Michigan — March 29, 2012 at 6:29 am

MONEY BOMB for Trevor Thomas: a true progressive taking on two millionaires in MI-03

A Campaign for us ALL

Michigan’s 3rd Congressional District is currently represented by Tea Party member Justin Amash. Polling shows that Amash is vulnerable and that this seat is actually competitive for Democrats. In February, I wrote about the Trevor Thomas filing paperwork to unseat Amash. Here is what I wrote about Thomas a week before he announced:

After spending some time speaking to Trevor Thomas, I came away impressed. He is smart, eloquent, fiery, and charismatic. He is a passionate advocate for the middle class and those without a political voice. At the same time he is pragmatic and a realist. I believe he will appeal to a broad section of Michigan voters. He is pro-Choice, a supporter of the rights of young people, vets and union members and he is decidedly NOT an establishment candidate, something that many voters will find compelling in the current political climate.

Thomas has a primary challenger this year as well, Democrat Steve Pestka, a former prosecutor, judge, state representative. Pestka had actually given Thomas his blessing when he was talking to area Democrats about his interest in running for the seat but it appears that once polling conducted by Thomas showed this as a potential get for Democrats, he decided to jump in as well. Pestka, who is anti-Choice, is a wealthy, self-funded, Democratic establishment candidate.

Thomas, on the other hand, is decidedly not self-funded which is why I’m joining a host of other bloggers today in a blog swarm to help the “Campaign for us all” raise some funds. You can contribute to Thomas’s “Campaign for us all” HERE. It’s important to contribute TODAY because his campaign has a critical fundraising deadline in the next 24 hours.

A few facts about Trevor Thomas:

Born and raised on the west side of the state
Both parents worked for over 30 years in a GM factory
Helped repeal ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ by working with the Human Rights Campaign and Servicemembers Legal Defense Network
An openly gay candidate
Endorsed by former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and former Lt. Gov. John Cherry
Pro-Choice

Here’s what Thomas himself wrote to me about his candidacy:

This is the seat once held by President Jerry Ford. My message centers on the values of Jerry Ford – a man who believed in clean water, the Civil Rights Act, LGBT equality, and a woman’s right to make her own personal health care decisions. To this day, the district still leans red, which is why have already started reaching across the aisle even while maintaining solidly progressive stances. My inclusive slogan, “A Campaign For Us All,” was unveiled at a campaign kickoff where I was introduced by longtime Republican and former Kent County GOP Party Chair Bob Eleveld.

Day after day the Republicans in Congress have been doing everything they can to deny women access to healthcare, the right to choose and have now put women at risk to increased violence. I’ve had enough – that’s why I am running for Congress to be a voice for women’s access to quality and safe healthcare.

I am the only Pro-Choice candidate running and I own it. I face a Democratic opponent who would side with Republicans attacks on Choice. We know we cannot beat a Republican by challenging him with a conservative Democrat who stands against access to healthcare, we need a champion for our Values.

This is a candidate that his “Democratic” opponent (really? anti-Choice?) Pestka said holds “extreme political views”. I don’t know about you but a message of inclusion, working with others and solid progressive themes just don’t seem all that “extreme” to me. I’m informed by the Pestka campaign that Steve Pestka was not referring to Trevor Thomas when he talked about “extreme political views from either side that lead us nowhere”. I retract this statement and apologize for the error.

I encourage you to contribute to Trevor Thomas’s candidacy today.

Here are a couple of videos I think you’ll enjoy. The first is his powerful announcement video. The second is his of his appearance on The War Room with Jennifer Granholm on Current TV: