Free Republic

DETROIT, MI – The Democratic National Committee is honing in on Michigan’s 2014 elections and appears eager to make gay rights a central issue in multiple high-profile races. DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz visited Metro Detroit on Tuesday, speaking to a crowd of about 70 LGBT activists and candidates for office. “We’re very focused on Michigan,” she said. “We have at least three House seats that are competitive here. Obviously the gubernatorial race is very competitive… The United States Senate race is competitive. So we are going to be organizing, vocalizing and focusing on Michigan as a prime, central address...

Peters is the likely Democratic nominee for Senate in Michigan. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo) Republicans don’t need to win Michigan to get the majority in the Senate, but the Wolverine State could become a serious takeover target later next year.After more than three decades, Democratic Sen. Carl Levin announced that he would not seek re-election. Instead of competitive primaries filled with ambitious candidates, it looks like both parties have settled on their nominees for next fall. At this point, the general election looks like it will be between Democratic Rep. Gary Peters and Republican former Secretary of State...

LANSING, MI -- It's official: Former Congressman Mark Schauer is running for Michigan governor. The Battle Creek Democrat announced his candidacy online Tuesday and filed paperwork with the Michigan Secretary of State establishing a candidate committee, Mark Schauer for Governor, which will allow him to begin raising funds as he seeks the party nomination in 2014. He's the first Democrat to declare for the race and is the clear party favorite to challenge first-term Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, who has not yet confirmed his own re-election plans but is widely expected to run. "We need a governor who will protect...

I’m embarrassed that I forgot he was from Detroit when I was gaming out his paths to elected office. He works in Maryland, but Maryland’s a very blue state for a conservative-leaning novice pol who’d presumably run as a Republican. Virginia’s a bit more purple, but the only seat that’s open anytime soon is Mark Warner’s and Warner doesn’t seem especially vulnerable. He could always proceed directly to running for president, but how often does someone start their political career as commander-in-chief? Even O spent some time in federal and state legislatures before taking the plunge. But wait. What about...

Michigan Democratic Sen. Carl Levin announced Thursday he will retire at the end of 2014. The chairman of the Armed Services Committee, first elected in 1978, is the longest-serving senator in Michigan history and will turn 80 before Election Day next year. In a statement, Levin said the decision not to seek another term was “extremely difficult.”

2014 may turn out to be what Republicans hoped 2012 would be. Taking over the Senate, and kicking Harry Reid back to minority leader. Michigan Democrat Senator Carl Levin announced he will not seek re-election in 2014, created yet another chance for Republicans to pick up a seat. Of course the problem always is, will Republicans find a strong enough candidate to run for the open seat?