© 2024 MICHIGAN PUBLIC
91.7 Ann Arbor/Detroit 104.1 Grand Rapids 91.3 Port Huron 89.7 Lansing 91.1 Flint
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

If this guy doesn't win in Georgia, he'll try his luck in Michigan

Allan Levene figures he has 10 years left to live, and he really wants to serve in Congress.

... and in Hawaii, and in Minnesota.

Allan Levene, a naturalized U.S. citizen from London, England, is running for Congress in four different states.

He can do that.

The U.S. Constitution statesthat to be a representative in Congress, you only have to live in the state when you are elected.

Levene says if he doesn't win the primary this May in Georgia, where he lives now, he's going to try his luck in Michigan, Hawaii, and Minnesota.

Why? 

In this interview with NPR, Levene says he's doing it because he figures "he only has 10 years left to live."

"I don't have the time to run two years at a time. The primary in Georgia is in May, and if I win that primary, then I will withdraw from the other races. If I do not win the Republican race, which is possible because there are seven of us running for the same seat and you never know what the voters are going to do, then we'll move on to the other states based on – we prioritized based on how enthusiastic the voters in those states are for me to represent them."

Listen to the interview here:

In Michigan, Levene would have to win the Republican primary in Michigan's 14th District.

If he wins the primary in Michigan, Levene says he would quickly establish residency in Michigan so he can run in the November general election. 

The seat is now held by Rep. Gary Peters (D-Michigan, 14th).

And if he doesn't win in Michigan, maybe he will in Minnesota, or Hawaii.

It makes total sense mathematically. But not much sense politically.

In Roll Call, David Hawkings writes:

To make a fascinating story short, what he amply manifests in ego and aspiration he totally lacks in political acumen. He doesn’t stand a chance in Minnesota, Michigan, Hawaii or Georgia, where he’s actually lived for the past three decades.

According to Hawkings, Levene says, “To be honest, I really don’t want to leave Georgia. But I feel compelled to do that if I have to.”

"Ten years left to live" and "I'll move if I have to" aren't necessarily great messages to send to the voting public, but maybe these things won't bother voters. You can go to his websiteto find out more about his ideas.

Mark Brush was the station's Digital Media Director. He succumbed to a year-long battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, in March 2018. He was 49 years old.
Related Content