Aug. 21, 2026 | This Week in Government: Democrats Cheer Brinks Pick for Benson LG: ‘An Unlikely Story Only She Would Write’

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In June 2012, a Kent County Democratic leader described a nonprofit employee assistance center worker and former school paraprofessional, a political rookie mounting a write-in bid after former Rep. Roy Schmidt left his party high and dry by becoming a Republican minutes before the general election filing deadline.

“To some degree, running a fresh face against someone like Schmidt has an appeal,” Jim Rinck said 14 years and change ago of his candidate, whom he admitted wasn’t much involved in local party politics but was “very well versed on the issues.”

On Wednesday, in 2026, that candidate – Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids – stepped onstage at a brewery in Grand Rapids alongside Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the Democratic nominee for governor and was introduced for the first time as Benson’s pick for lieutenant governor. It is the first time a Michigan ticket for governor and lieutenant governor has featured two women.

More than a few things happened in between. Brinks notched a historic “first” of her own in 2022, when she became the first woman to become a majority leader of the Michigan Senate. This followed a six-year run in the House during a time of Republican control where Brinks took a seat that was once competitive and turned it into a solidly Democratic district. Then she flipped the area’s state Senate seat in 2018.

In an era of politics where a compelling candidate backstory can mean as much (or more) than policy positions, Brinks has the resume: raised on a dairy farm in rural Washington state, her parents were Dutch immigrants who left Europe after World War II. Brinks’s father passed away when she was six, but her mother was determined to keep the farm running and did so while raising five children.

Brinks credited her upbringing for instilling her with sense of teamwork and dedication, which served her well in the Legislature, but said she never thought she’d find herself speaking before a crowd of supporters sporting signs with her name on them as a prospective nominee for lieutenant governor.

“I never planned to run for office. I was happy with my nonprofit work and life with my husband and my children, of course, my three brilliant daughters,” she told the audience in Grand Rapids, many of whom had followed her since the beginning of her political career. “But 14 years ago, when Democrats needed to field a last-minute candidate for my state representative seat, many of my neighbors urged me to run as a write-in candidate, and while I could think of a million reasons not to run, I knew that if I wanted to see things change, I couldn’t wait for someone else to do it. So, I ran a write-in campaign, and with your help, I won.”

In recent days, it was the worst-kept secret in Lansing that Brinks would be the pick. She was one of the early names in the mix.

Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel said Brinks “doesn’t shy away from challenging issues or complex problems; she gets to work and fights to deliver for Michigan,” citing her unconventional path to political leadership as a formative experience that’s made her a shrewd legislator and an ideal choice to be Benson’s right hand.

“Winnie has an unlikely story, and one that only she could write. As Senate majority leader, Winnie has worked tirelessly to make life better for Michiganders across the state – whether it’s cutting $1 billion in taxes for working people, expanding access to healthcare, protecting reproductive freedom, restoring workers’ rights, or investing in our public schools,” Hertel said in a statement. “While John James and Jay DeBoyer stand in lockstep behind Donald Trump’s price-hiking policies, Jocelyn and Winnie will fight to lower costs and raise wages for Michigan families. There is no one better suited to serve as our next lieutenant governor, and Michigan Democrats are fired up to elect Jocelyn Benson, Winnie Brinks, and a Democratic trifecta in November.”

The current occupant of the office, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist III, said he’s “proud to pass the baton to Winnie and welcome her West Michigan values to this team.”

Other groups within the Democratic coalition voiced support and congratulations on Wednesday, including AFL-CIO of Michigan, with which Brinks worked on the legal process to see the nine holdover bills from the 2024 legislative session brought to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s desk before Whitmer ultimately vetoed them.

“Winnie Brinks is a born fighter and the right choice for lieutenant governor. Winnie has been on the frontlines fighting for Michigan’s working class, including her unwavering support in the effort to repeal so-called Right-to-Work and leading the charge on the nine stalled bills,” Michigan AFL-CIO President Ron Beiber said in a statement. “We know we have a partner in Winnie Brinks who will work to protect collective bargaining, bring down sky-high prices and push for legislation that puts workers first – not billionaires. Congratulations to Jocelyn Benson on this historic pick. Now it’s time to win in November.”

Democratic fundraising heavyweight EMILYs List noted the significance of a Benson-Brinks ticket for women in Michigan politics, even as the state comes off eight years of women holding all three of the state’s top executive offices.

“Women have long been at the forefront of delivering Democratic wins and progress in Michigan. Jocelyn Benson and Winnie Brinks each have deep, proven records of standing up to powerful interests, fighting for justice, and enacting real change for Michigan families throughout their time in office,” EMILYs List President Jessica Mackler said in a statement. “The stakes in Michigan could not be higher, and Jocelyn and Winnie are exactly the battle-tested leaders Michigan needs to protect the governor’s office and build Democratic power up and down the ballot. EMILYs List is proud to stand with this historic, women-led ticket as they fight to build a better future for families across Michigan.”

Per the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, there have been four states in which women have simultaneously been elected to and held governor and lieutenant governor roles, the first of which were Massachusetts and Arkansas in 2022. In 2026, Benson and Brinks are the second all-women gubernatorial ticket in the country: incumbent New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is running for reelection alongside former New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams as her lieutenant governor pick.

Benson, speaking to press after she introduced her new running mate, said the nature of an all-female gubernatorial ticket isn’t insignificant to her. The decision to bring Brinks along for the general election, and potentially the next four years, though, went beyond the idea of becoming Michigan’s first women to serve simultaneously as governor and lieutenant governor.

“I’ve been proud to serve alongside the historic trifecta and to see how much you can get done when women are leading Michigan, and that’s why making history today means a lot to me. But also, because as I’ve traveled the state as a candidate for governor and led statewide for the last near decade as secretary of state, I’ve also seen how important it is that every corner of the state is represented,” Benson said. “I’ve learned so much from Senate Majority Leader Brinks about West Michigan, about the importance of strong, competent leadership that’s just focused on results and getting things done… that’s what my choice to have Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks serve as our next lieutenant governor really means. It’s about competent, results-oriented leadership, ensuring that the east side of the state and the west side of the state are represented effectively in Lansing.”

Brinks fits the mold of the usual lieutenant governor candidate with legislative experience. Gilchrist was a rare exception.

Geographic electoral math aside, there’s a symbolic balance that comes from having Brinks, a longtime Grand Rapids resident and Calvin College graduate, on the ticket next to Benson, a Pennsylvanian-turned-Detroiter whose ties to the east side of the state run deep.

But in recent statewide elections, Kent County and its surrounding exurban areas have become places to watch as results roll in – most recently during the Aug. 4 primary, where progressives saw large margins of victory for now-U.S. Senate Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed over U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens and where Benson, running against underdog Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, saw robust turnout despite a less-than-competitive primary.

Brinks was at the vanguard of the Kent County shift, going from a frontline House member in 2012 and 2014 to winning her races by huge margins.

“We learned a lot about Kent County (in the primary) and I have been on the forefront of the changes in Kent County over the last decade and a half throughout my legislative career, so it’s been a really interesting case study,” Brinks said. “I have knocked doors on every single street in the city of Grand Rapids, and Kent County is bigger than that, of course, but I’m very excited to bring their voices to the table and figure out what that means for all of us as we govern. It’s a changing area of the state, and it’s a very exciting spot to be electorally. I’m very optimistic that we’ll see that kind of enthusiasm come through for Democrats on the ticket up and down.”

Rep. Kristian Grant, who represents Grand Rapids in the House, said west Michiganders know Brinks as “a strong, determined leader who never stops fighting for working families.”

“She’s always been a champion for our city, and we’re excited to see her bring that same leadership to the lieutenant governor’s office,” Grant said in a statement. “From leading the legislature through a period of bold change to providing steady leadership during a time of chaos and uncertainty in Washington, Winnie has repeatedly shown what effective leadership looks like. I’m excited to continue working with Winnie and Jocelyn as they build a Michigan where everyone can live, work and succeed.”

