True, Libertarian Bill Gelineau did win the nomination for governor in his party’s first-ever statewide primary on Aug. 6. His odds of winning the election, however, seem a bit steep, given that he got a mere 3,952 votes, and both Gretchen Whitmer and Bill Schuette got more than a hundred times more. But you never can tell, and in 1912 a third-party candidate for President actually won the state.
That would be Theodore Roosevelt, then a former president trying to make a comeback as the head of the Progressive or “Bull Moose” Party. Michigan was a solidly Republican state back in the day, but voters here liked TR’s rough and ready style – especially after he was shot while campaigning but insisted on finishing his speech before seeing a doctor. Teddy carried Michigan easily, but only won five other states, and Woodrow Wilson coasted to victory.
Never say never, but don’t bet on Bill Gelineau to do the same. Actually, he’ll probably be ecstatic if he gets the 170,000 or so votes he’d need for the Libertarians to keep their major party status. —
