Another Top-Tier Dem Gov Recruit Takes A Pass As Andy Levin Says No To Michigan Gov Race

After struggling for months to recruit an alternative candidate to Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan Democrats still can’t seem to find any takers. As the Detroit News reports, Andy Levin – son of Congressman Sander Levin – became the latest recruit to take a pass on entering the race. And in another blow to Michigan Dems, Levin refused to endorse Whitmer, instead commenting that he wants “to see how the whole thing develops and see what the best path is.”

Levin’s refusal to back Whitmer is the latest sign of Democrats’ lack of enthusiasm for her candidacy, despite being labelled for months as the “presumed frontrunner” for the Democrat nomination. Whitmer’s failure to unify her party continues as Democrat hopes of winning Michigan’s gubernatorial race quickly diminish.

The Detroit News reports:

“Democrat Andy Levin, the son of U.S. Rep. Sandy Levin, said Tuesday he will not run for governor but did not rule out a congressional campaign should his father decide to retire.

Levin announced his decision in a Detroit News opinion column, explaining he will not join a Democratic gubernatorial primary field headlined by former Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer of East Lansing.

In a follow-up interview, Levin said he is not ready to back Whitmer or any other Democrat running for governor but will support the party’s nominee. Other hopefuls include former Detroit health director Abdul El-Sayed and Ann Arbor entrepreneur Shri Thanedar.

I still want to see how the whole thing develops and see what the best path is,’ said Levin, who lives in Bloomfield Township. ‘But I think 2018 is going to be a great year for Democrats, so I’m going to work hard to see that up and down the ticket.’”