Republicans immediately sought to use Brinks’ 14 years in the Legislature against her, citing policies she supported as out of step with Michigan voters.

“Jocelyn Benson and Winnie Brinks are perfect for each other, as two examples of Michigan leaders who consistently failed to deliver and ran their respective branches of government into the ground,” said Gabe Butzke, a spokesperson for Michigan Forward Network. “Benson will now have to spend her time defending the constant failures from the Democrat-led Senate, in addition to the tremendous failures of her State Department.”

As for Brinks and her view of the ticket’s historic status, being the first to do something in politics has, frankly, become somewhat repetitive. If things shake out the way she hopes, she said, it will be less and less noteworthy to see women do what she’s been celebrated for achieving.

“I think that we’ve got the best ticket, regardless of whether we’re men or women, on the Democratic side. It matters to me as a woman; I like to see representation in the highest offices of our land and in our state (and) we’ve seen the work that women have done in the top jobs in our state for the last eight years,” she said. “I have a great deal of confidence that this is going to be something that is not questioned anymore as we move forward.”

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson weighed in on what he is calling one of the top five races in the nation come this November in the 7th U.S. House District, saying it will be a critical win for his fellow House Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett.

Johnson stopped in Lansing on a tour around the state to visit the construction site of the Tower on Grand, which will be in a mixed-use skyscraper and is part of New Vision Lansing, and to campaign with Barrett, R-Charlotte. This is one of the many economic development site visits Barrett has shared with federal partners in the last few weeks. Johnson said Barrett is a work horse for the state and has a great record to reinforce an incumbent win for the district.

Barrett is running against Democratic nominee Will Lawrence, one of the progressive candidates who saw major success during the primary. Johnson criticized Lawrence, saying his agenda was in direct opposition to what Republicans have worked on in Congress, including winding down inflation inherited from former President Joe Biden and cutting taxes.

Johnson claimed Lawrence founded the Democratic Socialists of America chapter in Michigan, and that the organization’s platform was concerning for many Americans: abolishing the border and prisons, removing the president, and running a unicameral Congress, which he said, they believe will allow enough communists and Marxists to get elected to control the chamber.

Lawrence did not start the DSA Michigan chapter but instead founded the Sunrise Movement in Lansing. He has recently been under fire from progressive Democrats for saying he let his DSA membership lapse to focus on district-specific challenges.

Johnson said what Lawrence and his supporters want, which he claims is the government to own everything, is a “dangerous fool’s errand.”

“This is a contrast election, a contrast between common sense, represented by a guy like Tom Barrett, and crazy, and that’s what his opponent represents,” Johnson said. “Those policies are crazy. It’ll be terrible for Michigan, terrible for America, and that’s why we’re very confident.”

The “crazy versus common sense” theme has been prevalent with Republicans during the past few weeks as they shape for a battle of a general election focused on attacking the groundswell of progressive candidates across the state and labeling their policies as socialist or communist.

Johnson said he was “bullish” on his stance that Republicans will keep the U.S. House this November, even if they have “defy history.” However, he touted the slight fundraising advantage the National Republican Congressional Committee has over the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for the first time in a decade and the division in the Democratic party, calling it “almost at the stage of open civil war.”

Johnson emphasized the results of the recent Cook Political Report that expects 211 Republican wins, 205 Democrats, and 19 seats in the middle, one of them being Barrett’s seat.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee did not appoint Lawrence for its 2026 Red to Blue program, which supports candidates in tough races with organizations and fundraising support. The candidates include Sen. Sean McCann, D-Kalamazoo, who has been in the program before, but also newcomer Christina Hines in the 10th U.S. House District, who is facing Mike Bouchard in U.S. Rep. John James’ district.

However, Republicans also face a large obstacle this year: the president’s unpopularity amid high gas prices and anger over the war in Iran. Johnson pushed against the rhetoric, saying instead their winning strategy is highlighting the Republicans’ record.

