Bellino defeats Davis in Michigan state senate District 16
Monroe Republican Joseph Bellino Jr. said he was depressed Wednesday despite having defeated Monroe Democrat Katybeth Davis in the race for the State Senate seat for Michigan's 16th District.
More:Nov. 8 election results for Monroe County
Bellino said his comfortable victory over Davis - he won with 65.25 percent of the votes, according to the unofficial results - is almost inconsequential considering that Democrat victories elsewhere in the state in Tuesday's election gives the party control of both the Senate and House for at least the next two years.
"Whatever (Michigan Governor Gretchen) Whitmer wants to get done will get done now," Bellino said. "There's no backstop for her liberal agenda now. The Green New Deal will get pushed right through Monroe County... My victory means nothing if we can't do anything (with) it. I can have the greatest ideas in the world to help Monroe County, help Michigan, and it will never get done because our party is not in control; the Democrats are..."
Davis was consequently fairly pleased with the results of the election, despite losing to Bellino.
"This district is very conservative, and I knew it would be an uphill battle," she said. "But I am very proud of the race I ran, and I am ecstatic that Democrats are in control of the state with all of the proposals passing. I want to thank everyone for their support, encouragement and votes."
With the election behind him, Bellino says he will now "do what I can to fight back and help (Republicans) take back the majority in the House in two years, and take back the Senate in four years."
The longtime state representative said he expects little change in his day-to-day activities once he officially moves over to the Senate.
"Only difference is the territory is a lot bigger, that's all," he said. "It's a lot bigger tent, with a lot more people in it, that's about the only difference. We get paid the same amount of money, there's a little bit more staff money because there's a bigger area to take care of, but (everything else) is about the same."
Bellino thanked Monroe County voters for turning out to support him, as well as other Republicans Tuesday.
"I'm happy with the turnout in Monroe, happy the way the votes went in Monroe County with the county commissioner races and how we (as a party) performed and the statewide races," he said. "I'm just depressed because we're outnumbered by Washtenaw County and Wayne County right now. Our (party's) voice will not be heard, because we're in the minority."
Davis thanked Bellino for his public service, and said she plans "to hold him accountable for all the decisions he makes during his term."
"I will continue my activism with The Anishinaabek, Progressive, and Marijuana Caucuses of the Michigan Democratic Party, Monroe County NAACP, and Good Trouble Monroe," she said. "I will continue to fight for equality and justice at every level.
"I will continue running for public office as long as there is a need for me to do so."
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Bellino defeats Davis in Michigan state senate race
