Michigan legislative action thread
Posted on 06/02/2015 3:31:42 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued
It’s not just Democrats considering a challenge to Michigan Rep. Dan Benishek, who plans to run for a fourth term after pledging to serve only three.
Several Republicans in the state were mentioned as potential primary challengers to the 1st District incumbent.
State Rep. Peter Pettalia had been encouraged to run before Benishek announced his intent to seek another term, and “that talk hasn’t stopped” since, Pettalia told CQ Roll Call. The legislator declined to say which “supporting groups” have reached out to him. But, as a “loyal Republican,” Pettalia noted he’d have to give “deep thought” to challenging a seated member of his party.
Alan Arcand, who lost to Benishek in the 2014 primary by nearly 40 points, has not yet decided whether he’ll mount another challenge to the incumbent. He told CQ Roll Call “there was almost mutiny” about Benishek’s announcement at the last Dickinson County GOP meeting.
A more viable Republican challenger could be former state Sen. Jason Allen, who lost to Benishek in the 2010 primary by just 15 votes. Allen has served as deputy director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency since 2011.
Multiple Republican sources said they haven’t heard about a forthcoming Allen candidacy and said that, as a party loyalist, he would be reluctant to challenge Benishek. That match-up “would seem odd,” added GOP strategist Fred Wszolek, given both men’s Veterans Administration experience. Benishek, a surgeon who worked part time at the VA in Michigan, serves on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
Allen did not respond to multiple attempts to contact him about his interest in running this cycle.
Benishek’s term-limit pledge break is already being featured on the air. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee launched radio ads last week attacking Benishek for backtracking on his term-limit promise.
(Excerpt) Read more at atr.rollcall.com ...
Dan Beneshik may have a good voting record, but I don’t like people who go back on their word. It’ll backfire sooner or later, like it did with George Nethercutt and Lee Terry.
If he insists on running again, supporting a serious primary challenge is the proper course of action.
Living in benishek’s district very little has been done for us here in his area. Went to DC stated he would not serve more than couple of terms. Roads are miserable here the roads misery is getting worse and Benishek has done nothing to help get federal funds. Grants applied for and the grants are awarded to other areas that are more deserving (campaign contributions)
The 1st is a huge district (2nd largest east of the Mississippi) and it has a lot of miles of roads. How money is spent on roads is generally decided on the county and township levels after being distributed from Lansing.
Here in the 7th district the road quality varies wildly from county to county and township to township. Roads in my township are pretty good but if I go 5 miles west they’re the worst I’ve seen.
The headline makes it sound like primaries are unheard of
They are fairly unusual, and unless they are in some type of trouble, the defeat of an incumbent shakes folks up; witness Cantor’s loss.
the grant was called the TIGER Grant with the USDOT. I was asked by the local government requesting Dr. Dan Benishek’s assistance to get involved in the grant process to send an accompanying letter. The same went with the Blighted properties. Formerly 86 Iron Mines existed in the county. when the mines went bust the properties were left to rot. Acid from the mines is starting to run unimpeded into the watershed. Buildings are falling apart. There is one mine that could be reopened if necessary). the fences around the mines are sorely needed to be replaced. periodically entire sections are removed by scavengers for metal that is cashed in in Green Bay. Many of the streets are hideous. I have a sticker in the window - Not Drunk Avoiding Potholes. Locally the city and county are at the maximum for millage. Yet he roads are falling apart, Some roads have no been repaired since the mines closed down in the 1940s - 1960s. Locally many of the small communities may have to go to the next route Emergency management. No money for much of anything and the retirees benefits may be cut drastically as here is nothing to pay them soon enough!
I’ll put my vote in for Trucker Randy Bishop. You do not have to worry about his word or his stance.
I don’t give a fig about his stupid term limit pledge, a smarter man wouldn’t have made it in the first place, publicly declaring years in advance when you intend to quit is foolish. I also doubt violating stupid term limit pledges had anything to do with Lee Terry losing (or “losing”) 10! years after he broke his pledge, or much to do with George N. failing to beat an incumbent rat Senator in a liberal state, he wouldn’t have won anyway, he may have not even been the nominee if he had been out of office for 4 years at that point.
I will note however that Beneshik has underperformed, barely holding the seat in 2012 even as Romney easily carried it and hardly winning decisively in 2014. I don’t know the reason but the responsibly lies with the Congressman to improve his electoral performance. Is he a poor politician?
I’m not sure if we want an internecine battle here. If it’s determined we do, I would welcome an eeeeeeeeeevil state legislator who’s better prepared for the reality of congressional politics. I would not welcome a random “Tea party” schmoe. Beninshek himself was a random “I’m tea party” guy and some people on this thread have buyer’s remorse. You see because it’s very easy for someone who’s never been in politics before to SAY what they are. I like candidates with records in lower office who have proven what they are.
IIRC from 2010, State Sen Allen was a RINO and he is not a Yooper. So I’d cross him off.
I'd love to see our state rep Ray Franz take his place, but don't think the districts intersect so he may not be eligible. That guy would make a great addition to the conservatives we have in congress.
If we can't find someone clearly better (like a Ray Franz), just keep him in or the seat will go to a lying rat like Stupak.
Yeah, better a standard issue republican than a democrat till something better comes along.
Like I said, he's not terrible, he's far better than any lying rat. A place keeper until we can find a real conservative. Unfortunately there aren't too many of them just waiting to jump into the political fray.
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