Instead, he said voters should focus on the productivity of their legislators and the biggest tax refunds and cuts they have seen in years. He brushed off the complaints about Iran, saying the country had to act and Congress is now working to resolve the oil affordability issue that comes along with it.

“I’m convinced, as the president is, as soon as that happens, that we will be able to get stability again at gas prices and hold this down. But we’re in the process of doing that,” Johnson said. “I believe we’re entering the next phase of it, and whether we do it in the next 77 days before the election or not, people understand you cannot turn the government over to radical Marxist communists.”

He redirected his messaging to Barrett, saying he’s “going to get reelected because he’s doing what he said he was going to do.”

Now that the primaries have locked in the contests for November, Gongwer News Service is returning with an update of the House seats most likely to flip in 2026.

Although most of the races in these competitive seats were already set headed into the primary, in a few places, the election clarified the shape of some, especially in the open 54th House District where the preferred Republican candidate lost.

Other factors considered in making this updated list include the noted enthusiasm gap between Democrats and Republicans during the primary. Democrats turned out in full force while Republicans seemed, for the most part, to stay home. We’re also seeing where and how caucus campaign committees and their supporters are spending as we enter the general election proper.

The result is that the top half of our list remains mostly unchanged, with far more opportunities for Democrats than Republicans to pick up seats. There’s been lots of movement in the middle as races have crystalized, and ad spending has clarified where the parties view themselves as vulnerable or ripe for attack. There’s also been some shakeups and new additions to the watchlist while others, given the environment and the primary results, don’t merit mentioning anymore.

1. Primary results spell a big opportunity for Dems in the 54th(unchanged): The open 54thHouse District seat in northern Oakland County has been at the top of our list since January and with good reason.

It’s an open seat in a 50/50 district in a year where the environment favors Democrats. The county has been trending blue in recent years, which also helps the Democratic Party here.

Coming out of the primary, Dems got another boost, with Republicans’ favored candidate, Jeffrey Omtvedt of Bloomfield Hills, losing to recent college graduate Roman Gaskey of Orion Township.

Since the election, Democrats have sounded almost giddy when talking about the opportunity they see with this race.

Democrat Sarah Pounds of Lake Orion had no primary, and she already has a slew of endorsements from officials around Oakland County, EMILY’s List and the UAW.

2. 44thstill likely to be a slugfest (unchanged): The rematch between Republican Rep. Steve Frisbie and Democratic former Rep. Jim Haadsma in the 44th House District also remains at the top of the list.

Frisbie flipped the seat during 2024, in what was the closest House race across the state, and Haadsma has been campaigning hard for the rematch ever since.

Now that the primary is over and the election cycle has officially begun, ads have flooded in for this race. Haadsma and the Democrats are playing to his quirky demeanor while emphasizing issues like healthcare and affordability. Republicans and Frisbie are airing ads that praise his background as a paramedic and paint Haadsma as a “rubber stamp for reckless spending.”

This seat went from Trump +1 in 2020 to Trump +4 in 2024. Whitmer won it by 8 points in 2022, a little better than her 7-point win in 2018. Republican U.S. Senate candidates each won it by a couple points in 2020 and 2024.

The 44th has traditionally gone back and forth. This year’s contest will be a test of the area and Frisbie. Was Haadsma’s loss a fluke due to the top of the ticket in 2024, or can Frisbie hold on?

3. Linting will be tested in the 27th(unchanged): Remaining at three on the list is another rematch between the incumbent who flipped the seat in 2024 and the (former) rep who was flipped.

Rep. Rylee Linting, R-Wyandotte, is seeking her second term, and so is former Rep. Jaime Churches, D-Wyandotte, whom Linting unseated last go around.

This is another race where ads started flying even before the votes from the primary had been tallied. Republicans are working to paint Churches as too liberal and too willing to spend, where Democrats are arguing Republicans are ineffective at solving the problems people care about.

Linting received key bills this term as a Republican lawmaker and spoke out against leadership on the work project cuts, which voters in the 27th District may appreciate. The district was +8.5 for Trump in 2024, while Mike Rogers only carried it by 3.7 points over now-U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin. And it was Whitmer +11 in 2022.

