# Michigan Sen. Carl Levin (D) won't seek re-election in 2014 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 8, 2013, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michigan-sen-carl-levin-d-wont-seek-re-election-in-2014/652384 "2013-03-08T15:09:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michigan-sen-carl-levin-d-wont-seek-re-election-in-2014/652384/1 "2013-03-08T15:09:45Z")
Should be an interesting year in Michigan politics. The currently-unpopular Republican governor, Rick Snyder, is up for re-election, and the [6-term Democratic senator, Carl Levin, won’t be on the ballot for the first time since 1978](http://www.politico.com/story/2013/03/michigan-sen-carl-levin-to-retire-88598.html). Prior to yesterday, I thought this would be a good opportunity for some big-name Dems to throw their hat in the ring in challenging the governor (and possibly beating him), but now I think the pool may be diluted due to those same big-name Dems seeking Levin’s seat. I’d say Republicans will have the upper hand in MI come '14, as they can all focus all their attention on finding a candidate to run for the wide-open Senate seat. Dems will be split on who should run for what (as the SoS and AG positions will also be up for grabs, against Republican incumbents). Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michigan-sen-carl-levin-d-wont-seek-re-election-in-2014/652384/2 "2013-03-08T15:30:09Z")
The National Republican Senatorial Committee is working with an approach this time of trying to promote candidates who are electable in **their** states and campaigns that are tailored to local interests. Michigan is winnable by a Michigander Republican who has the right positions to appeal to Michigan, but it’s all going to come down to who the Republicans nominate and who the Democrats nominate. If far right “purists” get a crazy candidate on the ballot in Michigan the Democrats keep the seat in a walk. We’re going to see this fight in a lot of states in 2014, as the GOP is fighting with itself over the future direction of the party. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michigan-sen-carl-levin-d-wont-seek-re-election-in-2014/652384/3 "2013-03-08T15:39:24Z")
Gov Snyder peed in his bed by taxing pensions, severely cutting the property tax credit, and ramming through the right to work law. If we can find a credible candidate, Democrats can pick up the governor’s office. Snyder also poisoned the well for Republicans and energized Democrats. I don’t see the Republicans taking the Senate seat. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michigan-sen-carl-levin-d-wont-seek-re-election-in-2014/652384/4 "2013-03-08T15:41:32Z")
Martin: That’s true, and I could see Dick DeVos (resident billionaire and loser gubernatorial candidate) throwing boatloads of his own money (and other billionaire lovers’ money) to win the nomination for the Republicans. Many say he and his pocketbook were the driving force behind last year’s Right-to-Work legislation, so he’s shown he’s still wants to be active politically. I could see him thinking the time is right for a billionaire like himself to join the Senate. If that’s the case, Dems win in a walk. Maybe Jennifer Granholm throws her hat in the ring for the Dems and we’ll have a re-match of '06. Not likely, but fun to ponder. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michigan-sen-carl-levin-d-wont-seek-re-election-in-2014/652384/5 "2013-03-08T15:49:43Z")
I don’t think Jen wants the Senate seat. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michigan-sen-carl-levin-d-wont-seek-re-election-in-2014/652384/6 "2013-03-08T16:00:01Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I don’t think Jen wants the Senate seat. I don’t either. She’d actually have to carpetbag to run at this point. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/858c86/32.png) [@I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Made_French_Toast_For_You)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michigan-sen-carl-levin-d-wont-seek-re-election-in-2014/652384/7 "2013-03-08T16:05:32Z")
I hope Democrats have an easier time with the gubernatorial and US senate elections in 2014 than they will with the State senate and house elections. Is there even a miniscule chance that Michigan Dems could see majorities in the legislature? or has gerrymandering effectively ruled that out for the foreseeable future? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michigan-sen-carl-levin-d-wont-seek-re-election-in-2014/652384/8 "2013-03-09T12:20:01Z")
Apparently, Scott Romney is talking about running for Senate, says the [HuffPost](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/08/scott-romney-senate-michigan_n_2839925.html). I don’t know that I see it, because he’s 71, which is kind of old to be starting a new career path, but maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michigan-sen-carl-levin-d-wont-seek-re-election-in-2014/652384/9 "2013-03-09T14:52:06Z")
I remember what Scott’s now ex-wife Ronna got spanked by Levin in the 90s. Apparently the Romneys haven’t figured out the Romney name doesn’t mean squat in Michigan anymore. In fact, it’s possibly a detriment. ---
**Author:** ![Kepler1571](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/db5fbb/32.png) [@Kepler1571](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kepler1571)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michigan-sen-carl-levin-d-wont-seek-re-election-in-2014/652384/10 "2013-03-15T17:18:25Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > I remember what Scott’s now ex-wife Ronna got spanked by Levin in the 90s. Apparently the Romneys haven’t figured out the Romney name doesn’t mean squat in Michigan anymore. In fact, it’s possibly a detriment. “Romney” is about as popular in auto country as “Gore” is in coal country. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michigan-sen-carl-levin-d-wont-seek-re-election-in-2014/652384/11 "2013-03-15T19:03:24Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > If far right “purists” get a crazy candidate on the ballot in Michigan the Democrats keep the seat in a walk. How much presence has the Tea Party in Michigan? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michigan-sen-carl-levin-d-wont-seek-re-election-in-2014/652384/12 "2013-03-15T19:27:02Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > How much presence has the Tea Party in Michigan? I have a hard time keeping track of what the Tea Partiers stand for any more, other than “against Obama,” but I feel like Michigan conservatives are the of the right-wing Christian and right-wing corporate rich varieties. I don’t think there are all that many “crazy conservatives” like Palin, Bachmann, Cain or West in Michigan. Oh, that’s not to say there aren’t [any](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerry_Bentivolio), but not anyone that could win a statewide primary. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michigan-sen-carl-levin-d-wont-seek-re-election-in-2014/652384/13 "2013-03-15T22:40:58Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > How much presence has the Tea Party in Michigan? The [militia movement](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_Militia) is as big in Michigan as anywhere in the South, so I assume the really crazy wing of the Tea Party is well-represented. I doubt the relatively normal old people that make up the bulk of its rallies are very big on it, though. ---
**Author:** ![Keweenaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Keweenaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keweenaw)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michigan-sen-carl-levin-d-wont-seek-re-election-in-2014/652384/14 "2013-03-24T04:54:25Z")
I’d like to see Bart Stupak run. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michigan-sen-carl-levin-d-wont-seek-re-election-in-2014/652384/15 "2013-03-24T07:59:16Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Apparently, Scott Romney is talking about running for Senate, says the [HuffPost](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/08/scott-romney-senate-michigan_n_2839925.html). I don’t know that I see it, because he’s 71, which is kind of old to be starting a new career path, but maybe. He’s apparently now said he won’t run, but that his daughter might. One suspects that that was the plan all along, and he only announced to draw attention to his daughters candidacy. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2013, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michigan-sen-carl-levin-d-wont-seek-re-election-in-2014/652384/16 "2013-03-27T02:05:03Z")
Debbie Dingell. If she doesn’t run, then Gary Peters.