A Michigan house representative, who made a controversial switch from the Democratic to the Republican Party last month, will face a political novice in the fall.
Winnie Brinks filed paperwork today to run as a Democrat. She’s a case worker at a non-profit organization, and she’s never run for political office before.
“I think it’s time for some new eyes. It seems that the direction we’re heading in Lansing is not what our middle class needs; it’s not what our schools need. And not being part of that negative history, sure, I think that’s a good thing,” Brinks said.
Brinks has lived in Grand Rapids for 22 years. The 44-year-old has three daughters, aged 11, 14, and 16. She’s active in her public schools’ legislative committee and once worked for Godfrey Lee Public Schools. She says restoring education funding would be one of her top priorities.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do in a short period of time, but I am confident we can do it. We’ve got a lot of good energy. We’ve got a lot of support behind me,” Brinks said.
Several hundred people will need to write in Brinks name on the August primary ballot in order for her name to appear on the ballot in the general election in November.
“It’s not that high,” Brinks said, “I think that we can do it.”
In the general election, Brinks will take on incumbent State Representative Roy Schmidt (R-Grand Rapids). The long-time Democrat made political waves last month when he decided to switch political parties. That hasn’t happened in Michigan since the 1990s.
Democrats are in the minority in the Michigan House. They say Schmidt betrayed the party and his constituents.
