Trevor Thomas finishing strong in MI-03 primary, National Organization for Women (NOW) to endorse today (UPDATED)

By on July 31, 2012 in Michigan Democrats

A campaign for us all

Facing a well-financed establishment Democrat, Trevor Thomas has mounted a spirited campaign in Michigan’s 3rd Congressional district. While Steve Pestka has been racking up endorsements from an array of long-time Democrats in our state, Thomas himself has earned a string of solid endorsements of his own, proving his progressive bona fides.

  • Former Governor Jennifer Granholm
  • Former Lt. Governor John Cherry
  • Planned Parenthood Action Fund
  • Former Kent County Commissioner W. Paul Mayhue Sr.
  • Democracy for America – Michigan
  • Progressive Women’s Alliance of West Michigan
  • Former Grand Rapids City Commissioner Mary Alice Williams
  • Former Kent County GOP Chair Bob Eleveld (Campaign Co-Chair)
  • Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)
  • Former Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA)
  • Cate Edwards, Daughter of Elizabeth & John Edwards
  • National Stonewall Democrats
  • IBEW Local 275

Today, the National Organization for Women (NOW) will announce their endorsement, as well.

Here’s Thomas’s final television ad of the primary race:

According to campaign manager Clint Wallace, Thomas has raised his campaign funding without taking PAC money during this primary race:

Funding for Thomas’s ad has been provided by nearly 3,000 individuals giving as little as a few bucks, with most donations less than $100. Additional donations will be used to purchase new ad spots before election day. Thomas’s opponent has raised less money, and has contributed over $690,000 to his campaign accounts to defeat Thomas. Pestka has accepted PAC money in this primary campaign; Thomas has raised funds entirely from individuals, with no PAC contributions.

While Steve Pestka has strong support from the establishment Democrats in Michigan, Trevor Thomas represents the true progressive in this race. In a year when it is critical that we send reliable progressives to Washington, D.C. to support President Obama’s second term, it is my hope that he prevails and goes on to defeat tea party candidate Justin Amash so that Michigan’s 3rd District is represented by the someone who can be counted on to defend the middle class, the rights of women, minorities and the LGBT community and of ALL Michiganders. His campaign’s tagline “A campaign for us ALL” is well chosen.

It will be a race to watch next Tuesday.

You can donate to Trevor Thomas’s campaign HERE.

UPDATE: I have deleted the comments of a person who went by the name “WMResident”. This person is actually a Pestka staffer who spent an enormous amount of time on this specific post today, trashing anyone who disagrees with him (namely me and Trevor Thomas campaign manager Clint Wallace.) When I revealed his identity in two comments, he threatened to sue me. I have removed my comments and his and he is banned from posting again on this website.

Just to be clear: Steve Pestka has campaign staffers trolling blogs that support his opponent and spewing anti-Thomas rhetoric, hiding behind internet secrecy. They’re a brave, bold group, these Pestka folks, aren’t they?

The irony is that I didn’t say anything negative about Steve Pestka in this post. The closest I got to it was to call Thomas the true progressive in this race, a claim I stand by.


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  • DocinGR

    Riiight. Except he’s run one of the most damaging negative campaigns in recent memory, has been called out by both the Dem party and the GR Press to stop lying repeatedly during the campaign, is only serving to hurt Pestka’s chances at beating Amash at this point, and
    has no chance at winning the general election anyway in this district.

    This ridiculous “He’s the REAL progressive in this campaign” is only being said by people that don’t live in this district like you. He’s worn out his welcome for those of us that actually live here, vote here, and have had to witness his trainwreck of a campaign. Pestka may certainly have his faults too, but at least he’s been honest from what I’ve seen as has a real chance at beating Amash, which is what the goal should be for ANY Democrat this year.

    I’m tired of seeing these fluff pieces for Trevor from people like you that aren’t paying attention to how badly he’s actually hurting Democratic efforts in West Michigan right now.

    • http://eclectablog.com Eclectablog

      I’m surprised ANYONE would defend Pestka using an argument about not being honest, not after he purchased Facebook likes and misrepresented his position on a number of issues. There is a reason that Planned Parenthood, NOW, and DFA are endorsing Thomas. He IS the true progressive in this race.

      • DocinGR

        Then why are real progressive leaders endorsing Pestka? The question goes to Mr. Wallace too. Mark Schauer. Gretchen Whitmer. Jocelyn Benson. Kate Segal. Are you suggesting they too aren’t progressives? There’s a reason they’re supporting Pestka and not buying into Trevor’s ridiculous claims. Nobody I know that lives in this district is liking this campaign because of how negative Trevor has made it. The only good thing about it is that it will soon be over and Trevor can go slink back to D.C.

    • http://eclectablog.com Eclectablog

      I’m surprised ANYONE would defend Pestka using an argument about not being honest, not after he purchased Facebook likes and misrepresented his position on a number of issues. There is a reason that Planned Parenthood, NOW, and DFA are endorsing Thomas. He IS the true progressive in this race.

    • http://eclectablog.com Eclectablog

      I’m surprised ANYONE would defend Pestka using an argument about not being honest, not after he purchased Facebook likes and misrepresented his position on a number of issues. There is a reason that Planned Parenthood, NOW, and DFA are endorsing Thomas. He IS the true progressive in this race.

  • http://www.facebook.com/clint.wallace Clint Wallace

    Trevor ran a poll back before Pestka got in the race that showed Trevor could beat Amash, and it’s clear that for a Democrat to win it’s going to take a lot of hard work – Trevor’s ready to do that. As for truth telling, Pestka campaign is currently claiming on its website that Pestka “consistently had a 100 percent voter rating from the League of Conservation Voters” – this 55% rating from the LCV website shows otherwise. http://michiganlcv.org/sites/default/files/1999-2000%20scorecard.pdf If you can ask Pestka to take that down it might help your own credibility.

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  • http://twitter.com/christinebarry Christine Barry

    In my district we could barely get someone to run against Rubber Stamp Camp. Year after year we have this problem. Those of you bitching about ugly primaries should count your blessings.

  • SRfromGR

    Coward? You posted the staffers personal information.

    HEADLINE: some guy posts video of rick ross.

    • http://eclectablog.com Eclectablog

      That makes me a coward? What the…?

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