ICYMI: MAGA Mania Melee at MIGOP Supreme Court Candidate Debate

MIGOP state Supreme Court candidates were competing to see who could run the furthest to the right

LANSING - In case you missed it, The Gander did a rundown of last Thursday's debate between conservative candidates for the state Supreme Court that was hosted by two right-wing groups that have pushed election-related conspiracy theories. These candidates espoused extremist views on LGBTQ rights, the 2020 election, abortion, and more. Let's be clear, these MAGA fanatics would do everything they can to strike down the rights and progress Michigan Dems have been fighting for over the past two years if they make it onto Michigan's Supreme Court.

The four candidates who attended the debate, Mark Boonstra, Andrew Fink, Alexandria Taylor, and Patrick William O'Grady, all embraced an extremist perspective that would endanger the issues Michiganders care about most. Candidates even went so far as to emphasize that they would attempt to impose a "biblical" version of Michigan's future. Notably, candidate, MAGA extremist, and alleged felon Matt DePerno did not attend the debate with his fellow candidates, but, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter because we know he is exactly as extreme as they are on the issues.

This debate highlighted the stakes of this race for the future of Michigan and the importance of electing Justice Kyra Harris Bolden and Kimberly Ann Thomas to the bench this November. If we want to protect our rights and our families from these extremists, we must ensure these two champions for justice are on the Michigan Supreme Court.

Read more from this extremist, nonsensical debate below:

The Gander: Republican candidates go full MAGA at Michigan Supreme Court debate

• The Republican candidates for the state Supreme Court are standing against Michigan's women and workers-and the 'woke rogue liberal bench' that has sided with them.
• The Republican candidates vying for a seat on the Michigan Supreme Court this year are voicing support for a far-right, "biblical" vision for the future which could peel back abortion access, workers' rights, protections for the LGBTQ community, and a whole lot more…
• The event, hosted by two right-wing groups that have pushed election-related conspiracy theories, was billed as "the Great Debate," but turned out to be more of an open candidate forum where four Republicans-Mark Boonstra, Andrew Fink, Alexandria Taylor, and Patrick William O'Grady-were allotted time to answer a series of questions from three moderators…
• But rather than keep their personal opinions closely guarded to maintain a sense of impartiality ahead of Election Day, the Republican candidates took turns talking about election conspiracies, US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and bigoted, anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, as well as making clear how they would decide cases tied to workers and womens' rights in Michigan…
• Each of the four candidates voiced opposition to a recent Michigan Supreme Court decision that will reinstate major changes to the state's minimum wage and paid sick leave laws…
• That means if Republicans had made decisions for the Court this year, tens of thousands of Michigan workers who earn minimum wage, as well as restaurant staff who rely on tips, would've lost out on a series of pay raises that begin next year and will continue through 2028…
• Taylor spoke about her "biblical worldview," and how "our founding fathers were men of God." Boonstra told the crowd about a book he wrote that outlined the problems in "Today's Godless America." And O'Grady talked at length about "forming this state pursuant to almighty God…"
• Boonstra also bragged about an endorsement from ex-President Donald Trump and how he previously "stood up" against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson's office in a 2020 election case that dealt with ballots that were postmarked before (but received after) Election Day…
• Taylor told the crowd that their Second Amendment rights are under siege by the state Legislature, criticizing a series of bills that were passed last year to promote safe gun storage, require universal background checks, and enact extreme risk protection orders to temporarily keep firearms out of the hands of those deemed by a judge to be a risk to themselves or others…
• Each candidate was asked to name a Supreme Court justice they admired, and each of them named US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who, in addition to facing a corruption scandal, generally opposes constitutional protections for abortion and LGBTQ rights.

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