LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – It’s been more than two months since Michigan’s 35th District Senate seat was left vacant, leaving 270,000 taxpayers with no representation in Lansing. And what has Governor Gretchen Whitmer done about it? Absolutely nothing.
No, this isn’t a problem with misplaced paperwork. The governor alone has the power to call a special election – but she’s dragging her feet, leaving folks in the Saginaw, Bay City and the Midland area without representation.
Selective speed to fill vacancy.
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The seat was left open when Democrat Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet was elected to Congress in November. Her original election victory to represent the state’s 35th district was one of the closest in the state with her narrowly beating out Republican Annette Glenn of Midland – and is considered by many to be in a very competitive district.
When a Democrat seat opens up in a left-leaning district, Whitmer’s election announcements seem to come faster than a lobbyist spotting an open bar. But when a seat leans Republican, suddenly, the governor is slower than MDOT fixing potholes. So says State Sen. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake) who is also the newly appointed Chair of the Michigan GOP. He has criticized Governor Gretchen Whitmer, calling her a “party hack” who fears losing control of the Senate. If a Republican wins the vacant seat, the Democrats’ current 19-18 majority would be reduced, leading to a 19-19 tie. In such a scenario, Michigan’s Lieutenant Governor, Garlin Gilchrist (D), would hold the tie-breaking vote.
Protesters demand action on open seat outside Whitmer’s State of the State.
Dozens of frustrated protesters gathered outside the Lansing Capitol hours before Whitmer’s State of the State address on Wednesday last week, demanding action on the open seat, saying that they pay taxes, follow the law, and expect fair elections – not political games.
Dennis Banaszak, Bay Country Republican Party former Chair, was one of the protesters at the Capitol. He told WNEM, “We need to have this election so that we can be represented” adding that the situation is like “taxation without representation.” He also said about Whitmer needing to call for the special election, “She needs to get off her butt and get the job done.”
Over the weekend Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt (R-Porter Twp.) wrote on op-ed in the Detroit News calling out the governor for not filling the seat. He said about Whitmer’s past activities, “The governor has called for 10 special elections to fill open legislative seats over the six years since she’s been in office, taking around 17 days on average to fulfill her constitutional obligation…What’s the holdup?”
He added that instead of traveling to San Francisco, Martha’s Vineyard, Seattle or Dubai, maybe she should go to Bay, Midland and Saginaw counties instead to hear from frustrated voters with no representation in the Michigan Senate.
Whitmer also ignores business leaders’ call for special election.
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Whitmer has not publicly commented on any sort of timeline for a special election even after an open letter was sent to her from the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, Midland Business Alliance and Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce formally requested her to call for it.
Bay Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Magen M. Samyn wrote in a statement, “Our community deserves strong representation to address the critical issues that impact our families, businesses, and future. Calling a special election ensures the voices of the 35th District are heard without delay.”
Many others have called for the special election as well including Republican lawmakers. Michigan Senator Roger Hauck (R-Mount Pleasant) who said, “The core principle of our government is representation within our elected bodies. I understand it takes time to outline the logistics and costs of a special election, but the governor knew this was coming and she has also had ample time to at least get the dominoes set up.”
If there is no special election, the vacancy won’t be filled until the next general election.
