"That level of spending in the Schmaltz seat tells us that they were looking at the map and going 'damn it, we do not have enough places to play,' said Sellek."

Harbor's John Sellek joined CBC Radio's: The Sunday Magazine to discuss Trump's victory and grievance politics.

“Donald Trump has shaken up the briefing room. John Sellek joins Kevin to discuss the pros and cons of this.”

"Consultant John Sellek said, 'many signs point to a Duggan gubernatorial run.'"

Baldly Bipartisan's Adrian Hemond & John Sellek joined up with the Detroit Auto Show's Sam Klemet on WJR Radio to talk about how people with differing views can keep talking through the holidays. There's little time to sulk or celebrate as our public policy battles are already underway!

House Republicans flipped four House seats to recapture the majority in the lower chamber. Harbor's John Sellek told The Detroit News: "Clearly, there was more political juice remaining in the reproductive rights issue," Sellek said. "But sometimes it seemed like the only button they were pushing, to the detriment of the economic issues.”

Harbor's John Sellek explained to Canada's CBC radio what to look for on election night in amongst Democrats and Republicans, including a key State House race across the US/Canadian border in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. 

"Excitement is shifting into high gear as Kalkaska and Traverse City prepare for the 36th annual Iceman Cometh Challenge. Starting at the Kalkaska County Airport, thousands of participants of all ages will pedal 30 miles to Timber Ridge in Traverse City. This is the largest point-to-point mountain bike race in the United States and consists of dirt roads, two tracks and the Vasa Nordic Ski Trail."

The Annual Iceman Cometh Challenge saw a thrilling mix of skill and experience as bikers took on the 31-mile course from Kalkaska to Traverse City. Noah Ramsay claimed victory in the men’s field and Melissa Rollins topped the leaderboard in the women’s field. “The Iceman experience is second to none. I’ve heard about the Iceman and I wanted to see what all the hype was about,” Rollins said. “The finish line feeling of this was unlike anything I’ve ever been involved in. It was amazing and it lived up to everything that anyone’s ever talked about.”

Judicial races are becoming more competitive as the influx of campaign funding raises the stakes for these positions. Harbor's John Sellek spoke with The Detroit News, noting: “As more money enters the campaign system overall and judicial seats become more attractive, judicial races have started to look more like political campaigns."

John Sellek and Tom Jordan discuss Michigan's key swing counties to watch on election night — Saginaw, Grand Traverse, Muskegon and more.

Harbor's John Sellek joined the Resilient Insights Podcast with host Joshua Baca. Based in Washington, D.C., the podcast focuses on thoughtful discussions about crucial battleground states like Michigan in the upcoming presidential election and more.

Governor Whitmer announced that October is Michigan Agritourism Month, recognizing the importantance of the industry. This aligns with efforts to support the growth of agritourism businesses across MI, helping our clients succeed and contribute to MI's economy in meaningful ways.

John Sellek shares insights on current political trends, noting that, “Only 2% of voters are undecided and data shows only 1/4 of them will actually vote.” He explained that this is why campaigns are now placing greater emphasis on persuadable voters, particularly young males, who could play a pivotal role in shaping the outcome."

As many as 20% of restaurants and bars in Michigan may permanently shut down if the state Supreme Court's decision to raise the minimum wage for servers and bartenders is implemented in February 2025. John Sellek, spokesperson for Save MI Tips, is calling on lawmakers from both parties to address this aspect of the minimum wage law following the November election.

Democrats are going on the offensive in Oakland County, a former Republican stronghold that has become more reliably Democratic. “Dems know that they stand to potentially lose a seat or two, and they only have a two-seat majority, so they have to go on the offense somewhere,” said John Sellek.

A new bipartisan group, Democracy Defense Project, is working to reassure voters in swing states that elections are secure. In Michigan, former Republican Governor John Engler and former Democratic Governor Jim Blanchard are leading the effort. Their collaboration was highlighted in a segment on "It’s Just Politics" with Zoe Clark and Rick Pluta this week.

Industry leaders from across the state held a hands-on expo at Impression 5 for Lansing Public School Students. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson stopped by. She had previously attended the Detroit expo and was impressed, so she stopped by Lansing’s. “To give them a chance to actually see themselves in the shoes of a carpenter, a welder, electrician and give them the opportunity, to see how fun it is and really grow a passion, that‘s what this is all about,” she said.

“But even those ads will have a hard time breaking through the onslaught of political ads Michigan voters are subject to as candidates up and down the ballot compete in the battleground state, said John Sellek, a Republican and CEO of the Michigan-based consulting firm Harbor Strategic Public Affairs. "In terms of the hurricane of political advertising that Michigan is currently experiencing, it can barely make a dent," Sellek said. "In the end, when it comes to the bottom of the ballot, it's going to depend on the top of the ticket.”

"As Election Day approaches and messaging surrounding election protocols ramps up, new statewide polling shows that although some 78 percent of Michiganders trust their local and county elections are run fairly and accurately, over half don't feel the same about other parts of the state. Commissioned by the Michigan chapter of the Defend Democracy Project, which is headed by a bipartisan group of former public officials, the poll results offer insight into the trust – and lack thereof – Michiganders have in their democracy as they prepare to head to the polls."

New polling from the Democracy Defense Project shows most voters would trust election results if practices like securing paper ballots, hand-counting close races, and cleaning voter rolls were adopted. Yet, these measures are already in place. At a recent event discussing the findings, Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumus Lyons suggested the data shows room for optimism: “Our voters trust our process,” Lyons said. “They just need to know it is the process. And so, again, that's where these education efforts, that's where encouraging folks to participate really are important.”

Thursday’s panel featured Republicans and Democrats as part of the Democracy Defense Project. Former congressman Mike Bishop was joined by former Michigan governors John Engler and Jim Blanchard, as well as current Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum and Kent County Clerk Lisa Lyons. The panel looked at a statewide survey conducted by the Glengariff Group asking voters about their confidence in Michigan’s election policies. "Our county is being torn apart by this polarization so we have to acknowledge the concerns that are out there, we have to promote this idea of bipartisan oversight," Bishop said.

Proposed changes to Michigan’s tipped wage system have raised concerns among many restaurant workers who rely on the flexibility it provides to balance work and family. "I know that I would not have been able to do what I did for my children without being able to wait tables," shared one server. With uncertainty about how these changes will impact employees and businesses, many are hoping to preserve a system that supports their livelihoods.

"A burst of $8 million in new super PAC ad spending is lighting up America's quietest toss-up Senate race, Axios has exclusively learned."

“We have to save our collection from being lost. Children and families here deserve a quality museum. We have collections and archives connected to restaurants, so we always have the threat of pests, insects, rodents, fire, it’s just not safe.”

A new bipartisan bill aims to make the cherry Michigan’s official state fruit. Michigan produces nearly 70% of all tart cherries in the U.S., making it a crucial part of the state's economy. Kat Paye, Executive Director of the National Cherry Festival, spoke with MLive: "They are so crucial to Michigan’s economy and such a key part of our heritage, it only makes sense to give the cherry this honor."

State Senator John Damoose, of Harbor Springs, introduced a bill last Thursday to designate the cherry as Michigan’s official state fruit. The proposal already has bipartisan support in the state Senate. “The goal is to remind people in the state just how important the cherry industry is, for everybody here and for our agricultural community,” Senator Damoose said.

Former Govs. Jim Blanchard and John Engler joined former Lt. Gov. John Cherry and former U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop to launch the Michigan chapter of the Defend Democracy Project. Blanchard and Cherry are Democrats, while Engler and Bishop are Republicans. “We want to make sure that when people raise the idea that the elections are rigged, we can make sure everything is investigated and we can beat it down,” Blanchard said during a Thursday morning virtual news conference at which the group laid out their vision.

Former Michigan governors and elected officials from both parties are joining a wider effort, called the Democracy Defense Project, to combat misinformation and attacks on voting and ballot-counting in several swing states ahead of the fast-approaching presidential election.

The Democracy Defense Project was announced on Thursday with the goal of countering potential claims of election fraud and reinforcing public trust in the legitimacy of the Electoral College. MIRS News reports that former Michigan governors Jim Blanchard, a Democrat, and John Engler, a Republican, have recently announced their involvement in this bipartisan effort.

"Two former Michigan governors are among a bipartisan group of politicians working to foster public confidence in the nation’s election process. Former Michigan Gov. John Engler, a Republican, former Gov. Jim Blanchard, a Democrat joined with Republican former U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop and Democratic former Lt. Gov. John Cherry on Thursday to announce the launch of the Democracy Defense Project in Michigan."

WKAR's Off The Record's correspondents discuss the announcement of the bipartisan group, the Democracy Defense Project. They discussed the goal of the project and addressed the current public level of trust in the electoral system.

Michigan politicians from both sides of the aisle are trying to combat election misinformation through the Democracy Defense Project. Former Democratic Lt. Governor John Cherry says this isn’t a new issue. He says election disappointment is a catalyst for misinformation to spread. “Both Democrats and Republicans, I know some who I have a great deal of respect for that had, at times, difficulty accepting an election result,” Cherry said. “But, our focus is not going to be on the past.”

"The bipartisan group announced Wednesday is part of the Democracy Defense Project, an effort spanning several swing states to underscore the reliability of elections after widespread, unfounded claims of fraud in the wake of the 2020 presidential election. 'It’s an information task primarily,' former Lt. Gov. John Cherry, who served under Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm, said of the group's effort. 'But the fact that you have a bipartisan group of some stature, I think helps give us some degree of credibility as we do this.'"

Former Michigan governors and elected officials from both parties are joining a wider effort, called the Democracy Defense Project, to combat misinformation and attacks on voting and ballot-counting in several swing states ahead of the fast-approaching presidential election.

Michigan's wine industry is a crucial part of our state's economy and culture. With recent recommendations from the WHO regarding alcohol consumption, many fear the potential impact on local businesses: "Michigan is home to 196 wine producers, supporting 46,769 jobs. It is also the seventh largest wine producing state in the nation. But this significant part of our culture and economy is being threatened," Sherri Fenton wrote.

Servers and bartenders from around the state are asking the legislature to act quickly to save the tipping system. Save MI Tips' John Sellek told WJR Radio today that turning tipped workers into hourly workers is something that servers and bartenders do not want but the legislature can fix the law before it’s too late.

Harbor's John Sellek spoke with MIRS News about the surge in ad buys for the Michigan House races: “The spending can be attributed in part to the high cost of advertising slots because of ad reservations being made at the presidential level. The closer to the election, the more expensive & rarer the time slot is.”

Save MI Tips spokesperson John Sellek spoke with WJR Radio's All Talk about how restaurant workers would benefit from eliminating the tip tax under the current tipping system. "It's showing that these workers are getting the attention in the U.S. presidential race that they deserve—people should be looking at what they're doing. It's another reason why Michigan should be saving the tip system they have now," said Sellek.

John Sellek spoke with Bridge Michigan, "Absent national consistency, Michigan could end up as an outlier, with workers benefiting less from any tip tax exemption than their peers in other states," said Sellek, the Save MI Tips spokesperson.

Servers and bartenders in Traverse City attended a media roundtable to ask lawmakers to save their tips. The hospitality workers are afraid the change will cause people to stop tipping like they do now and that will mean less money for them.

“I will have to find another job,” said Jones, who says she brings in as much as $37 an hour on some shifts but fears her earnings will be cut in half. Jones participated in a discussion with state lawmakers Thursday at Sundance Bar & Grill in downtown Grand Rapids about the new law. The event was hosted by Save MI Tips and the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association.

On Thursday, the group SaveMITips hosted a roundtable at Sundance where servers, service industry leaders and lawmakers discussed the changes. State Rep. Pat Outman, R-Six Lakes, said the meeting reinforced the urgency to get to Lansing to address the issue.

Servers and Bartenders held a meeting with legislators in Birmingham, Michigan to ask for the legislature to take action to save their income and jobs.

John Sellek, a spokesperson for the group Save MI Tips, said servers are already seeing a shift in the interactions with customers: “Servers are alarmed right now because they’re hearing from their customers that they think it’s a done deal and think that they’re making a full minimum wage, so somehow that changes the relationship between customers and servers,” Sellek said.

