2019 Mackinac Policy Conference: Congresswomen Haley Stevens and Elissa Slotkin Talk Infrastructure, Impeachment

The two freshman lawmakers sit down with Stephen on Mackinac to talk about being part of the ‘pink wave’ and the issues that matter to constituents.

All across the country in 2018, a pattern emerged as Democrats made big gains in Congressional elections. Female candidates were ousting Republican men, especially in suburban districts. And that pattern played out here in Michigan, too  especially in two Metro Detroit districts.

Jake Neher/WDET

Stephen sits down with Congresswoman Haley Stevens, a Democrat representing Michigan’s 11th District, and Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat representing Michigan’s 8th District. In response to the notion of the ‘pink wave,’ the congresswomen say they both stand on the shoulders of so many other women — and some men — who made this moment possible from both a historical perspective and from the view of voters and campaign volunteers in their districts. 

Jake Neher/WDET
Slotkin says she has been focused on delivering on important issues like improving infrastructure and lowering the cost of prescription drugs for her constituents. Stevens echoes the sentiment, saying that more than impeachment proceedings involving President Trump, voters in her district are concerned with everyday issues that could be better legislated to ease the financial burden on individuals. Slotkin adds that “impeachment is a political process, not a legal process,” and that her district is asking her to be “very judicious about impeachment because they are worried other work won’t get done.” The congresswomen also discuss the importance of having a wide variety of voices within each party, issues regarding campaign finance and preparing for the next election cycle. 
 
Click on the audio player above to hear that conversation.
 
 

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