RandySF
RandySF's JournalMI-GOV: Mike Duggan (I) made millions while DMC workers accused hospital system of union busting
As ex-Detroit mayor Mike Duggan works to win over union voters in his independent bid for governor, records show he oversaw the layoffs of union hospital workers while becoming a millionaire at the Detroit Medical Center.
Duggan later brokered the sale of the nonprofit hospital system to a for-profit company, a move that was followed by years of safety violations, federal scrutiny, and labor disputes.
Documents reviewed by Metro Times show that while Duggan was president and CEO of the eight-hospital system between 2004 and 2012, unions repeatedly accused the hospital system of aggressive tactics to stop organizing and weaken bargaining units.
Newly uncovered documents show that DMC laid off an entire class of unionized hospital workers and replaced them with non-union employees in 2012, prompting a federal labor complaint. The dispute centered on Hutzel Hospital in Detroit, where AFSCME Council 25, Local 3695 accused DMC of violating federal labor law after 17 unionized hospital aides known as “nurse extenders” were laid off and their work transferred to non-union staff.
https://www.metrotimes.com/news/politics-elections/mike-duggan-made-millions-while-dmc-workers-accused-hospital-system-of-union-busting/
'No' to a Constitutional Convention keeps special interests from taking our freedoms, rights
When Michigan voters receive their ballots in November, the first question they’ll see is whether Michigan should hold a state Constitution Convention.
It may look like a straightforward chance to make changes to our Constitution, but don’t be fooled. Voters should vote “No” and reject this dangerous Trojan Horse.
A Constitutional Convention, also known as a “Con-Con,” will roll out the welcome mat for wealthy special interests and extremist organizations, who are all too eager to rewrite Michigan’s state Constitution. A Con-Con would open the door for powerful special interests to use their power, influence and deep pockets to pass harmful, costly policies affecting families, small businesses and communities across Michigan.
Extremist groups, wealthy donors and billionaires want to exploit the Con-Con and use it as a back door to rewrite the Michigan Constitution and promote their narrow agenda — not the will of everyday Michiganders. Constitutional protections and freedoms Michiganders currently enjoy under our state constitution would be at risk.
https://michiganadvance.com/2026/03/08/no-to-a-constitutional-convention-keeps-special-interests-from-taking-our-freedoms-rights/
Millions of $$$ in MAGA Dark Money Fuel "NO" Campaign in Virginia
Richmond, Va. — Millions in anonymous MAGA money has poured into Virginia in recent days to support the ‘NO’ campaign opposing the April 21 referendum, fueling a misinformation campaign aimed at confusing voters across the Commonwealth. This has included paid communications outright lying about Governor Spanberger’s public approval of the YES Campaign, as well as offensive and deceptive mailers sent to about Black voters across Virginia.
“This week alone, more than $3 million in MAGA dark money has flooded into Virginia to fund misinformation and offensive tactics designed to scare and confuse voters,” said Dan Gottlieb, Communications Director for the YES Campaign. “When anonymous MAGA groups with hidden donors start pouring millions into a campaign built on deception, it tells you everything you need to know about what the ‘NO’ campaign is trying to do. Virginians deserve honest information — not dark money and misinformation designed to manipulate this election. Vote YES to stop Trump’s power grab and level the playing field.”
This week alone, $2.5 million in undisclosed funds appeared backing the ‘NO’ campaign, which has since announced its first paid media buy.
At the same time, Justice for Democracy PAC — another arm of the ‘NO’ campaign targeting voters with misinformation — received $425,000 from American Future Fund, a longtime right-wing dark money organization that was among the largest corporate-backed conservative spending groups of the 2010s and supported efforts to elect Donald Trump. The fund is now misrepresenting Governor Spanberger’s endorsement of the YES Campaign.
https://bluevirginia.us/2026/03/millions-of-in-maga-dark-money-fuels-no-campaign-in-virginia/
PA-03: Stanford (D) Gets $1.4M Boost From National Super PAC.
Stanford, a pediatric surgeon running in a crowded primary to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans in Congress, received a significant boost this week from a national group spending a staggering sum of money to promote her campaign.”
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/philadelphia/ala-stanford-super-pac-314-action-dwight-evans-20260311.html
The key political races to watch across Astoria and Long Island City
traditional progressives and candidates backed by the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) following Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s success in the mayoral election last year.
The nature of Mamdani’s victory, particularly in Queens and Brooklyn, has given rise to a new wave of DSA challengers who are eyeing numerous seats across the two boroughs.
