Great Lakes Wire

Michigan Freedom Caucus member Rep. Neil Friske (R-Charlevoix) carried nearly 100 percent name recognition across Northern Michigan’s 107th state House district, according to Parker Fairbairn, the Republican challenger who defeated Friske in the primary elections.

“People knew who he was, and they had an opinion on who he was, and I think it’s clear via the doors we did and the result … people knew who he was and didn’t want him as their state rep, and their vote in the House anymore,” said Fairbairn on Monday’s episode of the MIRS Monday podcast.

The 107th House district covers Northern Michigan communities like Charlevoix, Petoskey, Bliss Township, Mackinac Island, and the Upper Peninsula’s Drummond Island.

The district’s Republican primary became highly watched among political observers in Michigan due to its incumbent, Friske. The legislator is part of the House’s Freedom Caucus, which is considered the ultra-conservative bloc of Republican lawmakers with members often affiliated with the grassroots followers of former President Donald Trump.

Friske began his legislative term as one of eight Republicans to oppose the ceremonial vote that made Rep. Joe Tate (D-Detroit) the Speaker of the House. He has not served on any legislative committees as of March 2023. Additionally, as of late June, Lansing law enforcement was looking into an arrest made on Friske and reports of him chasing an adult dancer with “possible shots that were fired.”

Fairbairn, 25, of Harbor Springs, defeated Friske with more than 63 percent of the vote in a Republican primary that saw participation from 16,751 voters. This represented a nearly 5 percent increase in voter turnout from the district’s 2022 Republican primary when 15,954 residents cast ballots.

“I truly believe the ‘no committees’ was a big thing, the constantly voting no,” Fairbairn said. “I serve on our Emmet County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and a few different boards across the district. Overwhelmingly, people were so dissatisfied with a rep who says they’ll do something and then goes down to Lansing and doesn’t pursue those requests or asks from the people in the district at all.”

A part of Fairbairn’s strategy was targeting Friske’s no votes. For instance, Friske opposed HB 5569 and HB 5570 which outlawed creating and circulating deep fake pornographic images artificially portraying a non-consenting individual. Additionally, he opposed a three-bill Senate package allowing spouses of disabled veterans to continue receiving property tax exemptions even for new homes they purchase as widows.

In August 2022, Fairbairn lost to Friske by 1,061 votes in a five-person primary arena. This year it was a head-to-head match between Fairbairn and Friske.

When asked if his Aug. 6 win signals that the 107th House district is over MAGA spectacles, Fairbairn said he believes “the election was a resounding result that people just want someone who’s going to go down there, do the job; no nonsense; sit on committees; listen to needs of district; execute down in Lansing.”

“So I do believe that people are tired of all talk and no performance,” he said. He added that while he believes he’ll be voting for a Republican House speaker after this year’s elections if Democrats are in majority he “won’t have a problem” taking ceremonial yes-vote for Democratic speaker.

Fairbairn raised and spent more than Friske during their campaigns. As of July 21st Fairbairn's candidate committee had brought $132185 total contributions spending $12712493 while Friskes campaign raised $6848515 spending $5719304 this election cycle

Fairbairn serves chair Emmet County Republican Party since December '22 member Emmet County Farm Bureau board directors family runs five-generation hardware plumbing heating company Alanson village about twelve miles away Petoskey graduated Northwood University DeVos Graduate School MBA degree July last year

Discussing challenging moments campaign trail bitten dog second consecutive election cycle happens car end driveway walking up house chased German shepherd not fun knocked eleven thousand doors course district goes U.P different needs across district

“But at end day…people just want heard resoundingly heard doors state rep isn’t listening needs tell something don’t hear back canceling coffee hours sorts stuff job state representative listen serve what I’m going do”

In terms issues regulations housing believes Republicans opportunity make distinction illegal immigrants migrant workers rhetoric workers overseas participating federal H-2A H-2B labor programs relied upon Northern Michigan farming tourism communities

With107th House District easily considered Republican stronghold now general election season campaigning Lisa Trombley Traverse City area retired government contractor Lockheed Martin aerospace defense company competing against Rep Betsy Coffia D-Traverse City competitive103rd House District containing Traverse City Glen Arbor Suttons Bay

Article courtesy MIRS News SBAM Lansing Watchdog newsletter

---