Metro Detroit business owners say the wage hikes will force them to increase menu prices to pay for the additional labor costs. Save MI Tips held a discussion Friday morning, inviting members of the media to Townhouse restaurant in Birmingham to hear why they're fighting the 4-3 ruling.

John Sellek and Adrian Hemond make up the political duo known as "Baldly Bi-Partisan". They spoke with Paul W. Smith on WJR Radio's Focus to discuss what's next after the conventions for both parties.

To celebrate hitting 1 million meals delivered to Michigan residents, DoorDash and the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan partnered to host a ceremonial dash. 

After years of collaboration and partnership, DoorDash and the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan are celebrating their 1 millionth delivery to Michigan residents with a ceremonial dash.  

Paul W. Smith and John Sellek discuss the pros and cons of the much-hyped X interview and how Kamala Harris has gone from a bad approval rating to one of the best.  

"This board isn't just going back to the sleepy backwater it was before. It probably still will be a feisty place and a place that media will want to cover."

"Judging by her approval numbers, Harris has not just replaced Biden, Harris as a presidential candidate has replaced Harris as Vice President.”

Stateside features clips from this week’s Issues & Ale event that was broadcast live from Lansing Brewing Company.

"They did not ask for this plan and they do not want it," Sellek told WWJ Newsradio 950's Ryan Wrecker. "You know, servers in their own words say that the tips that they make now will go away."

“[Servers] know that once people understand — especially in these expensive, inflationary times — that they’re getting paid the full minimum wage, the ability of customers to keep tipping them is going to be reduced or disappear,” Sellek said."

Did President Biden's speech move the needle for anyone? Is the Harris campaign ready to move the president offstage? John and Adrian talked with WJR's All Talk about it all this morning.

Harbor's John Sellek joined Tom & Kevin on #Detroit's All Talk to discuss what might constitute "change" for VP Kamala Harris as she re-introduces herself and President Biden says farewell.

Harbor's John Sellek talked to GrandRapids' FOX17 this morning about VP Harris' very rapid campaign for the Democratic nomination, blocking others from any serious challenge -- including Gov. Whitmer -- yet Whitmer as VP nominee may be a move Harris needs to win.

“We continue to work closely with township officials to resume operations because we strongly believe materials produced on site are essential to rebuilding our roads and infrastructure and that we can serve these community needs in compliance with all ordinances,” said Mid Michigan Materials spokesperson John Sellek.

On WJR Radio's All Talk with Jordan and Dietz, John Sellek said: "Lost in the noise is that Vance is the first millennial on a US presidential ticket, ever. When all we talk about is age, that matters for middle-aged voters and it definitely matters for any GOP candidate that was hoping to run for president post-Trump."

Harbor's John Sellek spoke with The Detroit News about the fundraising of the Great Lakes Conservative Fund: "The GLCF reported having raised $2.7 million total during the three months ending June 30, finishing with $934,300 in cash reserves. Notable Michigan donors include $250,000 from Roger Penske, CEO of the Penske Group."

Harbor's John Sellek called Scholten's move a big development. "Scholten's move indicates local polling is not looking good for Biden so she may be trying to avoid being on the receiving end of ads pointing out vulnerable Democrats who did not expose experiences with Biden's health struggles."

After the debate, Harbor's John Sellek shared his insights with the Detroit Free Press: "Would any fill-in candidate be able to create a viable presidential campaign this late in the game, especially for the first time?" asked Sellek. "Even if given access to all the national machinery now, for any of the fill-ins, it would be a little like a top college player trying to replace Jared Goff in the 3rd quarter."

In terms of the restaurant growth, Michigan is in the bottom third of all states post pandemic with recovery slower than any bordering state. The 2024 State of the Industry Survey revels that restaurants are struggling more than we know. 

“They’re making far more than minimum wage, in fact the state average that they report is around $28 an hour. If the bartenders and servers across Michigan wanted this to happen, they would go take a minimum wage job, say like at Meijer or Target, those are great jobs but they can’t live on that income,” said John Sellek, with Save MI Tips. Save MI Tips says up to 40,000 restaurants in Michigan may close if the tip credit is removed.

Research conducted by the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association found that 3 out of 4 restaurants are less profitable than they were a year ago. Impending legislation on the elimination of the tip credit has the potential to raise that number and cause even more restaurants to struggle. 

The ramifications of the COVID-19 shutdowns are still being felt today as many restaurants continue to see a significant number of challenges. According to a survey of restaurant operators across Michigan, they’ve been struggling under the weight of inflation, a lack of adequate staffing, and a decline in sales growth. This is encouraging some owners to take their restaurants out of state.  

Justin Winslow of the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association shares startling results of the 2024 State of the Industry Survey results and what it could mean for the future of restaurants 

Executive director Kat Paye and Queen Carmen stop by Wood Tv to talk about some of the wonderful events happening at the eight day Cherry Festival this year including comedians, musicians, and the Blue Angels!

Justin Winslow of the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association visits the Focus with Paul W. Smith podcast to discuss the Supreme Court's reaffirming of rejecting the One Fair Wage 2024 ballot proposal. 

To the relief of many servers, the question of raising the minimum wage will no longer appear on the November ballot. "The ability of tipped workers, like servers and bartenders, to earn those big tips, which is the reason they took those jobs, that’s all going to go out the window. And the income of these servers is going to drop,” John Sellek said.

Michigan Opportunity spokesman John Sellek applauded the recent ruling saying that “both the Court and the Board noted that the One Fair Wage team’s sloppy, error-filled efforts resulted in hundreds of thousands of Michigan citizens signing petitions with language that would end the state minimum wage for thousands of workers"

Michigan Supreme Court denies request to place minimum wage proposal, which MI Opportunity deemed "fatally flawed", on 2024 ballot. Other opponents to the effort, including John Sellek, see the court's rejection as a victory for the economy.

Although the 2024 Raise the Wage initiative has been rejected tensions still run high as the 2018 Adopt and Amend case is still waiting on a verdict. "If you raise the minimum wage to $12 or $15," said Sellek, a spokesperson for Save MI Tips, "Tipped workers are going to lose income because they already earn more than that."

