“We need a new generation of leaders that thinks differently, works harder and never forgets that we are public servants… we all know America is going through something right now. We seem to be living from crisis to crisis. But there are certain things that should be really simple, like living a middle-class life in the state that invented it.”

(POLITICO, 2/23/23; Slotkin Senate Campaign Announcement)

 

"I believe to my core in a strong middle class in America, that we have to have a strong middle class in order to be secure and stable and powerful in the world...I want to make more things in America, especially in Michigan. I want to protect our kids from the things that are truly harming them, things like gun violence and mental health issues.

 

.... if I get elected, I'll be the youngest Democratic woman in the Senate, one of the five or six youngest people in the Senate. And I think we need more leadership and strategic planning in that body, and I want to bring that [leadership] to protecting our rights and our democracy." (Interview with Midland Daily Record, 11/27/23)

 

BACKFGROUND + EXPERIENCE

Slotkin is a graduate of Cornell University in Sociology + of Columbia University with an MA International Affairs. She entered Congress in 2019 with 14 years of experience as a CIA officer having served three tours in Iraq + as a high-ranking national security official at the Pentagon. Slotkin was a member of President George W. Bush’s national security staff + served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs in the Obama Administration from 2014 to 2017.

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Elissa Slotkin was elected to Congress from Michigan 08 in 2018 + again in 2020. Following redistricting, she was elected in ’22 to her current term in Michigan district 07 which would end in January 2025. (Force Multiplier supported her in each of these races. In fact, she spoke at one of our in-person candidate events in 2018.)

 

ON THE ISSUES

In her three terms in the US House, Rep. Slotkin has focused on issues important to her constituents including reducing the cost of prescription drugs, returning critical supply chains to the United States, creating jobs + getting money out of politics. Her original motivation to enter politics stemmed from her late mother’s struggle with ovarian cancer + the challenges of health care affordability for those with preexisting conditions, a continuing concern of hers.   

In her Senate campaign, Rep. Slotkin is focusing on priorities that will deliver results to Michiganders including:

• Protecting America’s democracy + reforming the political system. She has never accepted corporate PAC donations.

• Keeping our communities + kids safe

• Encouraging manufacturing in the US

• Defending + expanding Michigan's middle class

 

POLITICS IN MICHIGAN

As a “purple” swing state, Michigan will be a major battleground state in the Presidential election.

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Biden won Michigan by 2.8% in 2020 + Trump defeated Clinton by just .3% in 2016.

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Michigan has a strong MAGA presence with an active election denier element. However, there is disarray in the Michigan Republican party between traditional Republicans + Trump supporters. This appears to be creating resource shortages for the Republicans + intra-party conflict will probably continue dominate for them.

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Democrats have been doing well in Michigan, holding seven of 14 Congressional seats, both Senate seats, a small majority in the state Senate  + all statewide offices including a popular governor.  Democrats are concerned about Arab, Muslim + some youth reactions to Biden administration positions on the Israeli-Hamas conflict, many of whom voted “uncommitted” in the recent Democratic primary. As a result the Slotkin campaign has some concerns about potential down-ballot repercussions of recent anti-Biden sentiment.

The Michigan Senate seat is currently held by Debbie Stabanow (D) who is retiring. Rep. Slotkin is the clear presumptive nominee although she will face two opponents in the August Michigan primary. There are several candidates vying for the Republican nomination in what promises to be a competitive Republican primary, on the same day in early August.  

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COMMITTEES + CAUCUSES – HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• Committee on Armed Services including the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities; and the Subcommittee on Readiness         

•  Committee on Veterans’ Affairs including the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs

• Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence and the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection

 

• New Democrat Coalition Caucus

• Problem Solvers Caucus

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