Living Across Party Lines
Roommates work for opposing campaigns
Freshmen roommates Mackenzie Flynn and Megan Stinson can argue about anything from shower schedules to trash duty, but they are forbidden from fighting about politics.
It's in their roommate agreement.
As Mount Pleasant waited for the results of the Nov. 4 election, few were as excited to see the outcome as two the freshmen who campaign for opposing State Representative candidates Kevin Cotter, R-Mount Pleasant and Democrat Bryan Mielke.
When Flynn and Stinson signed up for their residence hall assignments without knowing each other; neither one expected a roommate who was as politically active, let alone from the opposing party.On top of all the other standard contentious issues new roommates face, the two political science majors must also find ways to get along despite being on completely opposite ends of the ideological spectrum.
“I’m insanely radical," Stinson said. "It’s difficult because I really want to talk about things a lot."
Flynn, a vested Kevin Cotter supporter, said she tries to avoid arguing as much as possible. She recalls being interested in politics ever since the 2004 election between George W. Bush and John Kerry.
At eight years old, she was already explaining politics to her younger brother.
“I tried to teach him about the difference between Republicans and Democrats," Flynn said. "Then we were at the zoo, and he got to the donkey pen, and I shouted, 'Look mom! Democrats."
Ten years later, she proudly wears her “Flynn ‘44” T-shirt, which she is saving for her own presidential campaign.
Stinson was also acquainted with politics at a young age. She became involved with the Democratic Party after taking an AP government course in high school.
This year, she has been campaigning for Bryan Mielke, a Democratic candidate for Michigan’s State Representative.
“Politics are a huge part of my life, Stinson said. "It’s more than my major, working on the campaign, it’s everything."
She regularly participates in phone banks, walks door-to-door, and is one of Mielke’s Get Out The Vote captains. Stinson also works to ensure people make it to the polls.
Stinson said she wants to be a senator herself one day.
Though the pair may disagree, they are still friends. Both said they were surprised to have met and taken a liking to a political rival.
Flynn says she has some past experience in personal relationships with the opposing party; her boyfriend is a Democrat.
Unlike Republicans and Democrats in Lansing or Washington, Flynn and Stinson share a mutual admiration.
“I’m glad (Stinson) actually has her own opinions and reasoning," Flynn said. "Even though we don’t agree, at least she makes an intelligent case."
It isn’t all perfect though. Flynn returned to her room last week to find that the Kevin Cotter football schedule she taped to the communal fridge had been maimed to rid Cotter’s face from the fridge.
Still, their friendship is unharmed, and they are looking forward to watching the results of the election together.
