Aug 08, 2012

Texts From Last Night: Democrats Seize Openings in Michigan

The reviews are in from last night and Republicans now have even greater challenge holding the seats of Congressman Justin Amash (MI-03) and the open seat in MI-11. Thanks to a wincing series of setbacks in MI-11 and 2010 baggage with an unpopular, fringe incumbent in MI-03, Republicans are stuck coping with now two out-of-control Ron Paul Tea Party candidates, putting these two races in play.

See the Washington Republicans Hangover Headlines for Yourself:


MI-11 Open seat - Dr. Syed Taj vs. Kerry Bentivolio:
 

  • Roll Call: Michigan Primary Outcome Is The Best News of the Night for Democrats: “The best news of the night for Democrats came in the 11th district, which is shaping up to be the strangest House race of the 2012 cycle. Reindeer rancher Kerry Bentivolio defeated former state Sen. Nancy Cassis, a write-in candidate, for the Republican nomination. He faces internist Syed Taj in a general election that Democrats now view as potentially competitive. The seat is open because Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R) dropped his re-election bid in June after he submitted erroneous ballot petitions.” [Roll Call, 8/8/12]
  • Michigan Capitol Confidential: Republicans Are Worried About Bentivolio: “Kerry Bentivolio, the only candidate whose name is on the Aug. 7 ballot, is accused of being so extreme that some Republicans who have previously been labeled as far right themselves are worried about how he'd represent the district.” [Michigan Capitol Confidential, 8/3/12]
  • Rothenberg Political Report: Democrats See Glimmer of Hope Thanks to McCotter’s Blunder: “In perhaps the quirkiest primary of the cycle, Republicans will have to make do with reindeer rancher Kerry Bentivolio in Michigan’s 11th District as their standard-bearer to succeed former Rep. Thad McCotter (R), who botched his re-election effort after failing to turn in the requisite signatures, and then decided to resign last month. […] Democrats see a glimmer of hope thanks to McCotter’s blunder. The good news for them is that they got their favored candidate, physician Syed Taj, through the primary over a fringe candidate.” [Rothenberg Political Report, 8/8/12]
  • LA Times: Democrats Have a Chance In Seat That Would Have Been Easy for GOP to Hold with McCotter: “The district leans Republican and would have been an easy seat for the GOP to hold with McCotter on ballot. But now Democrats have a chance to take the seat in a race featuring two political novices.” [The Los Angeles Times, 8/8/12]
  • Detroit Free Press: Not What Republicans Envisioned : “It's not the way some local Republican leaders envisioned the race for the 11th Congressional District playing out, but Tuesday night, Kerry Bentivolio of Milford became the GOP nominee.” [Detroit Free Press, 8/8/12]
  • Washington Post: Bentivolio’s Victory Will Raise Democrats’ Hopes: “Meanwhile, Kerry Bentivolio, a reindeer farmer and teacher, won the Republican primary in the race to replace Thaddeus McCotter in Michigan’s 11th District. Bentivolio’s victory will raise Democrats’ hopes of competing for the seat in November.” [Washington Post, 8/8/12]


MI-03 - Steve Pestka vs. Congressman Justin Amash:

  • Grand Rapids News: Pestka Gained Will of Democrats: “Steve Pestka gained the will of Democrats Tuesday with an 18-percent win in an acrimonious primary challenge from Trevor Thomas in the Third Congressional District. […] ‘We will unify as Democrats and reach out to everyone to make the argument that I am the better candidate to represent the district than Justin Amash,’ Pestka said. ‘I’m very grateful to the citizens of the Third District and now it’s time to do something that hasn’t been done here in 38 years - elect a Democrat to Congress.’” [Grand Rapids News, 8/8/12]
  • New York Times: Another Republican seat in the Grand Rapids area just got a little harder to hold: “Another Republican seat in the Grand Rapids area just got a little harder to hold that of freshman Representative Justin Amash, whose claim to fame in the 112th Congress is voting no on just about every key piece of legislation, and plenty of benign measures, too. Democrats believe their winner of Tuesday’s primary, a small-business owner, Steve Pestka, gives them a fighting chance.” [The New York Times, 8/8/12]
  • National Journal: Democrats Land Favored Candidate in Obama Seat: “And in Republican-friendly Grand Rapids, Mich.-centered district, Democrats landed their favored candidate against freshman Rep. Justin Amash, whose views and voting record are aligned with Paul, his political mentor. That's made him more vulnerable than most Republicans would be - in a district that Obama carried with 51 percent of the vote in 2008. Democrats are bullish about their nominee, small business owner and judge Steve Pestka, and have released polling showing him with the potential to run competitively against the freshman. [National Journal, 8/8/12]

Want the latest updates? Follow the DCCC on Facebook and Twitter: