Despite the Republican's campaign finance edge going into the state party conventions, one Democratic-backed candidate has raised a competitive total. Bridget Mary McCormack, Dean of Clinical Affairs at the University of Michigan Law School, has raised $317,830 (as of August 24). But it's how her campaign raised the money that is truly impressive.
On August 25, the day after the reporting deadline, the campaign announced a total of 1,005 individual donors (surpassing their goal of 1,000), with 1,117 contributions (surpassing their goal of 1,100). For a state Supreme Court campaign (in Michigan), this might just be an unheard of grassroots fundraising effort.
Voters should be electing Justices who are trustworthy, have the best interests of everyday Michiganders at heart, and thoroughly understand how the legal system effects the people they serve. Bridget Mary McCormack, with her two decades experience as an attorney and fifteen years as a Dean at the Michigan Law School, clearly has the experience needed to be an exemplary Justice. That alone should win the trust of voters--the fact that her campaign is gaining momentum on the backs of grassroots donors is just icing on the cake.
And while it might be tough for McCormack to catch the Republican-backed candidates in fundraising, no other candidate (incumbent or challenger) has received the earned media she has. McCormack has made appearances on Off the Record with Tim Skubick, several radio shows across Michigan, and the McCormack campaign hit the national stage when she appeared on Chelsea Lately (where substantive conversation was had, a fresh break from the show's usual mold). Not to mention her impressive social media strength, with 2,683 Facebook Likes and 1,295 Twitter Followers as of today.
At this point in the campaign, McCormack has shown she is a candidate who understands the concerns of a diverse range of Michiganders. Further, the substantial grassroots donor support of the McCormack campaign is a fresh break from the generally fat-cat driven campaigns for the state supreme court.
The Michigan Democratic Party Convention in Lansing is still a week away, but Michigan voters, on both sides of the aisle, are starting to take notice of the McCormack campaign. It is time that Michigan's Supreme Court rise above the partisanship that characterizes the other branches of government--the court needs a fresh dosage of integrity and independence.
To learn more about Bridget's grassroots campaign: click here