Dianda poised to run for Michigan Senate

Really good news for Democrats: Rep. Scott Dianda (D) has filed paperwork for the 38th State Senate district, which includes all of the Upper Peninsula except for the eastern three counties. Current Senator Tom Casperson (R) is term-limited.

Dianda just won his third and final term in the House with 61% of the vote (similar to his 2014 result). By comparison, Clinton didn’t break 40% in any of the six whole counties in his district. So he has some crossover appeal.

No one has filed on the Republican side, although on paper, one would expect Rep. Ed McBroom (108th District) to do so.

Republicans have a 27-11 majority in the Senate (!), but all 11 Democratic seats are safe, so it’s all offense for us. To be clear, I have about as much chance of losing 50 pounds by 2018 as Democrats have of gaining the State Senate that year. But the 38th will be one of many chances for Democrats to make inroads. Other key districts will include, but not be limited to, the 34th (Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana Counties); 29th (Grand Rapids and some suburbs); 20th (Kalamazoo County); and 7th (western Wayne County). Of those, only the 20th will have an incumbent; the rest are term-limited.