Thread by @19thnews

🧵Michigan voters in 2018 elected women to a level of representation nearly unparalleled in U.S. states.

But the state’s politics are still plagued with an old-school sexism. Current, former women officials say a culture of misogyny has existed for years. bit.ly/2POSHyL

The chairman of the Michigan Republican Party called three top statewide elected officials “witches” in a speech last week. bit.ly/2POSHyL

He said he wanted to “soften up” the women — @GovWhitmer, Attorney General @DanaNessel and Secretary of State @JocelynBenson — so when he had GOP candidates to run against them, they’re “ready for the burning at the stake.” bit.ly/2POSHyL

Weeks earlier, the state’s Senate majority leader said of @GovWhitmer that the party had “spanked her hard on the budget, spanked her hard on appointments.” bit.ly/2POSHyL

In December, another state senator said @GovWhitmer was “neutering” lawmakers.

He had described two women colleagues’ words as “shrill outrage” months earlier. bit.ly/2POSHyL

Officials say the culture of Michigan politics has kept them from effectively doing their jobs at times.

When Lisa Brown was elected to the Michigan House in 2008, she quickly received an email from a person who described her as “attractive” and “sexy.” bit.ly/2POSHyL

Brown reported the email but was told it could not be traced. The email was signed with only an initial.

So from then on, whenever Brown spoke to a lobbyist whose name started with that letter, she recalled the email.

“… It caused me to be guarded and distracted.”

Shannon Garrett, chief strategy officer for the @MIWomensComm, said it’s distracting as well.

Garrett said the commission has had to set aside time that should be devoted to issues like child care to respond to sexist criticisms lodged at the governor. bit.ly/2POSHyL

In January 2020, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow filed a sexual harassment complaint against Peter Lucido, a Republican lawmaker.

McMorrow said Lucido touched her inappropriately and made a disparaging remark to her at the Capitol in November 2018. bit.ly/2POSHyL

Lucido denied the allegations made by McMorrow.

Lucido was also accused of telling a reporter that a group of high school boys “could have a lot of fun” with her. He said the reporter misunderstood his remarks.

Lucido is now a county prosecutor. usatoday.com/story/news/pol…

.@GovWhitmer told Bridge Michigan that the sexism in state politics isn’t new.

“What is new is that there’s a bold set of women in the workforce that aren’t going to take it. They are documenting and they are speaking their truths.” bit.ly/2POSHyL

The dynamics in Michigan have been extreme.

Last October, authorities arrested a group of men for allegedly plotting to kidnap @GovWhitmer because they disagreed with her coronavirus restrictions. nbcnews.com/news/us-news/s…

New court documents also say some of the men who face charges had amassed a stockpile of weapons. abc7chicago.com/michigan-gover…

Garrett with the @MIWomensComm said the elections of Whitmer, Nessel and Benson were a huge step forward for women’s representation in Michigan politics.

But it will not be enough if representation in the legislature — which is 35.8 percent women — doesn’t further increase.

Garrett hopes to see more women run for office.

“Unless and until we can get more women into the state House and the state Senate, and into leadership roles, the culture doesn’t change,” she said.

More from @bcrodriguez: bit.ly/2POSHyL