NASW Endorsed Candidates Do Well On Election Night

The National Association of Social Workers - Michigan Chapter (Michigan Political Action for Candidate Election - MPACE) is excited to announce that of the 34 candidates who received our endorsement for the 2018 election cycle, 25 won their elections. These candidates support NASW policy positions and will increase visibility for NASW in the process. The NASW also gains candidates' recognition, improves connections with elected officials, advances NASW's policy agenda, and builds respect for NASW as a powerful and committed activist organization.

In the State Executive Office, M-PACE-endorsed Gretchen Whitmer and Garlin Gilchrist II for the Governor and Lt. Governor, Jocelyn Benson for Secretary of State, and Dana Nessel for Attorney General all won their races. Eight candidates for the Michigan State Senate, who were endorsed by M-PACE won their races.  Stephanie Chang (MSW) will be representing District 1 in the Michigan State Senate. Of the 19 candidates for the Michigan House of Representatives endorsed by NASW-MI, 14 will be representing their districts beginning in January. 

MPACE also endorsed in support of Michigan proposals 18-2 and 18-3. Both proposals were successful in the midterm elections. According to Michigan Radio, Michigan passed proposal 18-2 with a 61% “yes” vote, and proposal 18-3 passed with a 67% “yes” vote. Michigan proposal 18-2 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would grant exclusive authority to a commission of citizens that would adopt district boundaries for the Michigan Senate, Michigan House of Representatives, and the U.S. Congress every ten years. Proposal 18-2 is essentially an anti-gerrymandering proposal that creates new redistricting criteria, including geographically compact and contiguous districts of equal population, reflecting Michigan’s diverse population and communities of interest. The proposal will positively impact disenfranchised populations, strengthen democracy, and help give vulnerable populations a voice, leading to improved community services. 

Michigan proposal 18-3, or the Voting Policies in State Constitution Initiatives of 2018, will add 8 voting policies to the Michigan Constitution, including straight-ticket voting, automatic voter registration, same-day voter registration, and no-excuse absentee voting. The NASW supports efforts that improve and continuously develop voter registration laws that make voting and voter registration easier for social workers and our clients. Michigan proposal 18-3 will expand voting opportunities, especially for marginalized populations, allowing social work clients to better advocate for themselves and their communities.

Additionally, the National Association of Social Workers PACE previously endorsed Michigan candidates running for United States Congress. In the U.S. House of Representatives candidates, Haley Stevens for District 11 and Debbie Dingell for District 12, both won their races in the midterm election. MSW and NASW-endorsed Debbie Stabenow also won her race and will begin her fourth term in the United States Senate.

In other states, social workers have led successful races in the midterm elections. Kyrsten Sinema will be serving in the United States Senate for Arizona. In the United States House of Representatives, Barbara Lee and Karen Bass will represent California for Districts 13 and 53, while Sylvia Garcia will represent Texas for District 29. North Carolina social workers Mary Ann Black, Sydney Batch, and Graig Meyer will represent North Carolina House Districts 29, 37, and 50, respectively. These are just a few snapshots of the social workers who won in November, and there were many more who ran and won in local and state positions across the country.  

To get involved in NASW-Michigan’s political advocacy efforts, visit www.nasw-michigan.org/page/MPACE.

  = Won

  = Lost

For the State Executive Office, M-PACE endorsed:

  Gretchen Whitmer and Garlin Gilchrist II for the Governor and Lt. Governor

  Jocelyn Benson for Secretary of State

  Dana Nessel for Attorney General

For the State Senate, M-PACE endorsed:

  Stephanie Chang (MSW) for District 1

  Sylvia Santana for District 3

  Dayna Polehanki for District 7

  Mallory McMarrow for District 13

  Bill LaVoy for District 17

  Jeff Irwin for District 18

  Sean McCann for District 20

  Kelly Rossman-McKinney for District 24

  Winnie Brinks for District 29

  Wayne Schmidt for District 37

  Poppy Sias-Hernandez for District 34

  Scott Dianda for District 38

For the State House of Representatives, M-PACE endorsed:

  Sherry Gay-Dagnogo for District 8

  Michelle LaVoy for District 17

  Darrin Camilleri for District 23

  Nate Shannon for District 25

  Robert Wittenberg for District 27

  Kelly Breen for District 38

  Mari Manoogian for District 40

  Padma Kuppa for District 41

  Tim Sneller for District 50

  Donna Lasinski for District 52

  Alberta Griffin for District 61

  Jim Haadsma for District 62

  Kara Hope for District 67

  Sarah Anthony for District 68

  Julie Brixie for District 69

  Angela Witwer for District 71

  Rachel Hood for District 76

  Kristen Brown for District 99

  Ken Summers for District 110

For the Ballot Initiatives, M-PACE endorsed:

  “Yes” vote on Proposal 18-2

  “Yes” vote on Proposal 18-3

National Endorsements:

For the US Representatives, National PACE endorsed:

  Haley Stevens for District 11

  Debbie Dingell for District for District 12

For the US Senate, National PACE endorsed:

  Debbie Stabenow