Between the environment, Sen. Darrin Camilleri, D-Trenton, on the ballot this year and Churches’ reputation as a hard worker, Linting has a challenging reelection campaign ahead of her.

She won by 4.23 points in 2024, though, and Republicans have known since the day after she won the election it was a seat they would have to fight to defend.

4. Is Marquette red or blue? (unchanged): Next up on the list, and unchanged from July, is Rep. Karl Bohnak’s seat in the 109th.

Here, again, ads from both sides are hitting the airwaves, beating the drums for Bohnak, R-Deerton, and Democrat Anna Aho Rink, respectively.

The question remains whether Bohnak’s win in 2024 was emblematic of the final shift in this Upper Peninsula district to the GOP or if it was a matter of circumstance and the environmental legislation former Rep. Jennifer Hill could not effectively distance herself from.

The rest of the U.P. is solidly red, but Marquette had long been the spot of blue that kept the 109th with Democrats until Bohnak, a well-known TV weather forecaster, knocked out the Democratic incumbent.

This year, Rink, a former physician’s assistant at the Marquette Planned Parenthood before it closed, is hoping to take the seat back.

This district was Harris +0.2 points, Slotkin +1 and Whitmer +12. It’s up on the list because of the environment and the open question about the shift. Notably, the Michigan Freedom Network began advertising early in the summer to bolster Bohnak, seemingly a recognition he faces a real fight.

5. Dems set to put Schmaltz to the test (unchanged): Also unchanged from our July list is Rep. Kathy Schmaltz, R-Jackson, in the 46thHouse District.

Schmaltz is campaigning for her third term and already had solid name recognition before she took office. Although she’s won the seat twice, this is her first test in a lower turnout midterm, which in recent years favors Democrats.

This cycle, though, Schmaltz will face a strong Democratic candidate, Jan Maino, who lives outside of Jackson proper. This is also the first time Schmaltz will run against another woman. Maino is president of the East Jackson School Board and a mental health therapist. Her husband has union ties as an IBEW electrician.

Ads are already firing here, too, indicating that as of right now, Dems are willing to spend to take this seat, and Republicans think there’s enough cause to spend to defend it.

6. GOP goes after Dem challenging Robinson seat (up from 8): OK, now we get to some changes in the list. Rep. Ron Robinson, R-Utica, seems to have a good handle on his 58thHouse District. But as we’ve mentioned before, it is the first election since he flipped it blue to red. And Republican groups have started attacking his opponent, Katrina Manetta.

Manetta is a first-time candidate with experience in community organizing going up against the one-term incumbent. Both candidates are raising solid money, though Manetta did slightly outraise Robinson according to the most recent reports.

With Manetta on the list of Democrats receiving attack ads from the Michigan Freedom Network recently, it’s a sign there could be movement here. Democrats received 3,605 more votes than Republicans during the primary, another point for Democratic movement here.

Still, on paper, this district is a tough one for the Democrats. It tilts Republican (Trump +13, Rogers +8 in 2024, though Whitmer +10 in 2022), and remember, Robinson unseated a longtime Democratic incumbent by a big margin in 2024.

7. Race for open Miller seat likely to the wire (down from 6): The contest for the open 31stHouse District seat being vacated by Rep. Reggie Miller, D-Van Buren Township, has all the signs of being competitive until the end.

Republican Laura Perry of Dundee is working hard and has been for more than a year. Perry is one of the House recruits Republicans are most excited about. Democratic Milan City Councilmember Shannon Dare Wayne is also working hard. Both are raising big money. Both are bringing in lawmakers and members of Congress to help organize and energize voters.

It’s a 50/50 seat on paper (Biden +1 in 2020 and Trump +2 in 2024) and Miller eked it out in 2024 with President Donald Trump on the ballot. Democrats saw 12,571 total votes during the August primary compared to 7,720 for the Republicans. As is the case elsewhere, Democrats are motivated, which moves it down the list just slightly. But candidates are important and this seat is close on paper, so there’s a chance for Republicans.

