Michigan's Democratic Party leadership is being accused of undermining the chances of progressive Black candidates in the state's upcoming primary election. A recent report has revealed that fundraising committees tied to powerful Michigan Senate Democrats have poured nearly $70,000 into a race - not to oppose a Republican candidate, but to support a more moderate Democrat.
The targeted candidate, Dr. Pamela Pugh, is a skilled campaigner who has secured the most community endorsements and raised the most money in the contest. Yet, party leadership has collaborated to back her against another progressive Black Democrat. This is part of a worrying pattern where promising Democratic candidates for statewide office have already dropped out of the race.
The latest casualty is Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, who ended his gubernatorial campaign to run for Secretary of State, and Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie, who exited the race soon after. Both candidates were highly qualified progressive leaders with a credible path to victory - a critical detail in a state where Black voters make up 14% of the electorate, yet only four Black people have ever held statewide office.
The decision by party leadership to terminate these campaigns without testing their message or support is inexplicable. These races were not foregone conclusions, and both candidates had already demonstrated significant strength before calling it quits. The explanation for this decision deserves scrutiny, as it raises questions about whether there's a ceiling on what progressive Black candidates can achieve in the state.
Michigan Democratic Party leadership has consistently shown a willingness to sacrifice Black representation in higher office for political expediency. They seem to believe that undermining Black leadership will help them win - but they're wrong on both fronts. Black voters are not as easily swayed by cynical assumptions, and party leaders need to listen to their concerns.
The consequences of this behavior extend further, with the electorate facing fragmentation. Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is advancing an "independent" campaign, bankrolled by corporate interests that have consistently harmed Michigan's working people. By clearing the gubernatorial field before voters had a chance to weigh in, leaders have left Black voters and all voters without the opportunity to choose their preferred candidate.
The Democratic Party needs to rethink its approach if it wants to win in Michigan in 2026, 2028, and beyond. They need to prioritize doing better by Black candidates and voters - not just on Election Day, but as a day-to-day priority. Anything less will only perpetuate the pattern of neglecting marginalized voices.
The targeted candidate, Dr. Pamela Pugh, is a skilled campaigner who has secured the most community endorsements and raised the most money in the contest. Yet, party leadership has collaborated to back her against another progressive Black Democrat. This is part of a worrying pattern where promising Democratic candidates for statewide office have already dropped out of the race.
The latest casualty is Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, who ended his gubernatorial campaign to run for Secretary of State, and Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie, who exited the race soon after. Both candidates were highly qualified progressive leaders with a credible path to victory - a critical detail in a state where Black voters make up 14% of the electorate, yet only four Black people have ever held statewide office.
The decision by party leadership to terminate these campaigns without testing their message or support is inexplicable. These races were not foregone conclusions, and both candidates had already demonstrated significant strength before calling it quits. The explanation for this decision deserves scrutiny, as it raises questions about whether there's a ceiling on what progressive Black candidates can achieve in the state.
Michigan Democratic Party leadership has consistently shown a willingness to sacrifice Black representation in higher office for political expediency. They seem to believe that undermining Black leadership will help them win - but they're wrong on both fronts. Black voters are not as easily swayed by cynical assumptions, and party leaders need to listen to their concerns.
The consequences of this behavior extend further, with the electorate facing fragmentation. Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is advancing an "independent" campaign, bankrolled by corporate interests that have consistently harmed Michigan's working people. By clearing the gubernatorial field before voters had a chance to weigh in, leaders have left Black voters and all voters without the opportunity to choose their preferred candidate.
The Democratic Party needs to rethink its approach if it wants to win in Michigan in 2026, 2028, and beyond. They need to prioritize doing better by Black candidates and voters - not just on Election Day, but as a day-to-day priority. Anything less will only perpetuate the pattern of neglecting marginalized voices.
I'm really concerned about what's going down with Michigan's Democratic Party leadership right now... They're basically undermining progressive Black candidates in the primary election by backing more moderate Democrats instead 
It's like, we need to be supporting each other, not against each other! Dr. Pamela Pugh was a strong contender and had already gotten so much community support and fundraising done 
But now it looks like party leadership is just trying to control the outcome and ignore the needs of Black voters... That's not how you build a stronger party or win in the long run 
We need to think about what we're doing as a party, not just how we can get elected 
i mean, what's the point of having a party if you're just gonna let corporate interests and expediency dictate your strategy? 
and btw, who do these dems think they are, thinking they can just drop talented black leaders like garlin gilchrist ii and aghogho evdevbie without so much as a whisper of explanation? 
the party needs to listen up and prioritize doing better for black candidates and voters - or risk getting left behind by their own constituents 
it's like Michigan Democratic Party is trying to choke out its own potential for progress 
this decision to back dr pugh over pugh herself is so suspicious... and what's going on with gilchrist and edevbie? they both had such promising campaigns, but got dropped without a fight 
We drove through some of the most beautiful landscapes in Michigan, and it made me realize how underrated this state is 
As a Michigander born and raised, I'm proud to call it home, but sometimes people overlook its charm. Maybe we should focus on promoting local talent instead of trying to control who wins the primary? It's all about supporting our community, you know? 
. Meanwhile, the party's fundraising committees are pouring money into supporting moderate Democrats instead of progressive Black candidates 
.
14% of Michigan's electorate identifies as Black or African American, yet only 4 have ever held statewide office 
. In contrast, in 2020, only 5% of Democratic governors won without receiving any endorsements from major organizations 
. If we don't address these systemic issues, we risk further fragmentation of the electorate and a continued lack of representation for marginalized communities 
. The data is clear: it's time for the Democratic Party to put people over politics 
.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing the Democratic Party in Michigan?
. They need to stop playing politics as usual and start listening to what Black voters really want... but I'm not holding my breath 
.
what's going on in Michigan with their Democratic Party leadership is just ridiculous! they're basically throwing away the hopes and dreams of progressive Black candidates left and right 
i mean, who are these guys making these decisions for? aren't they supposed to be representing the people or something? it's like they think they can just manipulate the system to get what they want without considering the long-term consequences 
we need more people in power who will listen to their concerns and fight for them 
. They're like, "Oh, Black voters will just follow whoever we say they should" - NOPE 
! Those same voters are smart enough to see right through this nonsense.
.
and it's not like these ppl are even qualified or anything 
. If they don't, it's gonna lead to a real fragmentation of the electorate and maybe even hurt their chances in the long run 
.
.
. Anything less is just gonna perpetuate the same old patterns of neglecting marginalized voices 
. I mean, what's the point of even having a primary if it's just going to be a formality? And what about all those voters who are already tuning out from the party due to feelings of marginalization and disconnection? If they're not invested in the process, why should we expect them to show up at the polls? 
.
.