LANSING – As it now stands, the Michigan Senate will consist of 21 Republicans and 17 Democrats when it takes office in January. But Democrats are not yet completely ready to concede the majority.
Approximately 1,400 total votes spread across two districts – the 13th where Republican John Pappageorge defeated Democrat Andy Levin and the 32nd where Rep. Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw Township) defeated Rep. Carl Williams (D-Saginaw) – separates the Democrats from a 19-19 split with Republicans and organization of the Senate under Democratic control.
Senate Minority Floor Leader Sen. Mark Schauer (D-Battle Creek), likely to be named the Senate Democratic leader, said that while Democrats were proud of their accomplishment of picking up one seat, there were “irregularities in the 13th and 32nd districts.”
The caucus has some “serious concerns about the final outcomes and are reviewing all of our options.”
State Democratic Chair Mark Brewer has specifically asked the Oakland County Board of Canvassers to look into situations involving ballot mutilations (where new ballots were marked by hand to replace those damaged) and slow counts in Troy.
Levin lost the 13th District by 776 votes after leading the tally most of the night.
One reason for the slow counts in Troy was that the clerks had to remark as many 500 absentee ballots that were damaged when they were opened. All of the original ballots were given identifying numbers and kept for possible recounts as were the ballots that were remarked by hand to copy those original ballots, an official in the clerk’s office said.
A spokesperson for the Senate Democrats also said there were concerns that localities in Saginaw County ran out of ballots and had to print copies of ballots that were not read as easily by the electronic tabulators. Williams lost to Kahn by 620 votes in that district.
No decisions on asking for a recount have been made, Democratic officials said.
But Senate Majority Leader Ken Sikkema angrily told reporters that there were no discrepancies in the voting or tabulations.
And without referring to Schauer by name, Sikkema heatedly said that “the person making the most noise about this was involved in blatantly illegal financing. And now he’s a sore loser. Somebody in that caucus needs to reign him in.?
And still bristling over charges that Democrats violated the campaign finance act, Sikkema said he would see that issue resolved.
Sikkema also said Republicans were able to win because they had quality candidates and a topnotch political staff.
He also said Republicans were able to match the Democrats in financing, despite the inclusion of $5 million from the Michigan Coalition for Progress primarily funded by Jon Stryker.
The Senate victory was also significant in light of the overall Democratic success both nationally and in the state, Sikkema said. “This was the worst year for Republicans since the Watergate year,” he said.
This story was provided by Gongwer News Service. To subscribe, click on Gongwer.Com
