Will the third time be the charm for Carl Marlinga? Michigan Democrats don't want to know.

 

This 75-year-old sez, "Give it up, Carl!"

Headline:  The Downballot, 1/27/2025

Photo credit:  Facebook campaign page

Election results:  Ballotpedia

Then why doesn't someone primary him and outwork him in the process?

Politico's Ally Mutnick reports that both local and national Democrats fear Marlinga "will once again tank their chances" at flipping the Macomb County-based 10th, with one unnamed insider offering particularly harsh words. 

"Between his age, refusal to run a serious campaign, and the 'Pedophile Protector' hit— Carl Marlinga running in 2026 would be an absolute disaster for House Democrats," said a "top House Democratic operative," referring to GOP attack ads that slammed Marlinga for his work as as a defense attorney representing clients accused of sexual abuse.

The National Journal's James Downs, meanwhile, attributes to unspecified "national Democrats" the sentiment that Marlinga "would be the worst possible candidate to run again, especially after he lost by more the second time than the first."