Voters in the Michigan House Representative District 35 (Jeremy Moss’s current district) have a huge primary coming up
on August 7 on the democratic side in this democratic district choosing their State Representative among all the other important primary votes like governorship. District 35 is a gerrymandered Democratic District and whoever wins the primary for Representative, wins the overall election. Although 6 people are running, the race is actually between 3 people, two of whom are in the establishment democratic machine, running against each other it seems. Meanwhile the other is my daughter,
Katie Reiter, (katiereiter.com) a true activist progressive who has raised more money for her candidacy than the two other major candidates combined.
Unlike one of two other candidates, Kyra Bolden, Katie advocates for shutting down Enbridge Line 5 immediately! (Line 5 is a 50 year old oil pipeline underlying the Great Lakes at the Straights of Mackinaw. It’s very hard to understand anyone opposing the shutdown of this pipeline. If it breaks, it will destroy about 750 Miles of Great Lakes shoreline. It’s a Canadian company and Michigan is simply a short cut for their oil. She wants more study when prior studies have recommended shutting it down.)
The other major candidate, Vincent Gregory, is a term limited state Senator who, in my opinion, is the epitome of a burned out establishment democrat. He has a progressive voting record but is in the bottom 10 of senators who show up to vote and shows little leadership as a minority congressman. He’s hardly campaigning in this election, seeming to rely on his union and corporate endorsements, which are plenty, and his establishment and union bona fides.
Katie is one of our many exciting, inspiring progressive activist women running for political office. She has been an progressive activist since college, protesting many times in DC and Lansing among other things. While the Unions in our area endorsed the Establishment Democrat, Katie (who has never been a union member) fought actively in our state against the Right to Work Law which has successfully undermined our unions.
She’s been a small business owner for 30 years, a Chamber of Commerce Vice President, community small business organizer, and someone understands the issues and problems of small and medium business, finding progressive solutions for local business challenges. She’s been endorsed by the Michigan Progressive Caucus and all the other major progressive groups.
As her Mom, I’m so proud of her. She has weathered some insignificant dirty tricks in the last few weeks in this intense campaign, things that make me mad, but that she is managing quite well. It’s been interesting being on the inside of a campaign. It is such hard work. 16 hour days are the norm with no assurance of a positive outcome. It’s an emotional roller coaster too. I will never look at an election the same way since Katie’s campaign. My empathy for all candidates has exploded. My empathy for what Hillary had to deal with has exploded too, and I was a Bernie supporter.
Bottom Line: if you are in Mi House District 35, vote for Katie Reiter for State Representative. She’s smart, honest, passionate, progressive and cool!
katiereiter.com.