ACHTUNG: This is not a “fair and balanced” story. It is an editorial by the editor.
I hereby ask the Michigan Legislature to pass a law that requires runoffs when no primary election candidates captures at least 50% of the total vote.
We are told we live in a democratic society, but too many politicians game a rigged and unfair system in which they do not get more than half the votes in the most important election, the primary, yet eventually punch their ticket for at least six years as lawmakers. Republican incumbents in these parts are virtually impossible to beat in general elections, so the primary’s importance is critical.
Gentle readers may not be aware of this, but every one of our state representatives since term limits were implemented in 1996 failed to win a majority at the polls. And in West Michigan, if you win a Republican primary, even with less than 50%, you win the next three general elections and serve six years to pick up a nice paycheck of only $20,000 short of a half million dollars.
What a racket! This in a land that is supposed to cherish the idea of majority rule. It’s just not so.
Here’s the proof, from the election rolls of every Republican primary around here for state representative for the last 20 years. The winner and his or her percentage is in boldface, listed along with each runner-up:
- 1996 — State Rep., 88th District, Patricia Birkholz, 4,664 votes, 39.7%; Dar VanderArk, 4,240 votes, 36.2%. Three candidates.
- 2002 —Fulton Sheen, 3,976 votes, 33.12%; Roger VanVolkinburg, 2,339 votes, 19.98%. Five candidates.
- 2008 — Bob Genetski, 3,160 votes, 25.28%; Todd Boorsma, 3,090 votes, 24,72%. Eight candidates.
- 2010 — 72nd District State Rep., Kenneth Yonker 7,278 votes, 48.03%; Eric Larsen, 6,843 votes, 45.16%. Three candidates.
- 2014 — 80th District State Rep., Cindy Gamrat 3,924 votes, 40.83%; Mary Whiteford, 2,798 votes, 29.11%. Four candidates.
- 2016 — 72nd District State Rep., Steven Johnson, 2,257 votes, 29.80%; Tony Noto, 1,748 votes, 23.08%. Five candidates.
- Added just for good measure — 2002 State Senate, 24th District, Patricia Birkholz, 12,024 votes, 48.46%; Terry Geiger, 9,393 votes, 37.86%. Three candidates.
So not one of our state legislators over the past 20 years have been chosen by a majority in their first contests. Not even Mary Whiteford. This awful truth makes it possible for a candidate with a loyal, powerful minority of supporters win elections.
This game isn’t just flawed, it’s rigged.
The great state of Texas just last week had a series of primary elections in which the top two vote-getters must face each other later in a runoff if no one captures that magic 50% number. Michigan seriously needs this same election regulation.
If our state insisted on these rules, Mary Whiteford would have squared off with Cindy Gamrat in 2014, Steve Johnson would have faced Tony Noto in 2016, Fulton Sheen would have had to be challenged mano-a-mano by Roger Van Volkinburg in 2002, Bob Genetski would have had to beat Todd Boorsma in 2008, Ken Yonker would have had a runoff against Eric Larsen in 2010, and Patricia Birkholz would have had to go one-on-one against Dar VanderArk in 1996.
When we have a two-person race, we have a better chance at picking a winner with more than half the vote. We don’t have to put up with six-year legislators who sneaked into Lansing with one-third and sometimes even as little as one-quarter of the vote.
I propose that the first primary be held in May and the runoff of the top two be in August.
Such a system would be a lot better than the undemocratic one we have now, one that is shamelessly taken advantage of by certain individuals and pressure groups.