8. Dems pushing hard against Thompson in the 28th (down from 7): Democrats are coordinating across Downriver with key seats in the House and Senate up this year. Rep. Jamie Thompson’s is one of them. This is a red-tilting seat Thompson has held onto in good and bad years for the GOP.

But Democrats are pushing hard, and Thompson faces her strongest Democratic foe to date. Brownstown Township Supervisor Sherry Berecz has seen high-profile canvassing events with gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell. With Sen. Darrin Camilleri up for reelection this year, it’s clear there’s some coordination happening between Berecz, Camilleri and Churches in the 27th.

Trump and Mike Rogers won this district in 2024, by a lot. But Whitmer won it in 2022 (so did Thompson). In terms of vote differential between Democrats and Republicans on Aug. 4, the 28th had a slightly narrower gap than some of the other competitive districts. It remains on the list but down slightly.

9. What is going on in Bay City? (up from 10): Rep. Timmy Beson, R-Bay City, is running for a fourth term and besides his first election, when he knocked off an incumbent Democrat, he has won his elections with little fanfare.

We might be reading too much into Bay City’s politics. But the 35th Senate District, which was considered a 50/50 seat heading into 2026, now has a Democratic senator who won a special election by nearly 20 points. U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, is seeking reelection to Congress with an unknown Republican challenger in a district that includes the Beson seat. The 96th House District seems prime for a surprise.

This is of course taking into account Democrats have Bay City Mayor Christopher Girard, who outraised Beson in the latest campaign finance period. Democrats received 12,294 votes here compared to the Republicans with 8,577, even with a GOP primary in the 8th but not a Democratic primary.

Helping Beson is this area has been trending Republican for years (Trump +12 in 2024, Rogers +7, Trump +9 in 2020). Whitmer did carry it in 2022 and 2018, but not by much (5 points).

10. Dems zooming in on Holland (up from the watchlist): Unseating Rep. Nancy DeBoer, R-Holland, from the 86thHouse District is a tall task for the Democrats. But they really like their candidate, Joseph McClusky of Holland.

Democrats are out with ads on McClusky, who also steeply outraised DeBoer in 2026 with almost about $150,000 raised. Benson has put a focus on the seat in her gubernatorial campaign’s work across the state in districts that could flip for the Democrats.

DeBoer is a good fit for the district. She has won it comfortably even as Democrats won at the top of the ticket. But Democrats seem focused here with a candidate who is working in a year the national environment is favoring them. One mark in DeBoer’s favor is the vote differential on Aug. 4 between the Republicans and Democrats in this seat was a miniscule 810 votes, the best Republican primary performance of any competitive House seat in the state.

This seat was Harris +0.5, Rogers +2 in 2024, Whitmer +1 in 2022 and Trump +1 in 2020. You get the idea.

There’s another number, however, that has Democrats watching this seat closely – 44%. That’s the staggering shift in the vote in Democrats’ favor here from the 2014 governor’s race to the 2022 governor’s race. It was smaller from the 2016 to the 2024 presidential race (12.5%). Still, the trend is undeniable. Republicans are lucky to have DeBoer.

We’ll see.

Watchlist

All of these seats (listed in district number order) are a reach but under the right circumstances could flip.

Rep. Jim DeSana, R-Carleton (29th District, new to the list): DeSana is new to the list. He flipped this district in 2022 thanks in large part to redistricting carving away most of the Democratic incumbent’s prior district and a new Republican tilt. It has two completely polar opposite bases. There’s the Democratic territory in the Taylor and Romulus pieces of the district. Then there’s solidly Republican territory in the townships to the south that go into northeast Monroe County.

This was a district Trump won by 13 points in 2024. But Trump’s not on the ballot this year to bring out the low propensity voters in Huron, Ash and Frenchtown townships. This district performs differently in a midterm. Whitmer won it by five points in 2022 with Benson winning it by 10 albeit against an exceptionally weak Republican nominee.

