States. I assume El Sayed is from that community?
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that he is perceived as a progressive. Not to put too fine a point on it, but Muslims are often thought to not be progressive on women's issues. Where does El Sayed line up on #MeToo, abortion, wage equality and so on?
El-Sayed has a background in public health, so he is really banging the drum on health care and wages, "common man" problems. The Flint water crisis (we now seem to have water problems in a few other municipalities) seems to be one of his areas of special concern.
DeleteNo one seems particularly concerned about El-Sayed being a Muslim. He was born here in Detroit and has strong ties to the greater Detroit area. His wife is a psychiatrist. Muslims have been here a long time and, like Indians and Sikhs, have assimilated quickly and enthusiastically.
New Jersey seems to have elected a Sikh attorney general. Passed me by even though I live right across the river. The fact finally penetrated when two Jersey radio personalities got pulled off the air for referring to him as "turban."
ReplyDeleteUnfolding as expected, though El Sayed came in second (30 percent) despite Thanedar's heavy ad campaign. Maybe Bernie's endorsement helped To Dated somewhat. However, Witmer received over 50 percent in a three-way, so neither of her opponents could have beaten her.
ReplyDeleteSchuette was endorsed by Trump and received 50.8 percent in a four-way race.
Schuette has made repealing former Gov. Jennifer Granholm's tax hike a main issue. Witmer is often associated with Granholm, who revved her engines a lot, but was never able to take off. She worked hard to try to lure new biz to the state and keep industries that were already here, but she didn't have the creds.
It will be interesting to see how the senatorial race between Debbie Stabenow and John James, another Trump endorsee, who received 54 percent of the vote, shakes out.
Debbie ran unopposed (incumbent). She will need to play hardball to defeat James--war hero, entrepreneur, African-American, handsome, and young.
Meantime, I am driving past thousands of acres of soybeans every day on my travels and wondering where these guys are going to sell that stuff. I cannot see either gubernatorial candidate having the ability to deal with that, other than encouraging farmers to move to new crops.
Sen. Debbie has been endorsed by farmers in the past and sits on the ag committee. A strength has been her ability to throw spotlights on at issues. Will be interesting to see if she is at the county fair this year, where she usually puts in an appearance. She's very good with "the folks" and needs the hick vote.
Thanks for the report...
ReplyDeleteSoy beans! is this what goes into soy sauce? I guess we could all use a bit on our breakfast cereal.
Soy goes into everything. Oil is extracted for use in food and industry. Animal feed. Staple protein source in East Asia.
DeleteGroundhogs have developed quite a taste for soybeans, and you hear farmers occasionally popping them. Trouble is that they are hard to see moving through the bean bushes, and they live underground.
I tried cooking dried soybeans once. Literally took two days in a slow cooker. On high.