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Jonathan's avatar

Whitmer has telegraphed a presidential run today; I think she's automatically top tier(won't say more because of the rules)

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MPC's avatar

I don’t expect her to announce a potential run until early 2027 after the 2026 midterms.

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Jonathan's avatar

of course but she'll be crisscrossing the country in support of the Democratic candidates way before any official announcement; her unofficial announcement was TODAY

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Mike in MD's avatar

She showed up on the View today, where she said NFW to a Senate run and regarding other runs for office, "I will never totally check out, but I might want to walk the Earth for a little while again, get reacquainted with my family.”

Regarding Buttigieg, I wonder if there's more enthusiasm for him in DC than in Michigan. His political skills are considerable as we know--he'll probably spend a lot of time talking with voters in the red parts of the state if he runs, which is the sort of appeal beyond the base that many say we need. But if he runs for Senate (or governor), he'll probably be under the suspicion that he's just using it as a stepping stone to That Higher Level Election, and that generally doesn't positively impress voters.

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Zero Cool's avatar

Keep in mind that when Buttigeg was Secretary of Transportation under President Biden's administration he ended up overseeing a lot of what Biden pushed for infrastructure investment, particularly in the transportation sector.

It's possible what Buttigeg had done in this aspect did impact MI, not just PA, WI, etc.

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ArcticStones's avatar

"I think she's automatically top tier(won't say more because of the rules)"

What rule is that? I don’t see Rules on any Downballot menu, nor do I get any meaningful result when I do a sitewide search of The Downballot. If there are Rules articulated, I would like to know what they are so I make sure to respect them.

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Mike in MD's avatar

Generally, discussion of 21st century Democratic presidential primaries--past, present, or future--is forbidden, which was also true of DKE and SSP. (Republican presidential primaries are OK for discussion here.)

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ArcticStones's avatar

This sounds like a rule designed to avoid reigniting the acrimony between the Hillary and Bernie camps. I understand the Israel–Palestine conflict is also to be avoid, for similar reasons.

Any other rules? Has The Downballot listed these anywhere? If so, I couldn’t find it.

PS. What is SSP?

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Mike in MD's avatar

Swing State Project, an elections analysis blog that David Nir started in 2003. It became part of Daily Kos ("Daily Kos Elections") in 2011, and in 2024 that was spun off into the Downballot.

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Jonathan's avatar

these are the only 2 as far as I know but that's A question for David (not me)

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David Nir's avatar

I should compile these! Those are the biggest ones, and the only topic-specific ones.

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ArcticStones's avatar

Thanks! I figure the rest just have to do with being civil and acting like a mensch.

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Kevin H.'s avatar

Ehh we'll see.

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