ELECTION 2022 SPECIAL: Elections in Michigan & Kalamazoo

In our 2022 election special we take a deep dive into candidates running for statewide Michigan offices as well as those right here in the Kalamazoo community.

 

We briefly look at the Secretary of State race- in particular some of the questionable QAnon flavored rhetoric from Kristina Karamo.

 

We then spend some time talking about the race for Attorney General, which many predict will be the closest of the statewide races. Against a backdrop where Dana Nessel hasn't delivered on her progressive campaign promises, Matt DePerno has emerged (likely from beneath a bridge, where he asks people riddles before letting them cross). DePerno was at the forefront of pushing Trump's election lies in 2020, has faced criminal allegations, and has a platform that reads like a neo-fascist to-do list. He's also, embarrassingly, a Kalamazoo/ Portage local.

 

We then talk about the congressional race here in the Kalamazoo area as part of District 4. Bill Huizenga is running on a a campaign of "representing us, not Washington" despite being funded by Wall Street and big real estate concerns (and endorsed by a literal anti-LGBTQ hate group). Joseph Alfonso is running against them with what would seem like strategies pulled from the corporate democrat playbook (despite a notable lack of corporate money), with a platform guaranteed to excite no one. He, like some other corporate democrats in the area, are leaning into conservative talking points about inflation and government spending.

 

We then talk about the important races here in the Kalamazoo area- including who will be the next appointees in our local circuit courts, the trustees for the Kalamazoo Public Library, and those running to be on the Kalamazoo Public School board.

 

We close with a re-run of our analysis of the Dixon/ Whitmer Debate.

 

02:00- 4:00 Quick Thoughts on Secretary of State Race

4:00- 18:00 Attorney General Race

19:45- 30:10 Congressional Race in District 4

30:10- 34:40 Side Notes on the "Reigning in Washington Spending" Talking Point OR the REAL Causes of Inflation

34:40- 39:40 Congressional Race in District 4

41:00- 51:08 Local Down-Ballot Highlights (and Lowlights)

 

51:08- 1:06:00 Thoughts on Whitmer/ Dixon Debate 

 

SOURCES

 

What You Need to Know About Inflation

https://jacobin.com/2022/06/what-you-need-to-know-about-inflation/

 

Matthew DePerno: MAGA favorite under investigation may be next attorney general

https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/matthew-deperno-maga-favorite-under-investigation-may-be-next-attorney-general

 

Campaign Finance Information

https://www.opensecrets.org