Democrat Josh Cowen has begun his bid by highlighting the issues of education and affordability for the already crowded primary election in Michigan’s Tossap district.
Cowen, a professor of education policy at Michigan State University, has picked out school selection and voucher programs promoted by Michigan Republicans like former education secretary Betsy DeVos, as part of what prompted him to Michigan’s 7th Congressional District in the central part of the state.
“I’m a teacher and have been fighting Betsy DeVos across the country on specific issues. It’s the privatization of public schools,” Cowen said in an interview. “She is trying to reimburse her investments in children and families everywhere, and that’s actually the same fight as everything that’s happening right now, protecting employment by trying to protect her investments in healthcare through Medicaid and other systems.”
Several Democrats have already announced their bids for Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Mich.), and they repeated the final cycle after Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) left to run for the Senate. He reported that Democrats are strictly responsible for leaving, raising more than $1 million in the last quarter.
Still, the Democrats viewed narrowly divided seats as a top pick opportunity next year, with former Ukrainian ambassador Bridget Brink and retired Navy Sealmat Marsdam leaving within the field of candidates. Cowen dispelled concerns about the contested primary and said, “They are going to run a campaign. I’ll run mine.”
“I run really hard about the fact that I’m in this community. I’ve been here for 12 years. My kids went to public schools here. My youngest one is still there,” he added.
