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The unexpected, under-the-radar Senate race in Michigan that could determine control of the chamber

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The unexpected, under-the-radar Senate race in Michigan that could determine control of the chamber


LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Elissa Slotkin had less than half an hour to reckon with a retirement announcement that would reshape Michigan’s political landscape. The state’s senior senator and the third-ranking Democrat in the chamber, Debbie Stabenow, was about to reveal that she would retire in 2024.

Rep. Slotkin, a Democratic congresswoman from Holly, soon met with her team to mobilize for a run at a U.S. Senate seat that Democrats had not expected would be hard to defend in the narrowly divided chamber. A powerhouse fundraiser who had won in one of the nation’s most contested House districts, Slotkin quickly emerged as the Democratic Party establishment’s top choice and began to set a torrid fundraising pace.

It took Michigan Republicans longer to find their frontrunner. Buffeted by turmoil between pro-Trump Republicans and the old guard of the state GOP, they eventually lured former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers out of retirement to contend for the unexpected opening. The endorsement of former President Donald Trump gave Rogers a clear shot at winning his party’s primary without drowning in the intra-party conflict that has plagued the Michigan GOP in recent years.

Both Slotkin and Rogers have opponents in the Aug. 6 primary, but they also have advantages that make a second November showdown likely in a key swing state. With Trump and President Joe Biden poised to slug it out for the state’s indispensable 15 electoral votes at the top of the ticket, the unexpected fight for Michigan’s open Senate seat could say a lot about what the winner will be dealing with once he’s sworn in for a second term.

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“This race is going to go down to the wire,” said former Michigan Republican Rep. Fred Upton. “This is going to be two heavyweights, in a positive way. They really know the issues and will go toe to toe on them.”

Hill Harper, an actor known for his roles on “CSI: NY” and “The Good Doctor,” and businessman Nasser Beydoun will challenge Slotkin for the Democratic nomination. Slotkin has maintained an advantage of more than $8 million in cash reserves at the end of March over both, along with support from several prominent Democrats.

National Republicans had hoped Rogers would have a similarly easy path to his party’s nomination. But the campaigns of former U.S. Reps. Justin Amash and Peter Meijer, who ended his bid last week, as well as businessman Sandy Pensler, made his task a little more complicated.

Rogers’ primary advantage is Trump’s endorsement, which came in February and has been met with pushback from some hardline Republicans due to Rogers’ criticisms of Trump in the past. Rogers took the stage with Trump at a campaign event in Michigan on Wednesday, further aligning himself with a former president he had criticized after the Trump administration tried to challenge the results of the 2020 election, when he compared their actions to “Third World dictatorships.”

Trump on Wednesday said Rogers “is going to be a warrior in the United States Senate, and more importantly he’s just going to be a winner.”

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Trump’s endorsement has proven decisive in Republican nominations in Michigan recently, but questions linger over whether it will hurt or help in the general election.

It’s a red line for voters like Tom Patton, a longtime Lansing area resident who has been represented by both Rogers and Slotkin in Congress and even volunteered for Rogers’ first state Senate campaign.

“I liked Mike Rogers very much back then and in some ways I still do. He’s a serious person and has wonderful credentials. But his support of Trump has completely turned me off,” said Patton, who voted for Nikki Haley in the state’s February primary. “You cannot be for somebody like Trump who doesn’t accept the outcome of a fairly held election.”

The endorsement has not helped Rogers’ fundraising, either. In the first quarter of 2024, he raised slightly more than $1 million — just a quarter of Slotkin’s haul in the same period.

“We’re going to run a better campaign. We don’t have to match dollar for dollar,” said Rogers. “All we’ve got to do is have enough money to make sure people understand the differences.”

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The race is expected to take on similar dimensions to the presidential campaign, with Slotkin pressing the case for reproductive rights and Rogers slamming Biden on border security and inflation. It may also include a strong element from both sides about the war in the Middle East, with Rogers invoking his foreign policy credentials and looking for ways to criticize Slotkin and Biden on an issue that divides Democrats.

Wayne County, which includes Detroit and has the largest Democratic voting base in the state, has become the epicenter for opposition to Biden’s handling of the war between Israel and Hamas, and some have said they would sit the election out.

Slotkin, who is Jewish and has extensive foreign policy experience as a former CIA analyst and Department of Defense official, has at times faced criticism for not being harder on Israel.

