Michigan House Special Elections for the majority are less than two weeks away
WASHINGTON — Ahead of two majority-deciding special elections that are less than two weeks away, new reports reveal that Michigan GOP candidate Josh Powell said he opposes abortion “without exception” and would be open to repealing the state’s abortion protections. Powell is running against DLCC Spotlight Candidate Peter Herzberg, and abortion is clearly on the ballot in Michigan given Powell is a guaranteed vote to roll back abortion protections.
A reminder: The Democratic trifecta in Michigan passed a package of reproductive freedom bills last year, as well as pro-surrogacy legislation just this week, but that progress is now at stake as the majority in the state House hangs in the balance.
Along with Peter Herzberg, DLCC Spotlight candidate Mai Xiong is also on the frontlines of protecting Democrats’ hard-fought majority in the Michigan House. Democrats must win both elections and ensure that House Speaker Joe Tate and Democrats remain in charge so Michigan can remain a shining example of progress ahead of the general elections in November. Defending the Democratic trifecta in Michigan on April 16th is a top-tier priority for the DLCC after we flipped both the Michigan House and Senate in 2022, securing a Democratic trifecta for the first time since 1984.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee National Secretary Sam Paisley issued the following statement:
“Josh Powell’s pledge to undermine abortion protections has raised the stakes of these already crucial majority-defending elections for the state House in Michigan. Powell’s comments fly directly in the face of Michiganders’ wishes, who made clear they want their reproductive freedoms protected when they voted Democrats into the majority in 2022. The Michigan Democratic trifecta has answered the calls of voters by delivering meaningful protections for reproductive freedoms, but now all of that progress could be wiped away if an anti-abortion extremist is elected and breaks Democrats’ majority.
“This is a sound-the-alarm moment for the stakes of the upcoming special elections in Michigan, and the DLCC needs continued support to get our Spotlight candidates who champion fundamental freedoms over the finish line.”
If you’re interested in covering these two crucial special elections in Michigan or connecting with either of the DLCC Spotlight candidates, please contact the DLCC Press Team at [email protected].
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is the official Democratic Party committee dedicated to winning America’s state legislatures and building state infrastructure. Over the last decade, we have fought cycle-over-cycle to gain a dozen new legislative chamber majorities and we are leading the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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