Auto Insurance Key to Michigan State Senator’s Gubernatorial Bid

State Sen. Hansen Clarke has jumped into the Michigan governor’s race now that Lt. Gov. John Cherry has decided not to run. Auto insurance reform will likely figure prominently in Clarke’s bid for the governor’s office.

The Detroit Democrat said in a phone interview with the Associated Press that he has filed the paperwork to kick off his campaign.

Clarke has been traveling statewide to promote his plan for cutting auto insurance rates by 20 percent and says he will campaign on lowering costs in many areas for struggling businesses and families.

Although the Michigan House of Representatives passed an auto insurance reform package late last year the state Senate failed to take up the legislation before it adjourned in December. The package would, among other things, have given the insurance commissioner more authority over rates and stripped insurers of their ability to use occupation, education level or credit scores in underwriting or pricing.

Clarke served six years in the House before being elected twice to the Senate. A lawyer, he also ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Detroit. He’s term-limited and cannot run again for the Senate. His term expires at the end of the year.