National Cherry Festival executive director Kat Paye joined Fox 47 Morning Blend to talk about what to expect at this year's festival. There will be 8 nights of concerts, parades, air shows, firework shows, ultimate air dogs and much more!

"Michigan lawmakers honored the state’s famous cherry industry Wednesday ahead of the annual Cherry Festival later this summer. May 22nd will now be known as Cherry Industry Day, thanks to the support of Northern Michigan Senator John Damoose. 'It’s never been more important to have a strong Cherry Festival this year,' said Damoose."

National Cherry Festival representatives joined the hosts of Fox 17 to discuss the iconic Northern Michigan tradition that showcases a variety of nationally acclaimed entertainment while honoring the local heritage that makes it unique.

MI Opportunity spox John Sellek praised the MSC’s affirmation of the Canvassers’ power to keep One Fair Wage’s '24 initiative off the ballot due to a big petition fail. "It's one less worry for servers & bartenders who still fear the 2018 ruling that may end tipping as we know it".

Save MI Tips' spokesperson John Sellek joined WILS' Morning Wake Up to explain why Lansing decision makers need to protect the tip credit—so servers & bartenders can keep earning more than minimum wage.

Save MI Tips joined The Steve Gruber Show to talk about why Michigan's servers & bartenders do not want to eliminate the tip credit because they already make far above minimum wage.

National Cherry Festival welcomes comedian Leanne Morgan to the Pepsi Bayside Music Stage presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan on July 2nd.

When discussing the proposal to increase funding for PureMichigan, Rep. Snyder said, “I think it is really important that we double down on this investment in our tourism and hospitality industry, and that is definitely a huge part of our economic development here in the state moving forward."

"We have the best state and I know we have the best campaign,” said Justin Winslow, president and CEO of the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association. “We just need to make sure it's in front of as many eyeballs as possible."

"Sellek sees Duggan as one of the best strategic minds among Michigan Democrats, which would make him a formidable election opponent."

“The way to answer if RFK Jr. is a threat to Biden is to just look at the new DNC team run by Lis Smith, using local officials like Sen. Mallory McMorrow, to bracket everything he does.”

President Biden probably passed the "health & welfare check" test for Democrats, but only 32/160 million voters watched, leaving the speech's impact to TikTok/Insta/Twitch news clips.

WJR's All Talk hosted John Sellek for a pre Super Tuesday analysis. "In a way, Nikki Haley preparing for 'just in case' is similar to what Gov. Whitmer, Newsom and others are doing in case of Biden falls out of the race."

Adrian Hemond and John Sellek of the organization Baldly Bipartisan join the show to discuss whether the “uncommitted” vote will impact the general election.

“Miller Law has commenced an investigation in connection with PulteGroup concerning the Company's alleged efforts to suppress public discourse about the Company"

Harbor's John Sellek joined FOX 17 to discuss the uncommitted votes in the state of Michigan

Harbor's John Sellek joined FOX 17 to discuss the impact that Michigan's Primary will have on Super Tuesday

“Uncommitted will have to rise far beyond the 11% President Obama experienced to matter."

“Donald Trump make it OK for blue collar workers to be pissed off about the status of the changing economy.”

“Save MI Tips held press conferences in the days leading up to the recent arguments in the Supreme Court to amplify the voices of tipped workers who want to preserve the current system.”

Michigan Hospitality & Tourism Alliance's Justin Winslow explains why MHTA is requesting a major boost for the PureMichigan tourism campaign this budget-making season.

"The Food Bank Council of Michigan, said the organization has worked with DoorDash since the COVID-19 pandemic." “DoorDash has been a great partner for several of the food banks within our network. That is definitely an area that the network’s working on expanding.”

The new Michigan Hospitality & Tourism Alliance is off to a great start in pursuit of full #PureMichigan funding to boost Michigan's economy and small businesses everywhere. Chris Moyer of Visit Detroit talked to WJR Radio about boosting one of Michigan's most important industries.

Michigan Hospitality and Tourism Alliance is announced.  What does it mean for state tourism?

The new Michigan Hospitality & Tourism Alliance is off to a great start in pursuit of full #PureMichigan funding to boost Michigan's economy and small businesses everywhere. Justin Winslow of the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association talked to WILS about boosting one of Michigan's most important industries.

"Chris Moyer, senior director of communications for Visit Detroit -- one of the groups behind MHTA -- said $50 million is what Pure Michigan needs to be competitive with other states. He called Wednesday’s budget recommendation the starting point, and now it’s up to the group to work with the legislature to increase the budget."

“These are competing states, and we’re dramatically larger than them as a state, in terms of population and total revenue, but we are lacking in our investment with $15 million being the existing Pure Michigan budget right now,” Winslow said. “The hope and the goal here is to unify with one clear message, at least out of the gate, the one thing that brings all these groups together — the desire to see Pure Michigan invested in a way that I think the data justifies, in a way that we are not being funded right now, for reasons that remain unclear.”

“He’s now proven two election cycles in a row he does not know how to run a statewide campaign,” Sellek said. “He has essentially tossed away this huge advantage of name ID in the most important media market in the state – unable to convert that into an effective campaign”

"The high-profile candidates in the GOP field fall into three buckets―those who haven’t said much to offend the former president, those who have used words to criticize him and those who did something against Trump like vote to impeach him," said Sellek.

"He's treating his candidacy like a land speculator. He's putting a few dollars on a piece of property and waiting to see if (Donald) Trump builds on it. If not, we're unlikely to see a fully formed campaign," said Sellek.

“You don’t know when the next big wave is coming, exactly, but you have to position yourself to jump on"

Harbor's John Sellek joined WJR Radio's All Talk with Jordan and Dietz to discuss last nights State of the State address.

Harbor's John Sellek joined In Focus with Paul W. Smith to discuss the New Hampshire Primary. 

It's primary day in New Hampshire, but how competitive will it be? John Sellek of Harbor Strategic joins Guy, Lloyd, and Jamie.

John Sellek, Kevin & Tom talk through Donald Trump’s historically large Iowa victory and what it means for Haley & DeSantis.

“Paul W. and John discuss last night’s Madonna concert & the results of the Iowa caucuses”

"Her team has done an excellent job proving if you regularly communicate with voters while showing action — and even being upbeat about it — they will reward you regardless of whether they agree with you 100% of the time," said Sellek."

