New Book Chronicles Realities of Running for Office

Benton Harbor, MI – 3/6/2025 – A new political memoir, ‘Small Town Politics’, pulls back the curtain on the unfiltered experience of running for state office in small-town America. Written by former Michigan State Rep candidate Julee Laurent, this eye-opening account details the 2010 campaign to unseat a powerful Republican incumbency, the introduction of the Tea Party into the Southwest Michigan political scene and how that pivotal year in politics led to where we are today.

This deeply personal story is relentless honesty. Laurent kept a detailed journal during the process and wrote the book in the two months that followed the election. It was not released sooner because she thought it would be best to wait until her children graduated from the local school system and moved on to their adult lives. Julee shares the personal and political challenges of being a first-time candidate, a single mother, and an outsider fighting against entrenched power.

“This book isn’t just about my campaign, it’s about what it truly takes to run for office. It’s about the highs and lows; every moment of joy, betrayal, insecurity, paranoia and exhaustion,” says Julee. “I want to inspire others, especially underrepresented candidates, to step up, fight back, and make their voices heard. I want to help them know what they are walking into. The system is designed to keep the little person out, but if enough of us help each other, we can jam the gears until the machine breaks. The fight for democracy isn’t over. It never is.”

‘Small Town Politics’ is a must-read for anyone interested in politics, grassroots activism, and the behind-the-scenes reality of campaigning. It serves as both a cautionary tale and a call to action for those who dare to challenge the status quo.

The book will be available March 15 on Amazon.com and in local bookstores. For interviews, review copies, or further inquiries, please contact Julee Laurent.