By Alethia Kasben
Gongwer News Service
A former chair of the Michigan Democratic Party said this week changing the state’s process for selecting major candidates for attorney general and secretary of state from party conventions to a statewide primary would better reflect the society of the state.
Lon Johnson is working with Republican consultant Jason Roe to build a coalition to advocate for the change. Moving the nomination process to a statewide primary would require a constitutional amendment.
The current coalition is asking lawmakers to pass a joint resolution to put the question before voters in November.
Johnson told MichMash, the podcast partnership between Gongwer News Service and Detroit Public Radio, that he believes there is a 70% chance that lawmakers will pass a resolution by the two-thirds majority necessary.
“I think there's a willingness there,” he said. “There's obviously many issues before this Legislature and time will be compressed as we move towards end of session and then possibly special sessions. But I do feel the polling is there and I believe the will is there from both parties to present voters with the choice.”
Still, Johnson said “the moment is now” to present voters with the potential change.
“That's why we're building this coalition of current electeds, former electeds, business, labor (and) party officials to get this done,” he said. “That's what we're doing here is we're building that coalition to present and support this this concept to the state House and the state Senate.”
There are proposals in the House and Senate to make the change to the nominating process. It is also starting to be coupled with moving the selection of Michigan State University Board of Trustees, the University of Michigan Board of Regents and Wayne State University Board of Governors from a statewide ballot to a gubernatorial appointment.
Johnson said the particulars are for the Legislature to decide and his coalition supports whatever can get the two-thirds vote necessary to make the ballot.
“Anytime you have more people involved, you get a better reflection of society,” he said. “And right now, we’ve got an antiquated system, we’re one of only three states that does this where we nominate our secretary of state and attorney general candidates at party conventions that are, you know, attended largely by insiders and special interests. … it's time to move forward and present this choice to the voters of Michigan.”
Gongwer News Service
A former chair of the Michigan Democratic Party said this week changing the state’s process for selecting major candidates for attorney general and secretary of state from party conventions to a statewide primary would better reflect the society of the state.
Lon Johnson is working with Republican consultant Jason Roe to build a coalition to advocate for the change. Moving the nomination process to a statewide primary would require a constitutional amendment.
The current coalition is asking lawmakers to pass a joint resolution to put the question before voters in November.
Johnson told MichMash, the podcast partnership between Gongwer News Service and Detroit Public Radio, that he believes there is a 70% chance that lawmakers will pass a resolution by the two-thirds majority necessary.
“I think there's a willingness there,” he said. “There's obviously many issues before this Legislature and time will be compressed as we move towards end of session and then possibly special sessions. But I do feel the polling is there and I believe the will is there from both parties to present voters with the choice.”
Still, Johnson said “the moment is now” to present voters with the potential change.
“That's why we're building this coalition of current electeds, former electeds, business, labor (and) party officials to get this done,” he said. “That's what we're doing here is we're building that coalition to present and support this this concept to the state House and the state Senate.”
There are proposals in the House and Senate to make the change to the nominating process. It is also starting to be coupled with moving the selection of Michigan State University Board of Trustees, the University of Michigan Board of Regents and Wayne State University Board of Governors from a statewide ballot to a gubernatorial appointment.
Johnson said the particulars are for the Legislature to decide and his coalition supports whatever can get the two-thirds vote necessary to make the ballot.
“Anytime you have more people involved, you get a better reflection of society,” he said. “And right now, we’ve got an antiquated system, we’re one of only three states that does this where we nominate our secretary of state and attorney general candidates at party conventions that are, you know, attended largely by insiders and special interests. … it's time to move forward and present this choice to the voters of Michigan.”
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