The Michigan Senate Midterms

Midterm years are crazy years in Michigan political races. This is when governor races happen along with the state Senate races. These races bring a very heated political environment and play on top of each other. But this year is going to be something special. The national political environment is a mess, which leaves an open spot for Democrats all through the county. It's going to be really interesting to see what happens especially in Michigan which is a state that went for President Barack Obama then President Donald Trump. Despite the heavy gerrymandering, this could be the Democrats best chance at picking up some big seats in the Michigan Senate.

For those unaware, the Michigan Senate vote was nearly split 50-50 in 2014 between Democrats and Republicans. Instead of nearly-equal representation for both parties, Republicans won 27 seats and Democrats won 11. Republicans managed to pull off this feat many different ways. Gerrymandering-wise, Republicans have packed much of the Democrats in metro Detroit into Democratic districts with little competition. On top of that, they have cracked may of the other Democratic areas around the state, which is no more true than Bay County.

Bay County is in Michigan Senate district 31. It's a relatively blue part of the state. They don't have the same lean as Detroit and Ann Arbor, but Democrats have a good chance to win there. To make sure Bay County Democrats can't hold a seat in the Senate, Senate district 31 also holds Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, both of which are quite conservative. Bay County is much larger than either of the other two counties, but together, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties are just big enough to take out the Democratic advantage in Bay County. This time around, Democratic candidates can run and win anywhere. Heck, Doug Jones just won Alabama.

That's why Cynthia Luczak (Facebook), the county clerk for Bay County is running in her district to take over for the term-limited Senator Mike Green. Her opponents are current-Rep Gary Glenn and former Rep Kevin Daley. Both are weak candidates and Luzcak is a popular public figure in the county, which means she has every chance of picking off a win in a a district she has no business winning.

Unfortunately, elections aren't won by bloggers online, but she has every chance of puling a win in the district, but only time will tell if Luczak is the candidate Bay County Democrats can rally behind.