“There have been few issues that keep me up at night more than this issue. There are few issues that are more contentious in my own district, in my own state,” said Slotkin. “But the job of a leader is to take themselves out of just how they’re personally feeling and do what’s best for the people they represent.”

Support from Arab Americans could prove crucial to Slotkin’s chances in November, but her relationship with at least one of that community’s leaders has remained troubled. Shortly before announcing her Senate campaign in early 2023, Slotkin met with Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, the top elected official in one of the nation’s only majority-Muslim cities. The conversation soured when Hammoud took offense at the implication that the community wouldn’t support Slotkin because of her Jewish heritage, which has not been a deterrent in the past with other Jewish candidates.

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Slotkin’s campaign declined to comment on the exchange, but the two have not spoken since.

Slotkin earlier this month voted for a package that sent more aid to Israel but said in an interview that Israel must allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza and explain what their military strategy is going forward.

“If they don’t, then I am willing to have a conversation about putting conditions on offensive aid, not defensive,” she said.

Opposition to Slotkin in the community seems unlikely to translate into support for Rogers. He has remained staunchly pro-Israel and said the country is justified for its actions in Gaza because “they have a right to defend themselves and they have a right to go get those hostages.”

Despite turmoil within the Democratic base, the party hasn’t lost a Senate race since 1994 and has exceeded expectations in recent Michigan elections.

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In 2022, Democrats gained complete control of Michigan state government for the first time in decades, in part due to a ballot initiative that enshrined abortion rights in the state constitution. Slotkin says abortion rights are still a winning issue in what may be the nation’s ultimate swing state.

“What we need now in 2024 is at least a 10-year plan to get back to the federal right to an abortion,” she said during an April 24 campaign event. “I’m so done waiting for the next shoe to drop. And part of the reason I want to be your next senator is because we need a new generation that thinks about our plans, our strategy.”

Rogers dismisses the idea that abortion rights are still on the ballot in Michigan. He said he would not vote in favor of a national abortion ban if it came up during his time in the Senate, although he did vote in favor of a 20-week abortion ban while serving in the House.

“I’m a states’ rights guy. I’m not going back to Washington, D.C., to undo what the people of Michigan decided to do,” said Rogers.

Republicans welcome Rogers as a moderate, sensible voice who has a legitimate chance to seize the unexpected opportunity that arose with Stabenow’s retirement, in a state where they haven’t been winning much lately. Democrats, meanwhile, think Slotkin could emerge as a leading voice of the next generation of party leaders.

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That makes for an intriguing matchup that no one saw coming.

“The Senate’s on the line,” said Jason Roe, a Republican strategist in Michigan. “And Rogers and Slotkin could be a clash of the titans.”

___

Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price contributed to this report from Freeland, Michigan.





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Michigan

New Year’s Eve: How to follow Michigan fireworks laws, keep pets safe

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New Year’s Eve: How to follow Michigan fireworks laws, keep pets safe


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New Year’s Eve is one of five holidays when Michigan state law permits the use of fireworks. From 11 a.m. Dec. 31 until 1 a.m. on Jan. 1, consumer-grade fireworks, like sparklers, smoke bombs, Roman candles, and aerials, which launch into the air to explode, can be set off on personal property.

Some places in Michigan have less restrictive local ordinances that allow more time and days for fireworks, but state law requires fireworks to be allowed after 11 a.m. on certain holidays. Violations of local ordinances can result in a $1,000 civil fine.

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Lighting fireworks on public property — including sidewalks, schools, and churches — or another person’s property without permission is punishable by a fine of up to $500.

Aerial fireworks, including Roman candles, cannot be used at Michigan state parks, trails, and harbors. However, smaller fireworks like sparklers and fountains are permitted, per the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Selling fireworks to a minor is illegal in Michigan.

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“When fire-related incidents involve consumer, low impact, or illegal fireworks resulting in property damage, injury or death of another person, individuals are subject to a misdemeanor or felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than five years and fines of up to $10,000 or both,” according to the state’s website.

Fireworks can be a nightmare for pets. Here are some tips for keeping your pets safe and reducing their anxiety this New Year’s Eve:

  • Don’t leave your animals alone if they have trouble with loud noises.
  • Keep pets indoors in a safe room or cage to avoid injury from running into dangerous items in your home.
  • Close all curtains and windows to reduce noises from outside.
  • Tire pets out with exercise, like walks or playtime, earlier in the day.
  • Provide pets with enrichment activities, like a frozen lick mat with treats.
  • Get your pet soundproof earmuffs or play soothing sounds on a sound machine to muffle noise.