That is particularly evident in Astoria and LIC, which make up part of the so-called “Commie Corridor” in a reference to a stretch of western Queens and north Brooklyn that broke heavily for Mamdani during the 2025 mayoral election.
Astoria has also become known as the “People’s Republic of Astoria” due to the high success rate of the DSA in the neighborhood.
https://qns.com/2026/03/key-political-races-astoria-long-island-city/
NY-SEN?: AOC takes her brand of politics to New York's North Country
We are finding out how AOC plays up north.
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez headlined a town-hall meeting in the 21st Congressional District — an area nearly 200 miles north of her Queens base that stretches from the Canadian border to the Mohawk River and is currently represented by Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik.
Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Glens Falls on Sunday night to listen as Ocasio-Cortez and U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan, a Hudson Valley Democrat, answered questions about health care and cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency.
“I already know they're going to call us every name in the book for coming out here because they want to keep us from coming here,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “We're not going to allow that hostility to keep us from moving forward. And we're going to show that a politics of kindness and care and compassion and ferocity in fighting for what's right is — and can win [for] us everywhere.”
https://gothamist.com/news/aoc-takes-her-brand-of-politics-to-new-yorks-north-country
Gov. DeSantis appoints Matt Terry to assume control of Gulf County Clerk's Office
For the first time in 20 years, Gulf County will have a new Clerk of Court.
James “Matt” Terry is taking over as Gulf County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller in the Panhandle county. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced he has selected Terry to fill the vacant post.
Terry will be replacing Rebecca L. “Becky” Norris, who had a grip on that job since she was first elected in 2005. But late last year, Norris announced she would retire from the Clerk’s position, effective Dec. 31.
Tonya Knox served as interim Clerk for several weeks before DeSantis selected Terry as the permanent replacement.
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/780886-gov-desantis-appoints-matt-terry-to-assume-control-of-gulf-county-clerks-office/
Keith Givens (D) wins historic election in Maitland City Council race (FLIP)
Keith Givens won a seat at Maitland City Council in Tuesday’s election, becoming the first Black Council Member elected in the modern-day era, his campaign said.
Givens won with nearly 59% of the vote over Alexander Trauger in the open race for Seat 2 with 100% of precincts reporting in unofficial election results.
“I’m humbled by the opportunity and at the same time I hope I can serve and be a beacon for bringing us all together,” Givens said on Election Night.
Vice Chair Vance Guthrie did not run for re-election, setting the stage for an open contest for Seat 2.
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/784364-keith-givens-wins-historic-election-in-maitland-city-council-race/
Jimmy Peluso (D) launches run for Jacksonville City Council at-large seat
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan’s strongest ally on the heavily Republican City Council is running citywide in 2027, opening up the District 7 seat drawn for a Democratic winner.
Jimmy Peluso has filed to run for the at-large Group 4 seat currently held by maverick Republican Matt Carlucci, joining a field of four first-time candidates.
“I believe in my last 4 years on Council I’ve demonstrated that willingness to work with everyone to accomplish important goals for our city, while also fighting for our oldest neighborhoods and the residents who haven’t seen a Councilmember in years,” Peluso told Florida Politics.
“No one will ever be able to take up the mantle of Matt Carlucci, and his legacy of statesmanship or standing up when it was needed most. However, potholes and roads don’t care what political party you are, and residents are sick of what they are seeing from leadership in City Council. The bickering, gamesmanship and ignoring the needs of our residents hold back the great potential of this City. So I have decided to step out of my District 7 seat so we can make sure the Carlucci and (Tommy Hazouri Sr.) legacies have someone who will view this city as they did: a place for everyone,” Peluso added.
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/784363-jimmy-peluso-launches-run-for-jacksonville-city-council-at-large-seat/
FL-27: Robin Peguero (D), Eliott Rodriguez (D) in dead heat against Mara Elvira Salazar
A new poll suggests U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar faces a competitive race in Florida’s 27th Congressional District, with two Democratic contenders now within striking distance of the incumbent Republican.
The survey, conducted March 6-8 by New York-headquartered Blueprint Polling, shows Democratic Primary contenders Robin Peguero and Eliott Rodriguez running close to Salazar in hypothetical matchups.
In a head-to-head race against Salazar, 40% of respondents said they’d support Peguero, a former federal prosecutor and Jan. 6 Committee investigator, while 43% said the same of Rodriguez, a retired TV news anchor.
The 3-percentage-point difference between the Democratic candidates fell well within the poll’s 4.61-point margin of error.
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/784817-__trashed-35/
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