Michigan AFL-CIO: Republicans who want election overturned shouldn’t be seated in January

    By
    Susan J. Demas
    -
    Michigan Capitol | Susan J. Demas

    On Thursday, four Michigan GOP congressmen and 15 Republican members of the Michigan House signed on to support a longshot lawsuit from indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to overturn the election results in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Georgia, which all voted for Democratic President-elect Joe Biden. President Donald Trump backs the suit along with 18 red states and said he believes the conservative U.S. Supreme Court will rule in his favor.

    The president of Michigan’s largest federation on Friday slammed the move.

    “It’s a disgrace what these Republicans are trying to do,” said Ron Bieber, president of the Michigan AFL-CIO. “Michigan’s election was administered fairly and impartially by the 1,603 local and county clerks involved in the process: Republican, Democratic and nonpartisan. Throwing out legally cast ballots by American citizens because one party doesn’t like the result would be a dark day for democracy in this country.”

    4 GOP congressmen, 15 reps. back Texas lawsuit attempting to throw election to Trump 

    Bieber added that “if they truly believe the election should be thrown out, they should refuse to be seated in January. The election is over, Donald Trump lost, and it wasn’t close. Republicans should get over their hurt feelings and move on.”

    The Michigan members of Congress part of a group of 106 total are: U.S. Reps. Tim Walberg (R-Tipton), Jack Bergman (R-Watersmeet), Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland) and John Moolenaar (R-Midland).

    State Reps. Gary Eisen (R-St. Clair Twp.), John Reilly (R-Oakland), Julie Alexander (R-Hanover), Matt Maddock (R-Milford), Daire Rendon (R-Lake City), Beth Griffin (R-Mattawan), Douglas Wozniak (R-Shelby Twp.), Michele Hoitenga (R-Manton), Brad Paquette (R-Niles), Rodney Wakeman (R-Saginaw Twp.), Greg Markkanen (R-Hancock), Jack O’Malley (R-Lake Ann), Joe Bellino (R-Monroe), Bronna Kahle (R-Adrian) and Luke Meerman (R-Coopersville) also signaled their support as plaintiff-interveners in the case.

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    Susan J. Demas
    Susan J. Demas is a 19-year journalism veteran and one of the state’s foremost experts on Michigan politics, appearing on MSNBC, CNN, NPR and WKAR-TV’s “Off the Record.” In addition to serving as Editor-in-Chief, she is the Advance’s chief columnist, writing on women, LGBTQs, the state budget, the economy and more. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Farough & Associates, Michigan’s premier political communications firm. For almost five years, Susan was the Editor and Publisher of Inside Michigan Politics, the most-cited political newsletter in the state. Susan’s award-winning political analysis has run in more than 80 national, international and regional media outlets, including the Guardian U.K., NBC News, the New York Times, the Detroit News and MLive. She is the only Michigan journalist to be named to the Washington Post’s list of “Best Political Reporters,” the Huffington Post’s list of “Best Political Tweeters” and the Washington Post’s list of “Best Political Bloggers.” Susan was the recipient of a prestigious Knight Foundation fellowship in nonprofits and politics. She served as Deputy Editor for MIRS News and helped launch the Michigan Truth Squad, the Center for Michigan’s fact-checking project. She started her journalism career reporting on the Iowa caucuses for The (Cedar Rapids) Gazette. Susan has hiked over 3,000 solo miles across four continents and climbed more than 60 mountains. She also enjoys dragging her husband and two teenagers along, even if no one else wants to sleep in a tent anymore.