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Michigan superintendent accused of smoking weed with colleague, having gun on school grounds

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Michigan superintendent accused of smoking weed with colleague, having gun on school grounds


A Michigan school superintendent was ousted from her position for allegedly getting high with a colleague on school grounds and then driving off in her car – where police found a hunting rifle stashed in the backseat.  

Hollie Stange, who headed Fitzgerald Public Schools in Warren, is accused of getting behind the wheel after police spotted her smoking marijuana with the district’s food services director for several minutes in a parked car 1,000 feet from school grounds, according to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office. 

Police arrested Stange and Amanda Carroll, both 38, after the pair left in separate vehicles on Dec. 20, and were found allegedly driving “under the influence.”

Fitzgerald Public Schools superintendent Hollie Stange and Amanda Carroll were both arrested and charged after they were caught smoking weed on school campus and then getting behind the wheels of their car. Click on Detroit

“This is deeply concerning and violates the trust our community places in these school administrators,” Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido said.

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“Driving under the influence and possessing drugs near school grounds is not only unlawful but also puts the safety of our children at risk. As individuals entrusted with the well-being of Macomb County’s children, we will take all necessary legal steps to ensure accountability.”

Police found a rifle wrapped in a blanket in the backseat of Stange’s car, along with a 50-gram bag of marijuana in her purse, WWJ reported.

A 6-year-old was inside Carroll’s vehicle when police pulled her over. 

Carroll was also in possession of more than 25 grams of weed, the outlet reported. 

Prosecutors believe Stange had the gun in her car while she was on school grounds. 

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Both women were placed on leave, pending an internal review, on Sunday following a unanimous vote by the Fitzgerald School Board.

“The Fitzgerald Public Schools Board of Education today voted unanimously to place District Superintendent Stange and Amanda Carroll on leave effective immediately pending our internal review and the ongoing criminal investigation,” board president Julia Yokel said in a Facebook post. 


School officials arrested Friday
A Michigan school superintendent was ousted from her position for allegedly getting high with a colleague on school grounds and then driving off in her car – where police found a hunting rifle stashed in the backseat. Google Maps

“The school district is cooperating with local law enforcement and will continue to do so.”

Stange is charged with possession of marijuana on school grounds, possession of a weapon in a weapon free zone and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, prosecutors said. 

Charges against Carroll include possession of marijuana on school grounds, operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated second offense and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated with an occupant less than 16 years old. 

Both women were arraigned on Dec. 21 in Warren District Court, and their bond was set at $5,000 each.

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Both are barred from entering school grounds unless otherwise directed, no uses of alcohol or drugs with random testing twice a week and limited contact with each other, prosecutors said.

Stange is also restricted from using any firearms.

“My client is a dedicated educator and administrator with two decades of services, a mother of two young children herself, and is presumed innocent under the law,” William Barnwell, defense attorney for Stange, told the Detroit Free Press.

“They have to prove she knew the weapon was in the vehicle, they have to prove distance (from school grounds) and they have to prove impairment.”

They will appear in court next on Jan. 2.

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Will Mikey Keene be Michigan’s Week 1 starting quarterback in 2025?

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Will Mikey Keene be Michigan’s Week 1 starting quarterback in 2025?


Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Michigan Wolverines fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Michigan now has a veteran quarterback in the fold for the 2025 season. On Monday afternoon, Fresno State transfer QB Mikey Keene committed to the Wolverines.

Keene had a 70.5 completion percentage in 2024 with 2,892 yards with 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions at Fresno State. Keene was at Central Florida for his first two years and is familiar with Michigan’s new offensive coordinator, Chip Lindsey. Lindsey was Central Florida’s offensive coordinator in 2022 while Keene was at UCF. Keene fared well in ‘22 with Lindsey when he saw the field, throwing for 647 yards, six touchdowns and one interception with a 72.3 completion rate.

Does Keene’s veteran presence and familiarity in Chip Lindsey’s scheme give him the edge to ultimately be named Michigan’s starting quarterback in Week 1 against New Mexico next season? Or will the 2025 No. 1 overall prospect and No. 1 QB Bryce Underwood prove to be ready to roll right out of the gate? Vote below.

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Whether Keene winds up starting or not he was brought in to compete with Underwood and receive a shot at the starting position in 2025. Keene, who stands 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, will be entering his fifth collegiate season in 2025 and has amassed 8,245 passing yards, 65 touchdowns and 28 interceptions in his career with a 67.8 completion percentage.



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