While stumping for Michigan Dems, Buttigieg stresses national problems have state-level solutions

In a backyard in West Bloomfield, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg gathered with Democratic candidates and volunteers alike, as they geared up to knock doors in support of two Oakland County Democrats. 

With the primary election in the rear view, Michigan Democrats have put their focus on several competitive seats throughout the state, in a bid to build their presence in Congress and to reclaim their majority in the Michigan Legislature after Republicans won a majority of seats in the Michigan House in 2024.

In service of those goals, Oakland County Democrats gathered to launch a joint canvas in support of state Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Bloomfield), and his bid to represent the 11th Congressional District, and housing advocate Sarah Pounds, who seeks to flip the 54th House District for Democrats.

The state House district includes Bloomfield Hills, Orion Township, a portion of Auburn Hills and portions of Bloomfield Township and Oakland Township. The incumbent, state Rep. Donni Steele (R-Orion Township), is pursuing a seat in the Michigan Senate while Republicans nominated Roman Gaskey, a strategy and product analyst, to succeed her.

Speaking to volunteers, Buttigieg said that while the financial stressors Michigan residents stem from national decisions like President Donald Trump’s tariff policies and the war in Iran, the most important decisions about these issues are made in the state House and Senate. 

“Hospitals are closing, people are losing their healthcare, and Medicaid decisions being made in Lansing will help decide whether we can do something about that,” Buttigieg said. “There is such frustration with the inability to get enough funding into our schools, but everybody knows that if we vote the right way and have the right leaders, we have a chance to change that.” 

In order to win swing districts like the 54th and secure a Democratic majority, Buttigieg encouraged canvassers to get involved and to have difficult conversations, saying the majority of people believe in the same things that Democrats do. 

“The vast majority of people understand that it makes no sense to say that we can’t have good roads and and great hospitals in rural places and we can’t have fully funded public schools at the exact same moment when the wealthiest people in the land are paying a lower tax rate than the nurses who work in those hospitals and the workers who pave those roads and the teachers who teach in their schools,” Buttigieg said.

In a statement to Michigan Advance, Gus Portela, the communications director for the House Republican Campaign Committee said Pounds and the House Democratic Caucus are “campaigning with national party leaders pushing the same failed policies that have driven up taxes, utility bills, and housing costs.” 

Portela argued that House Republican efforts to halt tax hikes, put money back in people’s pockets, and to lower utility costs and the cost of homeownership would deliver them the election in November.