Tlaib reelection likely in MI-12 match up against Republican tattoo shop owner – MLive.com

U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib is likely looking at a third term in Congress as the days tick down to Nov. 8, where she will be squaring up against Republican candidate Steven Elliott to defend the 12th U.S. House district seat.

Tlaib, D-Detroit, is fighting in a slightly different seat than the one she currently represents which made up much of the Motor City in addition to other areas like Westland, Romulus and Dearborn Heights.

The new 12th U.S. House district will still contain parts of Detroit, but will also take on parts of Oakland County including Southfield. Cities such as Inkster, Dearborn, Westland, Livonia and Redford Charter Township also fall under this U.S. House districts jurisdiction.

Outfits like the non-partisan Cook Political Report puts the district as leaning strongly democratic, with Tlaib favored with a 23-point advantage.

MLive has partnered with the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Michigan to provide the Vote411.org voter guide with information about candidates. While Tlaib provided her questionnaire responses discussing issues such as education, economic security, elections, the environment, energy, social justice and guns Elliott had not as of time of publication.

Efforts to reach Elliott were also unsuccessful, so responses for his positions on like topics have been sourced to his campaign website.

A former U.S. Marine who was stationed for four years in California, Elliott has held a series of odd jobs throughout his including personal trainer and car salesman. He is currently self-employed as the owner of American Pride Tattoo Studio, which has six locations throughout the Detroit area.

His platform is based on commonly held Republican beliefs including lowering taxes, cracking down on violent crime and growing job opportunities in Michigan.

Though Elliotts website lacks details on how these tenants could be accomplished, he does indicate a belief in Congress needing to eliminate burdensome regulations, bureaucratic delays, and reduce the tax burden so that businesses can continue to compete in a global marketplace.

He also calls for an end to the catch and release border security mindset while also advocating for greatly reducing funding to the U.S. Department of Education. To the latter concept, Elliott instead believes in sending those divested dollars directly to states and local school districts where the needs of students can be met more effectively.

Elliott is entering the midterm election with roughly $2,155 on hand according to pre-primary federal campaign finance filings, having raised a cumulative $20,136 since the start of the election cycle. That total also factors in a $10,000 personal loan Elliott gave to his own campaign on Feb. 25.

In terms of finances, hes been handily outraised by Tlaib who is heading into the general matchup with $937,310 still on hand. To date, shes raised a roughly $2.9 million war chest and successfully fend off three primary challengers including one who boasted $1 million in aid from outside groups solely devoted to unseating Tlaib.

Among her core beliefs are a wish to move the country toward a single-payer health care system and Medicare for All, saying that no one should have to worry about whether or not they can afford a doctors visit or the prescription drug that they need.

The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated public health issues that were already affecting everyday people, Tlaib said. My concern is now that as less attention is focused on the pandemic, the same will happen to these issues. I will continue to support the work of my colleagues, and legislation that keeps attention on these issues.

She was also vocal on the need for congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and Democracy for All Act measures which would restore and strengthen parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and restore checks and balances, accountability and transparency in government, respectively as well as for the body to take swift and decisive action on the topic of climate change.

Tlaib, similarly, believes in action at all levels of government to decriminalize immigration while crating a pathway to citizenship for both undocumented adults and children brought across the border by parents or other relatives.

On the topic of immigration, she did not mince words, saying: Our immigration system is broken and we must fix it immediately.

I have been hyper-vigilant on how the Department of Homeland security strips people of their basic human rights so I have tried to hold them accountable by introducing legislation like the Family Unity Act which aims to protect immigrant families, she said. I also called on the UN for independent investigations into the Department of Homeland Securitys inhumane treatment of immigrants and refugees.

Voters already have the chance to choose between Tlaib and Elliot, along side third-party candidate Gary Walkowicz, in this years midterms as absentee ballots have already been sent to those who have requested one.

All responses in the voter guide were submitted directly by the candidate and have not been edited by the League of Women Voters, except for necessary cuts if a reply exceeded character limitations. Spelling and grammar were not corrected.

Publication of candidate statements and opinions is solely in the interest of public service and should NOT be considered as an endorsement. The League never supports or opposes any candidates or political parties.

Information on other state, county and local primary races can be found at Vote411.org.

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Tlaib reelection likely in MI-12 match up against Republican tattoo shop owner - MLive.com