The Michigan Democratic Endorsement Convention
I’m writing this in around an hour, after a workdays worth of time at the Michigan Democratic Party Endorsement Convention. This is a list of news and first impressions of the convention from a first hand point of view.
Well, the Michigan Endorsement Convention is over, and in a bit of a shock, former Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Dana Nessel shocked former US Attorney Patrick Miles for the MDP Endorsement when Miles conceded at approximately 7:00 PM (good god that took a long time, to give an idea, the Convention convened around 2:30 PM) (https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2018/04/15/nessel-democratic-endorsement-michigan-attorney-general/518873002/ ). And also, while this is being painted as a sign of organized labor’s decline, it should be noted that Dana Nessel was endorsed by the second largest union player in Michigan Democratic Politics (the Michigan Education Association, second only to the United Auto Workers in terms of union clout in the Democratic party…hell many a Michigan Governor contest came down to a proxy battle between the UAW and the MEA).
But this contest wasn’t the only interesting thing to me. Let’s get to a list of memorable things I noticed during the convention:
- I got to hear Abdul El-Sayed (former Detroit Health Commissioner who is running for Governor and backed by a bunch of Progressive groups) twice and I will say, the guy is an electric speaker, with a good deal of charisma. If it wasn’t for the eligibility issue (this is too damned important to gamble on, and it is worth noting that even El-Sayed backers I spoke to understand my position) I could easily find myself campaigning for him. As it is, I hope he stays involved as he is one for the future.
- A big reason that Patrick Miles did not get the nomination is that quite simply that he is a fairly poor public speaker. I was in one of the congressional district caucuses and during his speech he literally came off like he was reading it (while saying it, with no notes). That isn’t good.
- I’m deeply impressed by both candidates the Dems are putting forward for Michigan State Supreme Court Justice: University of Michigan Law Professor/former Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Samuel Bagenstos and Michigan Super Lawyer Meghan Cavanaugh (daughter of former State Supreme Court Justice Michael Cavanaugh, who put forward her nomination…and by the way, he’s still got it).
- Weird early news/scoop: Radio Talk Show Host and former Chief of Staff to Michigan First Gentleman Dan Mulhern, Nancy Skinner is apparently going to join the grandstand of candidates in the Michigan 11th Congressional nomination race (saw her shaking hands and announcing her candidacy to people during the voting). I’m not opposed to it but I’m of the opinion that it’s too damned late in the race to have much hope.
- The third Democratic Candidate for Attorney General, former Assistant Wayne County Corporation Counsel/former Meijer General Counsel, Bill Noakes did not get put forward for nomination as he failed to get the required 460 signatures from credentialed delegated to get put forward. While I feel bad for him, selfishly, I’m a bit happy as there was a chance that no one would get the nomination for Attorney General with 3 candidates requiring a second round of voting (remember…the actual convention ran 4 ½ long with a lot of that being the voting for AG) as the winner would require a majority.
- There apparently was a second potential candidate for Secretary of State (opposite Jocelyn Benson), Vanessa Simpson Olive, but I hadn’t heard of her until someone was passing out paper ads for her during the convention and she did not receive enough signatures to get put forward for the nomination (which Benson received by voice vote).
- This is the first time in history (to my knowledge) that any party has put forward an all-woman slate (assuming the nominating conventions follow history and merely rubber stamp the Endorsement Conventions, and that front-runner Gretchen Whitmer gets the Governor nomination) for every directly voting on partisan office (US Senator: Debbie Stabenow, Governor: Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General: Dana Nessel, Secretary of State: Jocelyn Benson).
- Important note for anyone doing something Sunday at Cobo Center in Detroit: The People Mover doesn’t start on Sunday until noon. Meaning, no parking at Greektown and then taking the People Mover over to the convention to avoid traffic (don’t be like Mister Gloom *frowny face*).
- Damn are the candidates running/incumbents for state legislative races in my Congressional District Caucus impressive. I like every damned one of them and would be happy if they were my state legislative member.
- The Michigan Democratic Party seem to be aware of the possibility of a party split and the speeches reflected that as both US Senator Gary Peters and Wayne County Executive Warren Evans spoke on the importance of unity. I really freaking pray that people listen.
I’m not sure which, if either, Attorney General candidate would have been better for the General Election (I, personally had been going into this cycle hoping either former US-Attorney Barbra McQuade, who endorsed Miles, or Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, who endorsed Nessel, would run) but in this case we adopted ideological compatibility and charisma (as opposed to resume and electability/ticket balancing). Not sure if it will work or not, but I don’t regret my decision.