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Dem-on-Dem primary in Michigan spikes party's blood pressure
PoliticoRep. Andy Levin passed up a run in a newly created Michigan battleground district and instead took on his own colleague, Rep. Haley Stevens. And some of their fellow Democrats are privately livid.
Levin‘s decision to challenge Stevens instead of campaigning for the newly redrawn district that included much of his old turf has set off an intraparty firestorm as some House Democrats fret that Levin abandoned a potentially winnable seat, likely handing it to Republicans. There’s also some closed-door fury with Levin for refusing to challenge one of the GOP’s prized recruits, John James, in a district where the Republican advantage is only slight.
With Democrats’ majority hanging on just a handful of districts, several of them even argued Levin’s choice could help seal their party’s fate come November.
“We need that seat,” said Rep. Ann Kuster (D-N.H.), who added she has personally urged Levin not to battle against Stevens and instead run in the tougher seat. “He’s got a well-known name, he has most of the constituents in that district, and all he had to do was work hard, roll up your sleeves. Why work hard against a colleague?”
Levin‘s decision to challenge Stevens instead of campaigning for the newly redrawn district that included much of his old turf has set off an intraparty firestorm as some House Democrats fret that Levin abandoned a potentially winnable seat, likely handing it to Republicans. There’s also some closed-door fury with Levin for refusing to challenge one of the GOP’s prized recruits, John James, in a district where the Republican advantage is only slight.
With Democrats’ majority hanging on just a handful of districts, several of them even argued Levin’s choice could help seal their party’s fate come November.
“We need that seat,” said Rep. Ann Kuster (D-N.H.), who added she has personally urged Levin not to battle against Stevens and instead run in the tougher seat. “He’s got a well-known name, he has most of the constituents in that district, and all he had to do was work hard, roll up your sleeves. Why work hard against a colleague?”