Primary Day in Michigan, Supreme Court Rules on Line 5, Former UP Congressman and Resident Dies, and Convening the Governor’s Cabinet in the UP
– INFORMED BREVITY –
Primary Day in Michigan
Big turnout this year by primary voters. 2.5 million people voted compared to 2.2 million in August 2018.
Not a lot of surprises, but the US Senate primary on the Democratic side was much closer than predicted by pollsters. One-percent gap between the candidates.
The turnout for Mr. El Sayed was however larger in the state’s college towns. That was true in the college towns in the Upper Peninsula:
Houghton County – home of Michigan Tech University:
El Sayed: 58%
Stevens: 36.7%
McMorrow: 5.3%
Delta County—home of Bay College:
El Sayed: 46.8%
Stevens: 43.9%
McMorrow: 9.3%
Chippewa County—home of Lake Superior State University:
El Sayed: 51.9%
Stevens: 42.6%
McMorrow: 5.5%
Gogebic County—home of Gogebic Community College:
El Sayed: 45.9%
Stevens: 45.1%
McMorrow: 9.1%
Marquette County—home of Northern Michigan University:
El Sayed: 57.9%
Stevens: 35.6%
McMorrow: 6.4%
Statewide the numbers in the election were:
El Sayed: 48.5%
Stevens: 47.5%
McMorrow: 4.0%
NOTE: The above numbers are not final Secretary of State numbers. They are the numbers we found as of August 6th.
The unofficial tally of votes shows El Sayed won the Upper Peninsula by 4,405 votes, and statewide he won by 14,898. If these unofficial votes hold up then 30% of his margin of victory came from the Upper Peninsula.
When we get official vote tallies we can get a better look at the impact of the Upper Peninsula votes in this statewide election for US Senate.
More to come.
Michigan Supreme Court Rules on Line Five
It ruled on August 7th that the Public Service Commission made a mistake when it gave a key permit for the Line 5 gas pipeline tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac.
The court said that the PSC “failed to consider whether the tunnel project would harm public rights to their Great lakes and failed to study whether Line 5 would shut down if the tunnel isn’t built.
This is a big discussion issue around the UP. So it looks like the Public Service Commission has to start over again.
Former Upper Peninsula Congressman and Resident Dies
Congressman Phil Ruppe from Laurium served in Congress from 1967 to 1979. The congressional district was then the 11th as opposed to today. He was a director of the Houghton National Bank before being elected to Congress. He also served in the Korean War.
He was 99 when he passed away in Bethesda, Maryland.
Convening the Governor’s Cabinet in the Upper Peninsula
Governor Milliken was the first Governor to convene his cabinet in the Upper Peninsula in the 1970s. Might be an interesting idea for Governor Whitmer in her last few months in office or for the new Governor in 2027. It would be a great civics lesson for school students, university students and for all citizens. Maybe convene in the Superior Dome? Let us know your thoughts.
Absentee Ballots in Michigan Elections
We keep hearing about problems of fraud with counting absentee ballots. Interesting to note that we have allowed in the United States since the 1860’s. Hmmmm.
Quotes That Make Us Go Hmmm
“We each decide whether to make ourselves learned or ignorant, compassionate, or cruel, generous or miserable. No one forces us. No one decides for us, no one drags us along one path or the others. We are responsible for what we are.” Moses Maimondies.
“The cure for the evils of democracy is more democracy.” Alfred E. Smith.
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The win for El Sayed, is an indictment of our public school system.
not a fan of Critical Thinking skills, eh
It’s telling to see that a large % of college students voted for a socialist…it reflects on how they have been “influenced” in the colleges compared to earlier generations taught history that respects our U.S. Constitution and the men and women who fought for the freedoms we have in our Republic. Interpret what you will.
more like a rejection of Crony Capitalism and its Fascist ways
I don’t know what people mean by socialism in the context of this year’s elections. The policies the self labeled democratic socialists espouse are things that many of us “working class” and ” middle class” voters would support. My concern when voting this year is which candidate has the competence and experience for the position they are running for. Just like all candidates, some democratic socialist have those qualities and some don’t. The label is not important. The candidate’s political maturity and experience is.