With less than two months to go before the April 21 filing deadline, the political rumor mill is starting to churn in Livingston County.
The latest rumor making the rounds is that Livingston County Sheriff Mike Murphy is looking at getting into the 8th Congressional District Republican primary. Murphy, who’s been the sheriff since 2016, is well-known, well-connected and widely respected in Livingston County, and would no doubt enter the race as the GOP favorite to take on incumbent U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly.
Murphy recently announced he was running for re-election as sheriff, but he would have to give up that seat to run for Congress. He has not commented on the rumor he might run for Congress instead.
The Murphy rumor comes on the heels of the lackluster performance at last week’s GOP Candidate Forum at the Crystal Gardens Banquet Center. The impressive event, put on by chairwoman Meghan Reckling and the Livingston County Republican Party, along with Protect Our Republic, attracted about 500 energized Republican voters, but the feeling was that field left a lot to be desired.
With no seemingly viable GOP candidate in the field to take on Slotkin (considered one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents in the country), Republican leaders locally and in Washington are wringing their hands looking for options. That might put extra pressure on Murphy to get into the race.
Murphy has until April 21 to make up his mind.
Another rumor making the rounds is that another unnamed candidate might be entering the state representative Republican primary to replace term-limited State Rep. Hank Vaupel, R-Fowlerville. There are two GOP candidates who have filed thus far – County Commissioner Bob Bezotte and Marion Township resident Yvonne Black. At least one more person is rumored to be interested in that seat, so it’s likely the primary list will grow. The district covers the Howell, Fowlerville and Hartland areas.
