Dem Chair Calls on Local Republicans to Denounce Election Violence

Livingston County Republicans must denounce a call for violence and interference at polling places, the head of the Livingston County Democrats said Monday.

News reports and social media have revealed that Ryan Kelley, a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor, and Mike Detmer, a local Republican running for the 22nd State Senate, made extremist comments at a meet and greet in Livingston County recently.

“The statements made by Detmer and Kelley are dangerous to our democracy,” said Judy Daubenmier, Livingston County Democrats chair.

“The local Republican chair must make clear that such a call to arms has no place in our county. Anyone who interferes with operation of polling places must be arrested. I condemn such behavior, but one party saying it isn’t enough. Both major parties must say, ‘No! This is unacceptable and a danger to our democracy,’” she said.

In a video circulating on social media, Detmer called on supporters to go the polls armed.

“The ideal thing is to do this peacefully,” Detmer said. “But the American people, at some point in time, if we can’t change the tide…we need to be prepared to lock and load.”

He went on to tell supporters that they can take up arms if they want to do something. “So if you ask ‘what can we do?’ Show up armed,” Detmer said.

Kelley told attendees that Republicans were working to recruit more election workers, claiming that most of those who run election operations were Democrats. He advised people to take matters into their own hands if they see something they don’t like on Election Day. “If you see something happening you don’t like happening with the machines, if you see something going on, unplug it from the wall,” Kelley said. “Take control of the narrative.”

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has said tampering with voting machines and using firearms to intimidate voters is illegal and will be prosecuted.

Despite Kelley’s comments, most people who work the polls in Livingston County are Republicans, not Democrats. Every township clerk, who run the elections, is a Republican and the county clerk is a Republican.

“I reached out to County Clerk Elizabeth Hundley about the pair’s comments and I was gratified that she strongly encouraged voters with questions or problems on Election Day to ask one of the trained election inspectors working the polls. I hope the followers of Detmer and Kelley will follow the advice of the clerk of their own party,” Daubenmier said.