“It’s a direct blow to hourly workers, who often make more money from the tip difference than they would make from the soon-to-be-mandated minimum wage… Critically, the Legislature must preserve the tipped minimum wage in Michigan.”

"Build It Michigan Strong expressed support for the bills and an overall funding solution for roads."
"Without that, nothing else matters," Sellek said of a road funding solution. "We also feel permitting reform is part of a long-term solution to stretch tax dollars."

"'Strategic politicians like Mike Duggan who’ve had a lot of success do not wait until the last minute to start planning for these things,' said Sellek, who helped run Republican nominee Bill Schuette’s 2018 campaign. 'A lot of wheels are already in motion.'"

Harbor’s John Sellek talked with Canada’s CBC North about election results and why this was a "change election".

Three-term Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is not seeking a fourth term. Harbor’s John Sellek said, "Duggan's brand is being very prepared and two steps ahead of everyone else," said Sellek. "We cannot be surprised if this is at least the first step in an eventual run for governor.”

Democracy Defense Project board members believe public education on elections can help combat misinformation. “A poll our organization commissioned found the best way to help increase Michigan voters’ confidence in our elections and push back against misinformation is to fully inform them of the safeguards that are now in place.”

The U.S. Senate race in Michigan between Democrat Elissa Slotkin and Republican Mike Rogers has been flooded with ads. “We’ve seen unbelievable amounts of money spent here,” John Sellek, CEO of Harbor Strategic told MLive. “There’s been at least $120 million spent just on the U.S. Senate race on TV, radio, cable and digital ads alone. It’s mind boggling.”

“Team Local Spins also has been spinning in a much different way every November – on the mountain biking trail of the Iceman Cometh Challenge bike race in Traverse City. Sporting special Local Spins jerseys, the small and intrepid team of bike racers has joined more than 5,000 riders from across the globe to tackle the grueling, 30-miles-plus, cross-country course."

The 35th annual Iceman Cometh Challenge brought thousands of cyclists and vendors together at the nation's largest single-day, point-to-point mountain bike race. Participants tackled a 30-mile course from Kalkaska to Traverse City, showcasing the region’s trails. Event organizer Kat Paye highlighted the tradition’s beloved competitions: “It’s about $6.7 million annually in economic impact for the Iceman Cometh Challenge, featuring the Iceman race, the Slush Cup, and Snow Cone, which is the cutest thing on two wheels.”

“A hidden gem in Muskegon Heights that was hurt by severe storms won a significant chunk of change from DoorDash. The $10,000 grant will help the almost 50-year-old family business as it recovers from near financial disaster.” This support ensures that Navarro’s can continue its nearly 50-year legacy of serving local residents with family meals.

Earlier this year, Wayne County Executive Warren Evans warned he was struggling to sell President Joe Biden to Black voters. National polling shows Harris has "recovered most of the lost Black male votes Biden was previously giving away," said Michigan political consult John Sellek.

Former Michigan Governors John Engler, a Republican, and Jim Blanchard, a Democrat, are interviewed about their roles as board members of the Democracy Defense Project, a bipartisan organization established to protect the transparency, safety, security, and integrity of the electoral system.

Restaurant servers and bartenders gathered in Kalamazoo, calling on lawmakers to reverse the MI Supreme Court decision. “Nobody is asking for this, nobody in the industry is asking for things to change," Nicholas Clemann, a server, said. "I would probably have to find a new job.”

Democrats are targeting key seats in Oakland County as they aim to hold their slim majority in the Michigan House. John Sellek spoke with the Detroit News, saying: "Democrats are playing offense there because they have to. They're afraid that they're going to lose seats next door in Macomb."

Flint-area servers and bartenders came together to support legislation aimed at protecting tip credits, which are set to be phased out in February. Organized by Save MI Tips, the event featured state representatives David Martin and Jasper R. Martus, who discussed the potential impact on Michigan’s hospitality industry.

“Haadsma's race is one of a handful of former manufacturing strongholds across the I-94 corridor that are part of a political realignment that appears to be favoring Republicans, said John Sellek.”

Executive Director of the Michigan Aggregates Association, Doug Needham, joined WILS recently to talk about the impact of the Construction Science Expo. "We started this in Detroit years ago and decided to bring it to Impression 5 because it's a fantastic venue to showcase the science that is used in the industry, as well as expose students to the various careers in the construction industry," said Doug.

The Construction Science Expo was held in Lansing recently, 400 students from Lansing Public Schools explored hands-on activities in skilled trades and engineering fields at the Impression 5 Science Center. Over 60 industry professionals led students through stations like operating heavy machinery, drone flights, virtual simulations of skilled trade occupations, and much more. Several lawmakers including Michigan Secretary of State's Office's Jocelyn Benson, State Senator Sarah Anthony, State Representative Emily Dievendorf, State Representative Kara Hope, and State Representative Angela Witwer, attended the event, emphasizing the importance of skilled trades for Michigan’s future workforce.

"Michigan voter confidence in elections substantially increased when participants were told of 12 election practices that are already in law or in widespread use in Michigan, according to an 800-Michigan voter survey released today by the Democracy Defense Project. After learning about the 12 measures in place, confidence among Trump supporters increased to 90%. Harris supporter voter confidence increased to 98%."

New polling from the Democracy Defense Project found a vast majority of voters would have confidence in election results if a dozen practices went into use. The problem is each of those measures is already in place. Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum, a Democrat, said, “Once the questioning of the election, the integrity of our elections has already begun, we are trying to make up for the loss of faith and we have to rebuild the trust now. The clerks didn’t do anything to lose the faith but now we have to rebuild trust,” Byrum said during a press conference Thursday.

"The poll of 800 likely Michigan voters was conducted by the Glengariff Group and commissioned by the Democracy Defense Project, a nonprofit aimed at rebuilding trust in elections. The national nonprofit’s work is largely focused in swing states. The results were revealed Thursday, Oct. 10, during a press conference with former Michigan Govs. John Engler and Jim Blanchard along with other former and current politicians."

John Sellek spoke with WJR Radio about the recent U.S. Senate debate between Mike Rogers and Elissa Slotkin, describing it as a critical and heated discussion on key issues like China relations, electric vehicle policies, and reproductive rights. "Overall, Michigan voters needed this debate—it was a chance for them to learn about the policy positions of these candidates. Most of the state has no idea who these people are, so it’s crucial to get their messages in front of a wider audience," Sellek noted.

"Harbor’s John Sellek told FOX 17 the veep debate was civil and proved there’s a market for that, as both Walz and Vance earned higher approval numbers after. But the edge goes to Vance, who has done 15x more TV interviews than Walz has since July, and it showed."

John Sellek joined Tim Skubick, host of Off the Record, for WKAR's special report about artificial intelligence transforming the political landscape in the US and the world, including the threats and benefits.

"The Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance invited two of the state’s leading political experts to size up some of the top political races. More than 100 business people turned out for the latest 'Bully Pulpit' session to hear from consultants John Sellek and Adrian Hemond."

"Former Michigan governors John Engler and Jim Blanchard, former Lt. Gov. John Cherry, and former Congressman Mike Bishop partnered to form the 'Democracy Defense Project.' Guy, Lloyd, and Jamie talk with former Gov. Engler about the group's purpose ahead of the November presidential election."

Former Michigan governors and elected officials from both parties are joining a wider effort, called the Democracy Defense Project, to combat misinformation and attacks on voting and ballot-counting in several swing states ahead of the fast-approaching presidential election.

Michigan leaders, including former governors John Engler and Jim Blanchard, have joined a national bipartisan initiative, the Democracy Defense Project. This effort aims to counter attacks on election integrity by promoting transparency, trust, and security in Michigan's election system. The initiative seeks to push back against misinformation, ensuring that the election process remains fair and secure for all voters, while protecting the work of election officials across the state.

"A bipartisan group is at work to assure the public that Michigan will run a fair, honest, and open election this fall despite rhetoric from some that that may not be the case. Two former governors and two former state senators are part of the Michigan Democracy Defense Project."

"Former governors Jim Blanchard and John Engler are joining forces with other former lawmakers in a bipartisan effort to improve trust in election processes and integrity ahead of the November general election, the Democracy Defense Project announced Thursday, September 12."

Harbor's John Sellek talked to WJR Radio's All Talk: "Inflation increases may be declining for some items but huge price increases since the pandemic did not go away. This is likely why the Harris campaign is hammering the message that she grew up 'middle class' and Trump did not."

"A bipartisan effort launched today to help restore public trust in Michigan’s election system following false claims of fraud in the 2020 election. The group, known as the Defending Democracy Project, consists of former Gov. John Engler and former Rep. Mike Bishop, both Republicans, and former Gov. Jim Blanchard and former Lte. Gov. John Cherry, both Democrats. 'We are all devoted to our state,' Blanchard said. 'We know elections are clean and accurate and safe.'"

A new, bipartisan group of former Michigan leaders are working together to instill confidence in the state’s elections system at a time, they say, when that trust has significantly eroded. The group is comprised of former Michigan Govs. John Engler, a Republican, and Jim Blanchard, a Democrat, along with former Democratic Lt. Gov. John Cherry and former Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop.

Former Michigan Governors Jim Blanchard and John Engler, along with former Lt. Gov. John Cherry and Senate GOP leader Mike Bishop, have joined the Democracy Defense Project. This bipartisan group's goal is to assure that Michigan will run a fair, honest, and open election.

"Not only would the economy suffer, but so would consumer choice. It is much more reasonable for citizens to continue to decide, along with advice from their physician, which health decisions are right for them, than to receive direction from unelected bureaucrats," wrote Cliff Denha.

Harbor’s John Sellek analyzed the Michigan Supreme Court's decision to keep RFK Jr. on the Michigan ballot with the Detroit News: "Kennedy will need to spend a lot of time in key states selling his remaining supporters to vote for Trump," Sellek said. "One way he may do that is to hint he would serve in a Trump administration, which could be difficult to swallow for some independents."

John Sellek recently spoke with Gongwer News Service about the strategic importance of key states in the upcoming election. He broke down how the Electoral College could shape the outcome, saying: "It comes down to the Electoral College. Pennsylvania is bigger than we are, so if Trump can win PA, but she wins WI and MI, she's got to win at least two, if not three, of the 'corner states,' NV and AZ to the west, or NC and GA to the east."

Michigan server Tami Jo speaks out in Crain's Detroit Business: “After years of building my successful career, I may now be forced to leave the job I love — and need. By turning these into just another minimum wage job, the custom of customers rewarding great service with tips will end.”

John Sellek joined Michigan's Big Show to discuss the impact of the tipping system on restaurant workers, especially in light of the upcoming changes driven by the Michigan Supreme Court's decision: "Presidential candidates from both major parties recognize restaurant workers' importance, but due to what's happened in the MSC, that tax break won't do us any good. That's why we're asking the legislature to fix this."

The roundtable was organized by a group called “Save MI Tips,” which advocates for both workers and restaurant owners on the tip-pay issue. According to a statement from the group, eliminating the tip-credit exception would “essentially turn servers and bartenders into standard minimum-wage workers.

Servers and bartenders continue to push state lawmakers to step in and change course on the Michigan Supreme Court ruling that adjusted their minimum wage. Since the recent ruling on “Adopt and Amend,” Save MI Tips said a majority of servers fear they will lose their job and and that one in five full-service restaurants will have to close their doors.

The organization, Save MI Tips, plans to hold a Capitol Day in Lansing on Sept. 18, where servers and bartenders will have yet another opportunity to interact with elected officials and push for the introduction of a bill to protect the tipping credit.

Local servers and bartenders met Thursday at Sundance Grill urging lawmakers to save their tips. “Prices would get raised if restaurants have to pay servers more,” says Hailey, a server. “So they're paying more for their meals in general, and they know that we're getting paid a higher hourly wage, so they're going to be less inclined to tip.”

Restaurant workers gathered in Birmingham, Michigan, on Friday to call on lawmakers to save tipping in the state. "Small businesses already barely have enough money to pay the servers the minimum wage that it is right now and they're not going to get as good clientele coming in to pay their servers because the servers won't be there for them," said Mullins. "So a lot of small businesses will have to close their doors."

John Sellek, a spokesperson for the group Save MI Tips, said servers are already seeing a shift in the interactions with customers: “Servers are alarmed right now because they’re hearing from their customers that they think it’s a done deal and think that they’re making a full minimum wage, so somehow that changes the relationship between customers and servers,” Sellek said.

"Momentum is on the Democrats’ side, and that’s a real worry for Republicans right now,” said Sellek. “They’re going to depend on the top of the ticket.

Harbor's John Sellek joined WILS' Morning Wake Up to discuss the Democratic National Convention in Chicago: "The DNC has done a masterful job cranking up the TV ratings by bringing out their stars, like the Obamas and Oprah," said Sellek.

"DoorDash is honored to mark over one million meals delivered via Project DASH to Michigan families thanks to our partnership with the Food Bank Council of Michigan and partner organizations like the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan ,” said Daniel Riff, Head of DoorDash Drive Government and Nonprofit.

Yesterday, the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan celebrated 1 million deliveries through Door Dash's Project DASH program to help fight food insecurity in Michigan. 

Sellek, CEO of Harbor Strategic spoke about the impact of Tuesday's Primary on Michigan's upcoming U.S Congressional Races for the November General Election.

Has Shri Thanedar gotten past enough roadblocks to be locked in for a while here? It’s starting to look that way.

"Come for the political analysis, stay for Sellek explaining brat summer.”

"Sellek told WHMI “People in Howell, Brighton, Fowlerville do these jobs each day and they know what their relationships are like economically with their customers...the first thing that will happen is that customers will start to feel like they don’t need to tip them"

WWJ Newsradio 950 spoke with Harbor's John Sellek to discuss the implications and details of today's significant ruling from the Michigan Supreme Court.

Servers and bartenders will lose income and jobs after "Adopt & Amend" ruling wipes out the tip credit, nearly doubling labor costs on fragile industry just 205 days from now.

WILS' Morning Wake Up is where host Mike Austin and Harbor's John Sellek talked about President Biden's speech and goals for the last 6 months of his term, and how VP Harris' personal energy meets the current moment of Democratic euphoria about Biden quitting the race.

WJR Radio's Guy & Jamie joined with Harbor's John Sellek to chat about the euphoria Democrats are experiencing. Watching the Milwaukee rally, Kamala Harris is having the most fun any Democrat has had the last 1.5 years. But here comes the campaign.

Harbor's John Sellek joined WJR's All Talk With Jordan and Dietz to discuss JD Vance's speech at the Republican National Convention: “Vance is a skilled storyteller. He walked through issues like the 2nd amendment without checking a box. Grandma had weapons to protect her family. Mission accomplished."

Baldly Bipartisan's Adrian Hemond & John Sellek talked with FOX 2 Detroit about Sen. JD Vance's addition to the GOP presidential ticket.

John Sellek joined WJR Radio's 'JR Morning to discuss how "The Trump team is protecting this opportunity for him to change the tone by keeping him off TV for days since the shooting. They've even let Biden do national addresses twice in the meantime. But they know these speeches only reaffirm Biden's issues, anyway."

Harbor's John Sellek spoke with The Detroit News and said, "Vance is the intellectual touchstone of Trump's MAGA movement and a strong communicator. Vance will raise money and serve as a firebrand draw on the campaign trail."
 

"To those eyeing a post-Trump GOP presidential candidacy, this is likely a bad day," Said Sellek.

"For all the fingers pointed at the GOP for internal divisions, Democrats are struggling with an activist wing that generated roadblocks to their own agenda over and over again," said Sellek. "This may be the biggest roadblock if their replacements cannot take the ball and run forward."

Hemond and Sellek of Baldly Bipartisan visit WJR to discuss the upcoming presidential election. “Biden will try to change the focus of the election, Trump just needs Biden to be on stage to maintain the focus of the election,” said the duo. 

“Michigan servers and bartenders did not ask One Fair Wage to drop into Michigan with millions in dark money trying to blow up the tipping system that earns them around $28 per hour,” John Sellek said. “The fact that a handful of One Fair Wage staffers said they flew into Michigan last night to stand in front of the Capitol speaking to a rally with literally no attendees exposes their complete lack of support.”

The proposal is not favored by all. John Sellek is spokesman for the group Save MI Tips, which represents bartenders and servers in the food industry. “Servers and bartenders who know what they’re doing and provide good service are making way more than minimum wage,” Sellek says. “They self-report at least 28 dollars an hour now.”

Many restaurants are struggling to make a profit as they battle inflation, low traffic, and staffing difficulties. Some restaurants, like Jack Danger’s, are considering moving out of state in the hopes of rebuilding their business. 

Survey results show that many restaurants are struggling right now due to inflation, low traffic, and inadequate staffing. An ongoing court case threatening the tip credit will further harm restaurants as 1 in 5 full service restaurants say they will be forced to close. 

"The endorsement stings because this is not a random political group, it's the on-the-ground police chiefs in every S.E. Michigan city and township who only care about the day-to-day challenges of fighting crime.”

The Cherry on Top - MRLA gets to know more about Northern Michigan's biggest festival and its executive director Kat Paye.

“Each and every tipped employee that I personally know — which are in the hundreds, if not thousands — I don’t know of one that wants this to pass," said John McGee, a restaurant owner in Traverse City.

"Michigan Opportunity applauds the Michigan Supreme Court's ruling," said spokesperson John Sellek, after the court denied the appeal challenging the Board of Canvassers' rejection of the 2024 ballot petition to raise minimum wage.

Harbor's John Sellek spoke with Michigan Advance to discuss One Fair Wage and the Adopt and Amend procedure. Sellek said it was hypocritical for OFW to argue against “Adopt and Amend” and hope the legislature would use that tactic to fix their petition language. “It should withdraw its 2018 lawsuit attempting to kill the legislature’s 2018 adopt and amend procedure,” said Sellek.

Harbor's John Sellek spoke with CBC about the influence of Detroit's blue-collar workers on this year's election. "Donald Trump not only amplified their anger back to them, he told them it was ok to be mad - let it rip. They weren't looking to be rich; they wanted vacation time, maybe a small cottage at retirement. It wasn't asking for a whole lot," said Sellek. 