DeSana’s had a rough year, getting a bunch of negative publicity for getting caught on video with the Monroe County Republican Party Executive Committee ripping on the mothering skills of neighboring Rep. Jamie Thompson, R-Brownstown Township. He’s alienated much of the House Republican Caucus, which won’t exactly be enthused about helping him out.

Darian Counts of New Boston is the Democratic nominee after winning a low-profile Democratic primary. He works for Ford Motor Company. He failed to file a preelection campaign finance statement, so the funding of his campaign is unknown. He’s not a candidate who will strike fear into Republicans.

Besides DeSana’s controversies, the other key new piece of information is the primary turnout on Aug. 4. There were 8,516 total votes on the Democratic side compared to 6,620 on the Republican side. Yes, there was a Democratic primary, but it was very low intensity.

Rep. Mark Tisdel, R-Rochester Hills (55th House District, unchanged): Tisdel fits this district well. He’s overcome the top of the ticket going against him twice (in 2020 and 2022). Democrats like their candidate, Alex Hawkins, who actually reported more cash on hand than Tisdel as of July 19, but there aren’t the same signs of life here compared to the other competitive districts. Still, it was 12,613 votes on the Democratic side in the primary compared to 9,423 on the Republican one, so in purple Rochester and Rochester Hills, this will remain a watchlist fixture.

Rep. Tom Kuhn, R-Troy (57th District, unchanged): Guess which incumbent Republican had the most lopsided Democratic turnout against them in the Aug. 4 primary? In something of a surprise, it was Kuhn. There were 8,899 votes on the Democratic side to 5,397 on the Republican side, a spread of 39.4%.

Now, there could be some critical reasons for that signaling Kuhn should not panic. One, this is an area with a large population of Asian-American and Arab-American voters. Statewide data shows those demographics were highly motivated to turn out and vote for Abdul El-Sayed in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. El-Sayed won Troy and Sterling Heights by big margins, so that would have helped boost turnout on the Democratic side. There also was a far more active Democratic primary for U.S. House here in the 10th District than on the Republican side.

Still. One would think Democrats will take a long look at what’s going on here and determine whether Tom Turner of Sterling Heights has a shot against Kuhn, particularly if El-Sayed again produces higher voter enthusiasm in the area.

On paper, this is still a Republican-leaning seat. It was Trump by 19 in 2024 and Rogers by 15. It is a midterm, however, and Whitmer carried it by seven points four years ago.

Rep. Denise Mentzer, D-Mount Clemens (61st District, unchanged): It’ll be a rematch between Mentzer and Republican Robert Wojtowicz in this seat in east-central Macomb County that is 50/50 on paper. Given the environment and how Republicans showed no interest in Wojtowicz in 2024, it’s hard to imagine trouble for Mentzer. Wojtowicz raised all of $550 this year, so it doesn’t look like he’s doing much of anything. But the nature of this seat means Democrats can’t take it for granted.

Rep. David Martin, R-Davison (68th District, down from 9): Democrat Matt Schlinker won his primary, and the Democratic turnout on Aug. 4 was eye-popping, but there’s less outside Democratic activity here – for now – than some other seats. Plus, while Beson and Thompson face top-tier, well-known opponents, Schlinker lacks that same level of name recognition and so far isn’t raising the kind of money to suggest he’s a Democratic priority.

Still, after Kuhn, Martin’s district had the biggest gap in Democratic turnout of any other seat held by a Republican with Democratic turnout topping Republican turnout by 38%, 12,828 to 8,047. That can’t be explained by Schlinker having a low-profile primary and Martin not having one. This was an area where Haley Stevens did well, so perhaps the flood of advertising helped push voters to the Democratic side, but by that much?

This district was Trump +9.5 in 2024, but Whitmer +6.5 in 2022 and Benson +10 in 2022. Martin flipped it in 2020. If there was to be a Democratic wave lifting up longshot candidates in flippable seats, this would be one of the ones to flip.

Off the list

Reflective of the Democratic environment, we’re removing two incumbent Democrats from the prior watchlist as they seem safe bets for reelection.

