As we reported last week, Livingston County Sheriff Mike Murphy is running in the Republican primary for the 22nd District seat of state Sen. Lana Theis, who is term-limited.
So, has the race to replace Theis already ended? This is, after all, red, red Livingston County, and Murphy’s official announcement this week in all likelihood clears the field for the Republican primary.
It’s difficult to imagine any other Republican getting in the race now. Murphy’s well-known in the community, and he’s built a strong political foundation over the years; his run comes as absolutely no surprise to watchers of local politics. His high-profile activities in the last election — from hosting President Donald Trump’s campaign event (controversially held on county property) to video-taping endorsements for other candidates from outside the community to getting his own website — were all breadcrumbs leading up to this.
In his announcement, Murphy says he’ll “be the voice for those who have been overlooked in the legislative process.”
“I promise not to support any legislation that further victimizes victims of crime,” Murphy said in a release. “Too often, proposed policies focus solely on easing consequences for criminals while failing to consider the impact on victims.”
During his time as sheriff, Murphy decided which state laws he would and would not enforce based on whether he thought them unconstitutional, decisions that sometimes felt super-partisan. He chose not to enforce the state’s mask mandate, and he went so far as to recommend for felony charges the person I call the Livingston GOP’s favorite piñata, who called out COVID misinformation at public meetings on social media. The Livingston County Prosecutor’s Office declined to issue charges in that case.
In his 35 years at the Sheriff’s Office, Murphy rose through the ranks from deputy, to sergeant, to lieutenant, to undersheriff, to finally being elected sheriff. He promised voters that what they’ve seen of him during his time at the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office is what they’ll get if they send him to Lansing: “I am not politically correct, and I am not afraid to take a stand or speak my mind.”
In that same breath, Murphy said he is committed to working with anyone — regardless of political affiliation — “if it benefits the people of our district.”
“I will listen, engage in meaningful conversations and thoroughly research all sides of proposed legislation,” Murphy said. “Most importantly, I will ensure that the voices of my constituents are heard.”
Is that a teeny-tiny glimmer of bipartisanship struggling to shine through?
Consider this: Murphy was most vocal about the extreme risk protection orders (more commonly known as red flag laws) in the gun legislation before Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed them into law in 2023. You can hear him say so in his own words:
Under red flag laws, family members, medical professionals, guardians, former dating partners, or law enforcement officials can ask a judge to temporarily take firearms from someone believed to be a danger to themselves and others. In most states with red flag laws, the temporary order lasts up to 14 days, and the court must hold a hearing within that time period to allow the person to defend themselves and contest the order.
Nineteen states and Washington, D.C., have red flag laws, which supporters view as a way to get firearms out of the possession of someone who should not have them; however, opponents view them as unconstitutional violations of due process.
While Murphy didn’t like the red flag laws, he became one of the first in the state to use them.
As his campaign gets underway, Murphy said he is looking forward to meeting residents across the district and gaining a deeper understanding of the issues that matter most to them.
“I am excited to hit the campaign trail, connect with old friends, and make new ones,” he said. “This campaign is about ensuring that our community has a strong, independent voice in Lansing.”
Here’s hoping that independence shines through loud and clear.
For more information on Sheriff Mike Murphy and his campaign, visit his campaign website at www.mikemurphyforsenate.com.
