(Source: MIRS.news, Published 10/07/2022) A race that appeared to be a be a done deal a year ago is now anything but.
Sources tell MIRS that Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit)'s hustle, hard work ethic and strong fundraising ability has her in a toss-up with Sen. Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) in the race to be the next Senate Democratic leader.
With Sen. Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit) removing herself from the field and whispers of other possibilities not materializing, Chang and Brinks are in the midst of likely the most polite leadership race in recent memory.
Recent rumbles of a recruiting effort to bring nationally known Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) or former House leader Sam SINGH into the mix haven't amounted to much, as neither are working in that direction.
In the end, you need to want it to get it, and right now Brinks and Chang are the ones who want it. Brinks said on statewide public TV several weeks ago that she was quietly working to get Santana and Chang out of the race. She batted 1-for-2.
"I'm still in the race and have no intention of getting out," Chang reassured MIRS during a break from knocking on doors recently on behalf of what she hopes will be the majority caucus next year.
Doors are not the only job she is doing. It's "doors and dollars" as she put it in a follow-up text message after the interview.
"I have paid canvassers doing canvass or phone banks covering all 10 of our targeted campaigns, mostly on a weekly basis," Chang said.
During the Off the Record appearance, Brinks was quite confident that the leadership race was going well for her. Chang said the same thing.
"In the last 24 hours I've received more support. I had a path and that's become clearer now," she reports, while adding she has "more conversations this week and I'm feeling good."
Why her over her opponent?
She argued she has the "strongest record of bi-partisanship and putting bill packages together," plus she has been a prolific fundraiser for the caucus, but has ceded her title of top money rainmakers to McMorrow, whose recent national attention has moved her into first place.
Not one to back off, Chang said she has had one fundraiser every week for the past month. And lest anyone thinks she can be coaxed out of the head-to-head, she is pointed, "I don't quit."
One preliminary list shared with MIRS had the race as a flat-footed tie with several uncommitteds and factors in play such as:
- Will this be for minority or majority leader?
- What is their working relationship with lobbyists?
- Who will be able to keep a caucus together through at a time when members likely will need to stick together due to either a tight majority or minority?
As for Singh, the former House Minority Leader is being rumored as a potential Senate floor leader candidate, but with his sole concentration on fending off Daylen Howard in the 28th Senate District it's not something he's putting much effort into at this time.
