Daniel J. Morey
From Usgovsimulation
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| Senior Fellow for Homeland Security, Rockefeller Foundation | ||||
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| In Office: 2021 - Present | ||||
| Preceded by | Position Created | |||
| Succeeded by | Incumbent | |||
| Great Lakes Senator | ||||
| In Office: 2019 2011 - 2017 | ||||
| Preceded by | Orson Pierce (R) | |||
| Succeeded by | Maria Richardson (D) | |||
| Congressman for Michigan's 6th District | ||||
| In Office: 2011 | ||||
| Preceded by | Fred Upton (R) | |||
| Succeeded by | Tonya Schuitmaker (R) | |||
| 53rd Michigan Attorney General | ||||
| In Office: 2007 - 2010 | ||||
| Preceded by | Mike Cox (R) | |||
| Succeeded by | Thomas Blair (R) | |||
| Member of the Michigan State House | ||||
| In Office: 1998 - 2006 | ||||
| Preceded by | Robert Jones (D) | |||
| Succeeded by | Larry DeShazor (R) | |||
| Born | September 28, 1962 Andrews Airforce Base, Wiesbaden, Germany | |||
| Political Party | Democrat | |||
| Spouse | Elizabeth Morey (née Evans) since 2016; Carry Morey (née Thompson) 1981 - 2015 | |||
| Children | Matthew, Isabel, Emma | |||
| Profession | Attorney | |||
| Religion | Roman Catholic | |||
Daniel James Morey (born Sep. 28, 1962) is a U.S. politician, currently working as Senior Fellow for Homeland Security at the Rockefeller Foundation. He is also the former Senior United States Senator from the Great Lakes (2019 & 2011 to 2017) having served the region for seven years. Before he served as United States Representative for the State of Michigan's 6th Congressional district (2011), 53rd Michigan Attorney General (2007 - 2010), Member of the Michigan State House of Representatives (1998 - 2006) and Assistant U.S. attorney (1990 - 1993).
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Early Life and Family
Childhood and Early Life
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| Young Daniel Morey, 1966 | |
Daniel J. Morey was born on September 28, 1962 on on Andrews Airforce Base, Wiesbaden, Germany, the son of Maria Morey (née Rücker - German citizen), a translator working for the U.S. Airforce and Sean Morey (U.S. citizen), who was a military officer stationed at Andrews Airforce Base in Wiesbaden, Germany. He attended primary school on base and a German highschool. As one of the key moments in his life, Daniel Morey, always mentioned the year 1973 when he (age 13) was visiting Washington with his family and other military families from Michigan and briefly met with President Ford. In 1978 he spent a summer in Michigan with his grandparents and met Carry Thompson from California, whom he fell in love with. Morey had to return to Germany for two more years of school and graduated from a German public school before permanently returning to the United States in 1980. Thereafter, he worked days in the local post office, and nights at a car assembly plant in Detroit.
Family
On March 2, 1981, at St Joseph Catholic Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Daniel and Carry got married. The couple first lived in Detroit then moved to Kalamazoo when Daniel and Carry both enrolled at Western Michigan University. Having lived in Paw Paw for many years the Morey's moved to Blomfield Hills in 2013. Carry studied medicine and completed her degree at Michigan State University. Dr. Carry Morey owns a private practice in Kalamazoo, MI. Carry's family originally came from California. After her divorce in 2015 she returned to Newport Beach, CA. There her family owns one of California's largest wineries, operated by Carry's sister as well as the Greenwich Group, one of the nation's largest real estate development groups, chaired by Carry's father Reginald Thompson. While Daniel Morey is a devout Roman Catholic his ex-wife is a devout Jew, a religion both Matthew and Isabel chose for themselves while Emma chose her father's roman catholicism. His second wife is anglican.
Daniel and Carry have three children, Matthew J. Morey (*1987), Isabel M. Morey, M.D. (*1990), Emma M. Morey (*1996). Matthew, the oldest and only son, attended public schools in Kalamazoo and after graduation in 2005 enrolled at the University of Notre Dame. In 2009 Matthew completed his B.A. in Business Administration and enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley for grad-school, pursuing a Masters degree in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management. He graduated in 2011 with his Masters degree and works for his grandfather's real estate business in Newport Beach California. Isabel graduated high school in Paw Paw in 2008 and enrolled at Michigan State University where she completed med-school in 2012, working on her residency which she completed in 2015. The same years she got engaged to Logan O'Connell, brother to former Massachusetts Congresswoman Nessie O'Connell. Isabel also enrolled at Harvard Medical School in 2015 to complete her PhD. Emma first attended high school in Paw Paw and later in Bloomfield Hill, MI. She graduated in 2014 and enrolled at the Stella Adler Academy of Acting in Los Angeles, California. Former Idaho Congressman Daniel Garrison, a close friend of Senator Morey is also the godfather to Matthew Morey.
Daniel Morey has two older brothers and a younger sister. The oldest Morey brother, Thomas (*1958) had a promising career as minor league baseball shortstop which ended abruptly when he injured his trowing arm. He then moved to Los Angeles where he entered police academy and joined the force. He moved up to become detective for the LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division until in 2006 he left the LAPD, rumored to have ben sacked from his job as a homicide detective because of a drinking problem. The same year his wife, actress Jennifer Morey filed for a divorce. Thomas moved to the small town of Paradise, MA where he accepted a position as Chief of Police. According to himself he has been dry ever since.
The second Morey brother, Maxwell (*1960) entered police academy after high school and worked for the Detroit Police Department since. There he works as detective for the Robbery-Homicide Division. He lives in Detroit with his wife and two children.
The youngest of the four Morey children, and only girl, is Elisabeth (*1970). After high school Elisabeth enrolled at University of Notre Dame and later Yale Law School where she completed her law degree. She has her own legal practice in Chicago, IL and Newport Beach, CA where she lives with her husband Caleb Cohen.
Daniel Morey's father Sean, Veteran of two foreign wars, tragically died in 2001 at the age of just 61 due to cancer. Maria Morey lives in South Haven, Michigan.
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| Elizabeth Morey née Evans, 2016 | |
In 2015, without much public attention Daniel filed for divorce from his long-time wife Carry and in spring of 2016 married Elizabeth Evans, who immigrated to the States from Wales in 2015. Daniel and Elizabeth kept the house in Detroit while his wife left to return home to California. In a 2016 interview given by Daniel, his ex-wife Carry and his new wife Elizabeth, Daniel and Carry stressed it was a mutual divorce and that they would remain close friends.
Family Background
Most notably Senator Morey is related to former Arkansas Representative and Gulf Coast Governor Candidate in 2010, Daniel Walker Morey, who is his cousin. Through the Arkansas Morey family Daniel is also related to the McCoy family of Texas. The Senator's father, Sean Morey (born 1940, died 2001) was born in Chattanooga, TN to Daniel J. Morey Sr. (born 1877, died 1964) and Rebecca Morey. Sean was the first Morey to leave the South after his marriage to the German translator Maria Morey, whom he met being stationed at Andrews Airforce Base in Germany, taking on a job in Detroit.
The Morey family has a long tradition in public service. While Sean Morey served as an airforce officer for most his life, his father Daniel J. Morey Sr. had been a Navy officer (serving during the Spanish–American War, the Philippine–American War, the Boxer Rebellion and World War One) and Mayor of Chattanooga, TN for twelve years (1938 - 1950). Senator Morey's great grandfather Jonathan Morey (born 1836, died 1907) fought in the civil war on the side of the Confederated States of America and was Congressman for Tennessee's Third Congressional District (1888 - 1898). During the Second War of Independence, Jonathan Morey served as commanding officer of the army of East Tennessee and later accompanied General Robert E. Lee in his campaign to defend Virginia. It was also Jonathan Morey who married into the family of General Lee in 1866. His wife Ann Morey (neé Lee) was the daugther of George Washington Custis Lee, son of Robert E. Lee and Mary Anna Custis Lee who was daughter of George Washington Parke Custis, son of Eleanor Calvert, daughter of Benedict Swingate Calvert, son of Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore, son of Lady Charlotte Lee, daughter of Charlotte Lee, Countess of Lichfield, illegitimate daughter of King Charles II of England. The Morey family can be traced back all the way to the old world, more precisely to Scotland. It was William Henry Morey (born 1734, died 1788), Daniel Morey's great great great great grandfather who immigrated from Scotland in 1764. Residing with his wife and family in Virginia William Henry Morey participated in the War of Independence fighting in the battle of Yorktown among others.
Daniel Morey's family on his mother's side (Maria Morey) resides almost exclusively in Germany where his mother was born and raised.
On the side of Carry Morey the family currently resides mostly in New York and California where her father Reginald Thompson owns and chairs the successful Greenwich Group, one of the State's largest real estate development firm. Carry has one sister who also resides in California. The Thompson family can be traced back to English settlers who arrived in the new world as early as 1650.
Elizabeth's family has its roots thoroughly in Wales, where she was born. After high school she enrolled at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK where she obtained her B.A. in social work. Elizabeth immigrated to the United States after her divorce to make a fresh start and with the help of her new husband funded and owns a place dedicated to providing the children of greater Detroit with a safe place to grow up. Elizabeth and Daniel first met while she was a student at UEA in Norwich, UK. Daniel would later say "Liz was my first and true love".
Eduaction, Law Career and other business ventures
Higher Education
Having saved enough money working day and nights in Detroit, seven days a week, Morey entered Western Michigan University becoming the first member of his family to go to university.
He later transferred to Michigan State University, where he earned a double degree in philosophy and political science in 1987, as well as a scholarship to Harvard law school. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Harvard in 1989.
Following college, Daniel was also member of the Individual Ready Reserve of the United States Air Force and retired with the rank of Captain.
Law Career
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| Assistant U.S. attorney Morey, 1990 | |
Morey was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan in 1990. He worked as an assistant U.S. attorney from 1990 to 1993, successfully prosecuting bank robberies and other cases. Morey was also the campaign manager for Republican Michigan Governor John Engler's reelection campaign in 1994.
In the second half of the 1990s Morey worked as an attorney, with law offices in Lansing, Kalamazoo and Washington, DC, handling personal injury claims and defending people accused of white collar crimes. He also accepted an appointment as member of the Appellate Court Nominating Commission for the State of Michigan (1995–1997).
His clients included the German mining group and Japan's Toyota Motors Corporation. Morey has served on various corporate boards. He also did legal work and served on the board of directors for a large Michigan engineering firm.
In the late 2000s Daniel and his wife invested into a new casino development in Casino. The Moreys also own three of the family vineyards of Mrs. Morey's family in California.
Political Career
Michigan House of Representatives
Morey and his wife moved from Kalamazoo to Paw Paw in 1998. The same year he was elected to the Michigan State House of Representatives.
As member of the Michigan House Daniel took a strong stance against Governor Jennifer Granholm and established himself as an expert on economic policies. He fought for lower taxes and deregulation for small businesses. One of his key initiatives was the Renew Tourism in Michigan Initiative which was designed to renew the State's attraction for tourists. He was re-elected handily throughout his time in the State House, enjoying great popularity in his home district. In 2002 he was elected Minority Leader in the State House, a position he held until his retirement from the State House in 2006.
Michigan Attorney General
Following his retirement from the Michigan State House of Representatives Morey campaigned successfully for the position of Michigan Attorney General, a position he held until 2010. He was urged by many Republicans in his state to pursue the vacant position and after months of persuasion he agreed to run. He defeated his Democratic Opponent by 3% points, delivering a large upset to the Granholm administration.
As Attorney General Morey fought hard to enforce existing laws and to strengthen law enforcement troops. With his brother serving with the Detroit Police Department he gained inside on police routine and worked hard to give Michigan police what they needed to enforce Michigan's laws. This lead to his high popularity amongst law enforcement troops. He also took a strong stance for continuing the war on drugs while creating programs to support drug addicts and to support their struggles to become clean.
On many occasions Morey had strong disagreements with Governor Granholm but nonetheless he enjoyed great popularity in both parties as he was always seen as a man always willing to talk to both sides.
Congressional Career
In 2011, following a vacancy of the congressional seat in his home district, Morey successfully campaigned in a special election for the U.S. House of Representatives and served as Michigan's 6th Congressional District's representative for about half a year before being appointed to the vacant Great Lakes Senate Seat. Following the sudden resignation of Senator Morrison just a month after Morey had been sworn in, he moved up in Seniority to become the Great Lakes Senior Senator.
First Term in the Senate
2011 - 2013
In 2011 Governor Allum appointed Congressman Morey to fill the vacant seat as Great Lakes Senator. The Senator's agenda was focused on renewing America's economic strength, supporting General Motors, creating better living-conditions for America's soldiers and protecting America's environment, especially in the Great Lakes. With the new Striving Readers Initiative the Senator also began his fight for the largest literacy initiative in well over a decade. Senator Morey also was the only member of Congress to openly call for military intervention to save the three American teenagers who had been taken hostage by terrorists in Mexico.
Notable legislation authored by Senator Morey which was signed into law during the 2011 - 2013 session includes the Morey Military Pay Improvement Act which provides a 1.0 percent increase in the rates of military basic pay for members of the uniformed services above the pay increase proposed by the Department of Defense, as required by the United States Code, so as to ensure at least a minimum pay increase of 4.4 percent for members of the Armed Forces, further narrowing the pay gap that exists between the military and private sector pay scales. For his staunch fight for this act the Aerospace and Defense PAC, America's leading National Security think tank, pronounced the Senator to be "a Friend of the American Soldier" for fighting that "the commitment that Washington made to our soldiers is not cast aside at the first opportunity." Senator Morey was the only Washington politician to receive that honor.
Another legislation signed into law during the Senator's first term in office was the Beaver Basin Wilderness Act of 2012 which designated specified land and inland water within the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan as wilderness and as a component of the National Wilderness Preservation System, which shall be known as the Beaver Basin Wilderness.
The Senate also passed the Establishing the Center for the Study of Women and Workplace Policy Act which seeks to establish pay equity for women in the workplace and for that purposes seeks to direct the Secretary of Labor to make a grant to a public university to establish the Center for the Study of Women and Workplace Policy. Aim of this is to compile a comprehensive study to find ways to effectively create total pay equity for women in the workforce. The bill also takes into account the Panel Study of Income Dynamics housed at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Further the House passed Senator Morey's New Capital Investment Incentives Act which seeks to provide incentive for major capital investment across the United States through exempting the net taxable value of all property of a taxpayer in excess of three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) located within a single county from property taxation and any special assessment, but only to the extent that such property constitutes a new capital investment (investment of at least $500,000). Another bill authored by the Senator and passed by the Senate was the Great Lakes Safe Drinking Water Act which is designed to prevent acid mine drainage into the Great Lakes and so too keep the drinking water of the entire region clean and safe. This bill was passed by the Senate just before the end of the session after Senator Morey successfully pushed for unanimous consent.
The most notable debate performances of Senator Morey during his first term include the debate on the Locally Mandated Drinking Age Act during which the Senator took a passionate stance for keeping the national drinking at at 21 and the debate on the Religious Liberty Sustainment Amendment, a bill sponsored by Senator Morey, during which he fought for every America's right to freely express their religion in public.
During his first term Senator Morey joined the newly formed Common Sense Conservative Group, a political action group within the Republican Party dedicated to common sense policies rather than the purely partisan approach. The Senator also joined the Caucus for American Education Reform, seeking reform of America's education system through making the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) stronger, more effective, and less intrusive.
Throughout his first term in the Senate, Senator Morey maintained one of the highest activity records, overall having been the fourth most active Senator in the Senate, the most active Great Lakes Senator and the second most active Midwest Senator, closely behind Senator Jameson of Illinois.
During his first term Senator Morey served on both the Senate standing committee on Domestic Affairs (DAC) and the Senate standing committee on the Judiciary (S-JUD).
Second Term in the Senate
2013 - 2015 session
After his successful re-election in late 2012, Senator Morey began his second term in office (a full six year term) in January of 2013. With bills such as the "Bad Polluters Act of 2013", the "Morey Great Lakes Water Protection Act" and the "Reduce Pollution in the Great Lakes Act" the Senator continued his fight for a clean and safe environment. Mr. Morey also sponsored the Senate version of the bi-partisan "Lake Champlain Freshwater Renewal Act", another example of his dedication to safe and clean drinking water.
Other legislations introduced by the Senator include the "Improving Outreach to America's Heroes Act of 2013", which seeks to provide better outreach to Veterans, the "Kowalchuk-Morey Economic Growth Stimulation Act", which the Senator drafted with the Democratic Florida Senator Kowalchuk, as well as the re-introduced version of the "Religious Liberty Sustainment Amendment."
In mid-2013 a region wide poll showed Senator Morey to be the most popular Midwest Senator, with a job approval of 53% and only 31% disapproving of the Senator's work (16% said to neither strongly agree nor disagree with Senator Morey's performance). The poll concluded that the Senator had made "a name for himself in the Great Lakes, with his willingness to work across party lines and his very public presence making him well known."
The same poll also revealed that Senator Morey, the Senior Republican in the Midwest, also was seen as the most powerful Senator from the Midwest.
Another important issue of the 2013 - 2015 session remained to be the struggles of America's auto industry. In mid-2013 Senator Jackson P. Rockefeller (D-OH) hosted a bi-partisan U.S. auto summit in Ohio to which Senator Morey was invited as special guest.
In 2014 Senator Morey intensified his fight to clean up the Great Lakes and to support the U.S. auto industry. He also worked with Governor Kennedy on the regional level, passing a bill ensuring better education for children with disabilities. In mid-2014 a region wide poll showed that Senator Morey had solidified his lead as most popular Midwest Senator with a job approval of 55% (+3) and only 28% (-3) disapproving of his work. The polls analysis concluded that the Senator "has strong bipartisan credibility and a fairly high profile" and that his "positions are closely in line with regional Republicans, and even those who don't share his ideology at least find him likable and respectable."
2015 - 2017 session
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| Senator Morey meeting voters in New Hampshire, 2016 | |
Senator Morey maintained his great popularity with the electorate throughout the 2015-2017 session despite his staunch opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) which he believed to "rid the American worker of one of the most fundamental rights: the right to a secret and free vote."
Despite several attempts by Democratic Junior Senator Merrilin to use Senator Morey's opposition to the EFCA to harm his reputation it remained unchanged, leaving him to be the most popular Senator in the entire Midwest.
In 2016 the Senator appeared in Iowa and New Hampshire sparking speculations about a possible Presidential campaign with the first polls seeing him as a serious contester should he decide to join the race. After only a week of speculation Sentor Morey addressed reporters in his home state of Michigan saying that he was not setting up a Presidential run but would continue to raise important issues.
Senator Morey was able to pass several of the bills he sponsored during the session, most notably the No Child Left Behind Reform Act which passed with 23 votes in favor and only two against. The NCLB Reform Act was hailed as one of the most important educational reform bills in decades. Another bill sponsored by Senator Morey which passed the Senate was the bi-partisan Monroe Act which sought to renew America's commitment in the Western Hemisphere and to especially return stability to Mexico.
Other bills sponsored by Senator Morey during the 2015-2017 session include the New Capital Invenstment Incentives Act, the Morey Veterans Reintegration Act, the Great Lakes Icebreaker Replacement Act, the Freedom and Fairness Restoration Act of 2016 as well as the Mexican Accountability Act.
The Senator also co-sponsored the following bill: Military Pay Act of 2014; Pakistan Stability Act; Disabled Veteran Stamp Act; Veterans Jobs Opportunity Act; Make College Affordable Act of 2013; United Nations Accountability Act; Federal Debt Reduction Act; Paycheck Fairness Act; Reformed Border Patrol Act.
2016 Presidential Election
After having conducted a speaking tour through New Hampshire and Iowa in early 2016 speculations arose around a possible presidential run of Senator Morey which he quickly ended by stating that he was not seeking the nomination for President.
As the year progressed Senator Morey was the last remaining Senior Republican not to make an official endorsement although he had met with both Governor Pizzuto and House Majority Leader Smith. According to sources close to the Senator Mr. Morey sought to endorse his old friend Daniel Smith who then dropped out of the race.
Without having made an endorsement the conventions approached and on the third day of the Democratic National Convention Daniel Morey made a surprise appearance as key-note speaker officially endorsing Jack Rockefeller for President.
"Our first President, George Washington once warned the American people that the spirit of party could be the worst enemy of our democracy and enfeeble our government's ability to do its job. I think it is safe to say that his words are just as true today as they were back in his days. In fact I would say that in these days we are probably living through his worst nightmare in the capital city that bears his name" said the Senator.
"...you may ask what is a life-long Republican like me doing at a Democratic convention? The answer is simple: I'm here to support Jack Rockefeller because the well-being of our country matters more than party affiliation. I'm here tonight because Jack Rockefeller is the best choice to bring our nation together and lead the United States forward once again."
Senator Morey stressed that the 2016 election was no ordinary election and that much was at stake. Following his speech the Senator left the Republican Senate caucus and declared his intend to serve out the rest of his term as an independent. He also announced that he will retire in 2018 following the completion of his term to "enjoy my new life with Elizabeth", as he said.
In early 2017 Senator Morey suffered a mild stroke and as result resigned his seat in the Senate. He recovered quickly from the stroke however and accepted a position as advisor to the Democratic National Committee.
2018 Midterm Elections
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| Senator Morey returns to Washington, Jan. 2019 | |
In an unexpected move Senator Morey announced in mid 2018 that he would be seeking to return to the U.S. Senate as Democratic candidate. He gave a passionate speech in Detroit outlining the principles of his campaign and stressing the destructive and dangerous policies of the Republican party as prime cause for his return to the political stage.
Following his retirement Morey had worked as political advisor to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and as adviser to several members of Congress such as former New York Congressman Daniel McCree. In early 2018 he was approached not only by the DNC but also by several committees set up throughout the Great Lakes with the intend to draft Senator Morey to run for election once again. Only a week before the FEC deadline, Daniel Morey filled the official paperwork to run for another six year term. "It was a hard decision to make being torn between an obligation to my health and my family and the obligation to the people of the Great Lakes" he later said in an interview. "Daniel has been a servant of the public all his life and when the call reached him once again he had to answer. It wouldn't have been my husband had he not answered it" Elizabeth Morey said in the same interview.
The Republican Party had chosen a last-minute candidate themselves and had nominated Clifford Skridlow, a small town mayor from Michigan. It was an interesting choice as Skridlow certainly was not a typical Republican just as Morey was not a typical Democrat.
When campaign funding numbers were released it came apparent that Morey had been able to raise a significantly larger amount than his opponent. Morey had over nine and a half million dollars ready to fund his election, including donations from liberal PAC's such as the Sierra Club or the ACLU as well as donations from conservative PAC's such as the Christian Coalition. Mayor Skridlow on the other hand had only been able to raise little more than two million dollars himself which quickly projected a fiscal crisis on the campaign unless the Republican National Committee would step in to fund their candidate.
At the beginning of campaigning the issues and problems of both campaigns became apparent. Skridlow suffered from low name recognition compared to the former Senior Senator of the region and was seriously underfunded. Morey was facing the issue of his party switch as well as his 2017 resignation. Early polls showed a large number of uncommitted voters, with 37.1% saying they would vote for Morey and 35.2% saying they would vote for his Republican opponent.
As the campaigns progressed both sides quickly turned negative. Morey hammered his opponent for being inexperienced and for having lost touch with reality when Mayor Skridlow claimed Morey had received "half a billion dollars" in PAC donations during almost every single public appearance he made. Skridlow on the other hand hammered Morey for having switched parties for having raised such large donations in such little time.
When final polls were released only a few days ahead of election day the numbers showed that Morey had been able to significantly widen his lead. Days before election 53.9% of voters said they would vote for Morey while 45.7% said they would vote for Mayor Skridlow. A top political analyst summed this change in polls up with the following words: "What happened? This race went from something close to a dead heat within the pre poll's MOE to favoring Morey by over 8 points at the half. Taking some license with alliteration, there are three reasons - money, mistakes and Morey - perhaps not necessarily in that order."
Morey had been able to make the issue of his party switch disappear and had been able to use his extensive record and name recognition to his advantage. His opponent on the other hand faced a campaign completely out of funds weeks before election day and received no support from his party as far as his financial situation was concerned.
One Washington analysts commented on the race by saying that, "Skridlow doesn’t give up easily. Rather he tried to put as good a face possible on what really was an unmitigated fiscal disaster by trying to turn the tables back on Morey. He opened and then repeated through several subsequent events an attempt to paint Morey as indentured to special interests. Perhaps that strategy might have worked, especially with the card played by a non-traditional candidate, but that chance faded with the wild-eyed claims. Skridlow painted the monetary disadvantage a result of a half billion (yes, with a “b”) dollar special interest money grab and himself pledged that he never accepted special interest money. The problem for Skridlow was that the half billion claim just didn’t stick. Morey protested a bit, but people simply didn’t buy the story. By the time Skridlow shifted gears, he was out of money and people stopped listening."
The analysts continued by saying that, "Morey faced his own potential for trouble early in the race. While his campaign wasn’t exactly rife with cash, he seemed to sense Skridlow’s coming financial crisis and wisely avoided the temptation to overspend. He mixed up his events across all three states on a nice variety of topics targeting a split of Dems and indies mainly in Michigan and Minesota while blowing quickly through Wisconsin." He then added that, "The party switch issue was old news in the Great Lakes and generally few other than the most partisan of GOP voters cared. On the other hand, the resignation from the Senate was a little more difficult to explain away. Skridlow simply has little to no chance without a cash infusion or a huge Morey mistake. Morey finds himself firmly seated in the driver’s seat at the half with a substantial monetary advantage."
As the Skridlow campaigned faced complete financial breakdown its only hope was a cash infusion from the Republican party which never took place. Morey continued his campaign and addressed the issue of his resignation by saying that "it was a mistake" as he now saw that "there was no strong voice left representing the people of the Great Lakes."
On election day Morey was able to win more with more than eight percent, winning election to the Senate again. In January of 2019 he was sworn in to serve the people of the Great Lakes as their Senator once again, this time as a Democrat.
Opinion Polls
2012
Approval Rating
48% - Approve 34% - Disapprove 28% - Unsure/No Opinion
Commentary: Newer to the Senate than his associates from the Wabash Valley, the Senator's still fairly popular.
Hypothetical MW Governor matchups:
Morey-Kennedy (47-53) Morey-Jameson (50-50) Morey-Johnson (51-49) Morey-Ferejohn (53-47)
Hypothetical Great Lakes Senate matchup:
Morey-Ferejohn (54-46)
2013
Approval Rating
53% - Approve 31% - Disapprove 16% - Unsure/No Opinion
Commentary: Sen. Morey's making a name for himself in the Great Lakes, with his willingness to work across party lines and his very public presence making him well known.
Hypothetical MW Governor matchups:
Kennedy-Morey (52-48) Winters-Morey (48-52) Jameson-Morey (50-50)
Who is the most powerful Senator from the Midwest?
24% - Morey 22% - Jameson 12% - Larson 09% - Vithoulkas 33% - Unsure
2014
Approval Rating
55% - Approve 28% - Disapprove 17% - Unsure/No Opinion
Commentary: Morey has strong bipartisan credibility and a fairly high profile. His positions are closely in line with regional Republicans, and even those who don't share his ideology at least find him likable and respectable. If he was a football player, he'd be: Jason Witten.
2016
Approval Rating
55% - Approve 36% - Disapprove 09% - Unsure/No Opinion
Commentary: His recent stance on the highly publicized EFCA hasn't set well with the powerful unions in his home state, but Morey had built up enough bipartisan credibility long beforehand to shield him somewhat from the barbs. While he remains an influential figure and by far the Midwest's most well-liked Senator, his base has shifted slightly -- as of late, a greater proportion of his support has come from the right than in years past.
Election Campaigns
Campaign Logo's and Slogans
2012
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| The official 2012 campaign banner | |
Slogan: "Get More With Morey"; "Believing in the Great Lakes Spirit"
Endorsements and Funding
2012
Senator Morey's election campaign against Secretary Ferejohn was endorsed by the following Public Action Committees:
- Aerospace and Defense - Club for Growth - The American Petroleum Institute - The Christian Coalition
Senator Morey's election campaign against Secretary Ferejohn was supported by the following Public Action Committees:
- Sierra Club - AFL-CIO
Funding
Senator Morey was able to raise $2,718,000 with his fundraising efforts prior to the election. In addition he was able to raise $3,000,000 thanks to his incumbency status. The Morey campaign received a total of $3,750,000 from Public Action Committees. These divided as follows:
Aerospace and Defense: $1,500,000 Sierra Club: $1,000,000 The American Petroleum Institute: $750,000 The Christian Coalition: $500,000
As elections began the Senator was able to use $10,668,000 for his election efforts. With his opponent bowing out of the race early the Senator donated $1,294,000 to the Republican National Committee. After having paid his campaign expenses (staff, traveling, accommodation, position papers etc.) the warchest of Senator Morey contained $5,176,000 which he will be able to use for future election campaigns.
2012 Senate Election
In late 2011 Senator Morey announced his intention to seek a full term as Senator back home in Michigan by giving a passionate speech and by touring the Great Lakes region. His original opponent withdrew in 2012 and the Democratic Party chose the Secretary of the Treasury Cameron Ferejohn to challenge the popular incumbent Senator. At that time the Secretary had already been exposed of having been untruthful to the American people through Congressional hearings concerning the budget crisis of 2012. Further Secretary Ferejohn had been indicted by the Supreme Court as two cases had been brought against him and President Jack Magruder concerning the President's veto of the Government Operations of FY2013 act.
Senator Morey received strong support during the months prior to elections and was able to raise significantly more funds that his opponent. In addition Senator Morey received endorsements and support from a great variety of Public Action Committees, both conservative and liberal ones, while his opponent received no endorsements and no support. The Senator was endorsed by the Aerospace and Defense (A&D) PAC, America's leading defense think tank; by America's leading economic think tank the Club for Growth and by the Christian Coalition. He also received support from the AFL-CIO, representing America's workers; and received strong support from the Sierra Club, America's leading PAC for environmental issues.
Only a few weeks before election day, when the Morey campaign had created incredible momentum Secretary Ferejohn suspended his campaign, handing Senator Morey an uncontested election victory and so a full term as Senior Great Lakes Senator.
In Kalamazoo, Michigan, the Senator celebrated the victory with his family, supporters and campaign staffers. In his speech he expressed his gratitude. "I'm completely overwhelmed and deeply moved" the Senator said. "The Great Lakes have spoken, and I am deeply humbled by the trust and the confidence of my fellow citizens."
"With that trust comes a duty to serve all the citizens of the Great Lakes" Senator Morey continued. "And I will do my utmost best to fulfill that duty every day as your Senator." He thanked his supporters, his campaign staff and his family dedicating the election victory to his deceased father. In his speech the Senator also addressed the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who are currently serving overseas and at home. "Allow me to give special thanks to all our men and women of the Great Lakes who are fighting for our freedom and security and that of others elsewhere tonight" he said. "We are extremely proud of you and this Senator will never let you down. That's my special promise to you."
Senator Morey stressed his determination to continue fighting for the Great Lakes to "restore America's economic strength, secure thousands of jobs and create many thousands of new jobs, reform our outdated tax code, strengthen the Social Security for the next generation, make public schools all they can be" and promised that he will fight to "uphold our deepest values of family and faith." The Senator also promised that he will fight to strengthen emerging democracies such as in Afghanistan, "so they can grow in strength and defend their freedom."
Mr. Morey concluded his speech with a special note to the State of Michigan and its people. "It was you who first started me on this journey and you have known me the longest. When I was looking for a home, when I was desperate you took me under your wing, gave me work and love and the opportunity to live the American dream. I will forever be grateful to you for all of this."
Post Political Life
Only months into his term Morey suffered a major stroke while playing golf in Northern Virginia in 2019. He was hospitalized for several weeks and feel into a coma. Upon recovery beginning slowly, he was barely able to move his arms and couldn't make use of his legs at all. He officially retired from the Senate and left the United States, together with his wife to her native of Wales where they purchased a country cottage near Aberystwyth on the Welsh coast. He eventually recovered from the stroke and was able to resmue regular duties such as attending to his golf games. In early 2020 he began working as special consultant to the British government but mostly played golf.
In 2021 he was asked to join his long-time friend Jackson Rockefeller at the Rockefeller Foundation where he assumed the position of Senior Fellow for Homeland Security. Mr. Morey currently lives in Washington, D.C. and Bloomfield Hills, MI - near the home of the Rockefeller Foundation for Public Policies and Global Studies but also retained his home in Wales.
The same year he also began to write articles for the New York Times, his first front-page being the obituary for former President Jack Magruder followed by a front-page article entitled "A time for Statesmen" discussing the armed conflict in the caucasus region.
