A Michigan lawmaker facing the prospect of being ousted from Congress in less than two weeks has taken to fundraising off of his arrest at a recent abortion rights demonstration in Washington, D.C.
Rep. Andy Levin (D-MI), who is trailing Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) in the polls ahead of a hotly contested Aug. 2 primary, was among a group of 17 Democratic members of Congress who were arrested by the United States Capitol Police on Tuesday at an abortion rights demonstration outside the Supreme Court. According to police, the lawmakers were arrested after crowding, obstructing, or incommoding, a misdemeanor offense.
INDEPENDENT MCMULLIN WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE OF GOP SEN. LEE IN UTAH SENATE RACE
The next day, Levin was arrested again by the Capitol Police, after he joined a group of Senate cafeteria workers protesting to demand a union contract. Levin was observed participating in a human chain with demonstrators, linking arms in order to block a street.
Arrests have begun. @Andy_Levin is among the group taking arrest for Senate cafeteria workers pic.twitter.com/4yVmVgnHQ5
— Diana Hussein (@heyadiana) July 20, 2022
While in police custody on Tuesday, Levin recorded a video for a progressive advocacy group in which he was seemingly excited about being arrested. “Hey everybody, Andy Levin here, under arrest,” he said at the time. “We got arrested to say we’re not going back. Women should have control over their own bodies. … I’m on fire, under arrest.” His congressional office later tweeted a video of Levin walking to a police station to pay a fine resulting from his arrest.
The congressman later sent out a campaign email to supporters, attempting to raise money off of his arrest. Including an image of a defiant Levin being led away by Capitol police officers, the email touted him as a “progressive voice” who “is willing to put everything on the line for our freedoms.”
Claiming that his arrest “proved” that he will “never stop fighting for abortion rights,” Levin asked supporters to “join” his efforts by donating to his campaign.
Rep. Andy Levin’s campaign playing up his arrest outside U.S. Supreme Court today as he joined abortion rights protest.
Two weeks until Levin and Rep. Haley Stevens go head-to-head in the Democratic primary in MI-11. pic.twitter.com/JHnr24kzxd
— Mark Cavitt (@MarkCavitt) July 20, 2022
Jenny Byer, a spokeswoman for Levin’s campaign, defended his attempt to fundraise off of his arrest in a statement to the Washington Examiner.
“Congressman Levin has [been] arrest[ed] 6 times in his career as a labor and human rights organizer,” Byer said. “We regularly let our supporter list know what actions he is taking and encourage them to support our movement.” She added that responses to his arrest have been “overwhelmingly positive.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
After Michigan’s decennial redistricting process made Levin’s current seat, the 9th Congressional District, more favorable to Republicans, he elected to challenge Stevens in the nearby Democratic-leaning 11th District. The two lawmakers, both first elected to the House in 2018, have since become embroiled in a bitter primary fight, frequently trading barbs over each other’s progressive bona fides and the alleged influence of “dark money” in the race.
Levin, seen as the more liberal candidate in the race, has secured endorsements from progressive stars, including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). But polling has shown that Stevens, who notably has the endorsement of 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, remains the favorite to prevail on Aug. 2. That’s due in no small part to vigorous financial support from pro-Israel groups, such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which together have spent more than $3 million to boost Stevens in the primary.
