Michael Sturgis

**Michael Paul Sturgis** (born January 13th, 1985) is an American politician who served as the Senior Senator from Cambridge, and currently serves in the Cambridge State Cabinet. He was the former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from late-March 2021 to April, and served as the US Representative from District Ten and formerly District Seven. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the DNC. Before Michael entered Politics, he served as a voting rights activist and an Active Candidates Movement supporter. He is also currently married to Cory Booker-Sturgis.

## **Early Life**

Michael Sturgis was born on January 13th, 1976 in Queens, New York to Michael Sturgis Sr. and Jessica Sturgis. He attended Georgetown University, and before serving in the US House of Representatives, he was a voting rights activist and volunteered for local Democratic candidates.

## **US House of Representatives**

On February 2nd, 2021st Michael Sturgis was appointed to the vacant seat in the South, in District Seven. He was sworn in immediately, by then-Speaker Hillary Cunningham. Sturgis is known most for proposing the Ranked-Choice Voting Act. It passed the house with all republicans voting Aye except one in a 10-1 vote. It failed the senate, but plans on proposing it again. He ran for re-election unopposed winning 90% of the vote. He was sworn in for a second term becoming House Majority Leader, and his caucus gained 4 seats in the midterms, re-gaining control of the House. Sturgis was selected to become the second-ranking position among House Democrats serving with Benjamin Venus as Whip. He was sworn in on February 22nd working closely with Speaker Cunningham. During his tenure, he was a sponsor for The Government Purging Acts of 2021, The FGDRA, The Fair Tax Act and the PNCRA. He decided to run for House in District Ten in his home state after many Democrats encouraged him to run against controversial candidate Benjamin Venus. Sturgis won with 63% of the vote and was sent to Washington DC for a third term. Outgoing Representative Rick Fitzpatrick encouraged him to run for speaker after many Representatives did not approve of the other two candidates. After GOP Leader Robert Abdullah dropped out of the Speaker race, Sturgis was the front-runner. He was elected as Speaker of the House on March 22nd, 2021 after Cunningham resigned due to her presidential victory.

## **Speakership**

Michael Sturgis took oath immediately after his win in the speaker vote administered by Acting Speaker Robert Abdullah. With a Republican Majority in the House, Sturgis promised to be bipartisan and work with his fellow republican colleagues. In fact, he chose GOP Leader Robert Abdullah to be his SPT. At the time, He was the current Speaker of the House, and currently served as the 5th Speaker of the House.

Some of the bills that passed under his speakership were:

NNEA, Extinction Prevention Act of 2021, American Criminal Justice Enhancement Act of 2021, Sandy Hook Gun Law Act of 2021, Foster Care Improvement Act, and The True American Prosperity Act. The House also 10-0 passed Harry Bennett to the office of the Vice-Presidency. Sturgis is one of the most bipartisan speakers, being elected in a republican majority as Speaker.

In the Season 5 Election, he lost the Speaker race to his SPT Sebastian Morales-Talero, in a very close election. Sturgis respected Talero, and wished him good luck as Speaker. Sturgis said in his Speaker farewell speech, he is going to propose three bills.

## **Senate Career**

Michael Sturgis was elected in a close election against the incumbent inactive Senator, Jeanne Shabeen. He currently serves all of Cambridge. He has written two bills in his career, and were passed by unanimous consent in Both Chambers, and are awaiting to be signed by the President, Brett Cawthorn. His first bill he wrote as Senator for Cambridge was establishing the KKK as a terrorist organization, and stated why he thought the KKK is one. The bill received Democratic and Republican support. He also co-authored an Immigration Reform bill with a "Bipartisan Five." He thought that the Immigration System needed major reform, He co-authored the bill with: Pres. Cawthorn, Sen. Romney, Sen. Scott and Rep. Booker. He decided not to run for re-election and thought that all his work has been done, and wasn't planning on running for any political office anytime soon.

**Committees:**

Armed Services (Chair)

Oversight (Chair)

Defense (Ranking Member)

Veteran's Affairs (Ranking Member)

Indian Affairs (Member)

Rules & Administration (Member)

## **Gubernatorial Campaign**

Michael Sturgis launched a write-in campaign for Governor on July 6th, 2021. He got advice from his fellow Democrats which included Former VP. Williams, Spkr. Booker and Sec. Henderson. He decided to run because none of the Democrats liked either candidate. He decided to run because he wanted to end the chaos and partisanship. The former governor claimed the Lieutenant Governor (and Sturgis' major opponent) of bribery. John Trump was fired, and Mason Windsor left (the current Governor.) The Governors of Cambridge were playing "musical chairs" according to Sturgis, and he wanted to end it. The new governor Benjamin Venus was a do nothing governor. Sturgis recieved endorsements from a lot of Republicans. They included Secretary Hermlock, Justice Halifax, Lt. Gov Letseska, Rep-Nom. Terry Walker and Rep-Nom. Kelly Davies. He was grateful for these and stated that this is already bipartisan start. He wasn't that confident being a write-in campaign, but he thought he could pull it off. His other opponent, Chris M. was a moderate republican. He dropped out and Michael Sturgis announced him as his Lieutenant Governor. He would make history becoming the first unity ticket to win the Cambridge Gubernatorial race. His campaign focused on Equality, Bipartisanship and his experience in the Senate. Trump and Sturgis ran a civil campaign. Michael Sturgis received the Democratic Nomination and therefore was going to be on the ballot. His chances of winning increased. There was a poll taken, and 90% of the poll voters were voting for Sturgis. The election night has came, while Trump and Sturgis were posting rallies. They were both confident of their respective campaigns. At 5:48PM, Trump was the declare winner. He thought that he wouldn't win, and Sturgis did too. This was very sad news for the Sturgis campaign but he stated in his concession speech that this fight isn't over, and a new one is just starting. Trump offered Sturgis the position of Secretary of Commonwealth in his cabinet and accepted.

There was a red wave, with very little amount of Democrats in congressional seats. Sturgis ran for DNC Deputy Chair, and won unopposed. He is working with Lucas Underwood and Cory Booker to build back the Democratic Party and it's reputation. Sturgis has a lot of time open now and has been talking about a possible House or Gubernatorial campaign. You'll have to wait and find out..