The Holland Sentinel is known for being a quite conservative newspaper, and parts of West Michigan are known for being quite conservative regions of Michigan. And yet…West Michigan saw one of the largest jumps in Democratic voting numbers in America in 2008 and in 2010 the Holland Sentinel published a glowing bio of Democratic Congressional Candidate Fred Johnson, titled “Portrait of Perseverance”
Holland, MI –
Most people don’t know the terror of sensing someone is trying to kill you.
Fred Johnson III knows.
He knew it while a band of four police officers stomped, kicked and punched him as a 15-year-old boy in Landover, Md., in 1974.
Armed with tear gas and batons, Prince George’s County police raided a summer block party Johnson had gone to check out that night.
[snip]
Most people would get angry. Some might want revenge. Fred Johnson wanted to understand.
[snip]
More than 30 years later, it’s clear Johnson has let no excuse stand in his way.
For the past decade, he’s been a history professor at Hope College, well-liked by students and respected by colleagues.
[snip]
Most West Michiganians couldn’t tell you the last time a Democrat won the 2nd congressional seat. Johnson doesn’t care.
When people ask, in jest or not, if he’s crazy, Johnson tells them: “You don’t understand – this is my country.”
The perseverance shows in his campaigning, too. Abandoned by the national Democratic party, Fred Johnson’s campaign broke a fundraising record this year for a Democrat in Michigan’s second congressional district at 119k and counting, and is pushing hard to get West Michigan’s minorities and young people to get to the polls and claim West Michigan. They’re running the following ad on BET, MTV and Comedy Central DURING the Daily Show’s Rally to Restore Sanity coverage.
Fred Johnson has a serious shot at winning this campaign. With incumbent Pete Hoekstra retiring and long time DC and Lansing insider Bill Huizenga running amidst anti-incumbent sentiment THIS is the year West Michgian can swing this district for Democrats…and Johnson is the only one who can claim to be getting his contributions from individual donors rather than PACs, corporate donors and special interests.
This year, we’re on the attack in West Michigan.
starting to turn leftward, I might just have to put this one on the board when I do rankings again tomorrow. I’m very ambivalent about it though because of the district’s PVI and the fact that the governor’s race is going to be a romp for Snyder in MI-2.
The fact that he is advertising here shows that while his task is immense, it may not be 100% impossible. The guy has a decent profile too.
I’ve got my eye on Reps. James Oberstar, Dan Boren, Chellie Pingree, Adam Smith, Jim Matheson, and Niki Tsongas on the Democratic side, Reps. Dan Lungren and Lee Terry on the Republican side, and now Republican open seat contenders Ben Quayle, Bill Huizenga, and Dennis Ross are on the watchlist too.
This is kind of a surprise to me. I was under the impression that Johnson wasn’t a serious candidate. It’s hard enough being a Dem in Metropolitan Grand Rapids/West Michigan. It’s an added burden to be black since the West Michigan political leadership is so provincial and insular.
I know people call me crazy, but I really think Pat Miles seems to be surging and could very well upset Amash. I don’t think it’s likely, but it’s within the realm of possibility, which is something that couldn’t be said for the history of the district.
Isn’t the 2nd seeing a pretty significant influx of hispanics? I know the area around Holland has had a significant Mexican community for some time. And, with the entire region being the fastest growing in the state, it seems that West Michigan could very well be Michigan’s “swing region” a region traditionally given to suburban Detroit.