"It worries me…it would be better to keep it the way that it is. I definitely couldn't make as much money working a different minimum wage job," said servers as they express their concerns about potentially losing the current tip credit.

The Mackinac Policy Conference is viewed as the unofficial start of the 2026 Michigan gubernatorial race, with politicians like Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist, and Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel making moves that hint at potential bids.

Jordan and Dietz of WJR's All Talk discuss the 98th annual National Cherry Festival—held from June 29 - July 6 in Traverse City, Michigan

From cherry jam, cherry salsa and even cherry glasses they’ve got something for everyone. National Cherry Queen, Carmen Beemer and executive director, Kat Paye stopped by to share why you want to pay the cherry capitol of the world a visit.

Harbor's John Sellek joined the MIRS Monday Roundup as Lansing's bipartisan pundits analyzed the recent Trump rally in the Saginaw/Flint/Bay City areathe birthplace of GM and the UAW.

Harbor's John Sellek and WJR's Paul W. Smith talked about the Detroit Chamber's new US Senate poll, the Mackinac Policy Conference and the new trend of putting pickles in...your Dr. Pepper?!

The Shelley Irwin Show welcomed National Cherry Festival's executive director Kat Paye and the National Cherry Queen, Carmen Beemer, to the show where they talked about the different ways to support the Festival Foundation. They also brought in cherry products to show off the versatility of cherries.

The National Cherry Festival will participate in the 2024 Agritourism Summit. “This collaborative summit aims to plant seeds for future growth, which can create a resilient, sustainable and more viable agritourism industry for generations to come,” says Michigan State University Extension senior educator Robert Sirrine.

"We could be losing upwards of at least 30,000 jobs across Michigan inside restaurants," said John Sellek, a spokesman for Save MI Tips. "That doesn't just mean the jobs only go away to get that level of economic damage. It means whole restaurants are going to close because they simply can't operate on that economic model."

"Governor Whitmer and legislative Democrats will now have to settle where economic development dollars are going after some internal battles."

"Publishing a book is a prerequisite for a presidential campaign, said Sellek. "You can't skip it."

Former Attorney General spokesperson John Sellek talks with Tom Jordan about Justice Viviano’s surprise announcement and what it means electorally for the GOP. 

Traverse City Festival Foundation's Kat Paye chats with WJR's Paul W. Smith about a GVSU study showing their events, led by the National Cherry Festival, generate more than $40 million dollars of economic activity in the region & state!

Thomas Pappas & Associates announced the addition of William Schwartz to their political consulting team, serving as their education policy expert.

“Sellek said uncommitted had "to rise above 20% to really matter."

Harbor's John Sellek joined FOX 17 to discuss the uncertainty regarding the Republican nomination for President

Harbor's John Sellek joined FOX 17 to discuss the impact that Michigan's Primary will have on Super Tuesday

“We will learn a lot about the potential longterm impact of the uncommitted campaign by tomorrow.”

“Democrats have a “huge advantage” on ground game Sellek explained, “but I think they know they’re gonna need it – because every single poll shows the energy is behind Trump.”

“Sellek agreed, saying streaming ads are a key component of "sophisticated multi-platform approaches" of political campaigns that also include live phone calls and texting to targeted voters.”

“Rob talks with John Sellek, from Harbor Strategic Public Affairs about an exciting upcoming multi-chamber event. Details below!”

“While only 19% of GOP and 20% of Ind voters support more cash being sent, 91% of all Americans have a negative view of Russia.”

"Six Michigan food banks will be receiving dollars to combat food insecurity. $13,500 in grants from Project DASH from DoorDash can be used for any home delivery-related expense, including securing food, defraying staff costs, powering deliveries or reaching new populations"

The new Michigan Hospitality & Tourism Alliance is off to a great start in pursuit of full #PureMichigan funding to boost Michigan's economy and small businesses everywhere. Chris Moyer of Visit Detroit talked to WPHM Port Huron about boosting one of Michigan's most important industries.

The new Michigan Hospitality & Tourism Alliance is off to a great start in pursuit of full #PureMichigan funding to boost Michigan's economy and small businesses everywhere. Justin Winslow of the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association talked to WKZO about boosting one of Michigan's most important industries.

MRLA's Justin Winslow explains that the Michigan Hospitality and Tourism Alliance was formed to help reestablish the universally praised Pure Michigan advertising campaign, which creates an 11-1 return on investment.

“If we don’t find a way to right this ship this year, and $15 million becomes the accepted, new norm, then we have foregone a real opportunity to protect this industry,” Winslow said. “There’s a sense of urgency.”

“Justin Winslow, president and CEO of The Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association, told Crain's Grand Rapids the group’s initial focus is to advocate for a $50 million budget for the PureMichigan advertising campaign ahead of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 2024-25 budget presentation on Wednesday.”

"After two consecutive incomplete statewide campaigns, highlighted recently by major police groups endorsing someone else, it is hard to see how his financial prospects will improve unless (former President Donald) Trump decides to endorse him," said Sellek."

"Hoekstra was 'entering into a rushed marriage with a base he takes 'as is...His only goal will be to turn the ship in an attempt to create an electoral infrastructure that can help competent state & federal House candidates get those last few yards & nothing else,' Sellek said."

“Hoekstra is a “known quantity to both sides of the party” who knows how to win elections,” Sellek said. 

“I didn’t really hear the words ‘bi-partisan’ on a ton tonight,” Sellek said. 

Harbor’s John Sellek joined FOX17 and Elliot Grandia to discuss last night’s State of the State address, Governor Whitmer’s sixth already.

Harbor's John Sellek joined WILS Morning Wake Up with Mike Austin to preview tonights State of the State address. 

"At least four candidates in the primary have Trump baggage. Amash is the only one unlikely to change his tune as the other three endorse or make room for him."

Guy, Jamie and Lloyd talk with John Sellek about Nikki Haley’s chances after Iowa.

"The race is tied because people don't know any of the candidates well, nor have any of the campaigns started spending to pitch themselves. For the record, the last open seat was polling 39-36 this time in 2014 between Peters & Land."