Rep. Mai Xiong, D-Warren (13th District): There’s just no way Xiong loses without Trump on the ballot to juice Republican turnout in a year where Trump is unpopular. This was a Whitmer +19 and Benson +24 seat in 2022. There was a 45.5% advantage in Democratic turnout here, likely driven by the 10th U.S. House District and a little bit of the U.S. Senate primary. Mark Foster narrowly won the Republican primary.

Rep. Angela Witwer, D-Delta Township (76th District): If this seat goes as it has in the past, Witwer will waltz to reelection, just not by a landslide type margin given how it is on paper. There was a monstrous Democratic turnout advantage in the Aug. 4 primary, 52%, but that was driven by the intense 7th U.S. House District Democratic primary and shouldn’t be overrated. Still, given the issues Republicans have to defend their majority, going on the offense against someone as battle-tested and well-funded as Witwer in a non-presidential year seems highly unlikely. Bill Kaiser won the Republican primary. He’s a former business owner and military veteran.

Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is now a partner in Honigman’s government relations and public policy practice group, the firm announced Friday.

It marks Duggan’s latest move since his tenure as mayor ended, and he withdrew his independent bid for governor earlier this year.

Honigman boasted that during his three terms as mayor, Duggan worked to address some of the state’s most complex issues, including crime, blight, transportation, healthcare, and access to jobs.

“As a transformative public servant and proven leader, Mike will bring extraordinary value to our firm and our clients,” David Foltyn, Honigman Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said in a statement. “Throughout his career, Mike has demonstrated a remarkable ability to solve complex problems, lead large organizations, build consensus among diverse stakeholders, and drive meaningful economic growth. His experience spans government, healthcare, law enforcement, economic development, and public policy, giving him a unique perspective that will benefit clients facing critical business and strategic challenges.”

Duggan will serve as a strategic advisor to the firm and its clients. He will advise on several matters, including complex political and community relations issues.

“After years spent working to build the city of Detroit, I knew I wanted to stay and enjoy the city while finding a way to contribute,” Duggan said. “Honigman is an outstanding law firm that’s been headquartered in Detroit for more than 75 years. I’ve always admired the way their talented attorneys and professionals help their clients solve even the most complex challenges. I’m looking forward to becoming a partner to contribute to the continued growth of another storied Detroit institution.”

Duggan told the Detroit Free Press that he doesn’t plan to be “heavily involved in politics” moving forward.

The Board of State Canvassers approved slight changes to summary language for the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics proposal should it appear on the November ballot during its Monday meeting.

The proposal would prohibit utilities and contractors with over $250,000 annually in government contracts, and people and organizations with connections to these contractors, from making direct or indirect campaign contributions and expand laws regulating spending on political communications.

A one-word change was made to the proposal’s 100-word summary and a change in phrase was made to the proposed caption which appears beneath that summary on ballots, offering a more plain-language contextualization of the proposal without the statutorily required phrases that could be confusing to some readers. The 100-word summary closely resembles what voters who considered signing petitions for the proposal would have seen when presented with it by petition circulators earlier this year and last year.

The changes reflect that government contractors are included in the proposal in addition to regulated utilities.

The approval of the language means MMOP has completed the process to appear on general election ballots should the Legislature not adopt the proposal or present a competing proposal in the coming weeks. A 40-day window for lawmakers to do so began when the proposal was declared valid by the canvassers on July 24.

Elections Director Jonathan Brater attributed the unanimous vote of the three present canvassers – Republican Paul Cordes was not present – on the summary language largely to the fact that he left it much unchanged from what the board already approved in 2025.

“I think it helped that the board had already considered a lot of these issues a year ago when it did the petition language, and generally, when I’m drafting the ballot language, I try to keep it very close to what the board has already approved in the petition language, with the goal being to keep basically those issues that have already been discussed and resolved (and) hopefully have those treated the same way, and I think this largely reflects that,” Brater said. “So, I’m pleased that we were able to get good consensus around the language.”

Brater explained the difference between the 100-word summary and the caption, which was not a required component of the petition summary process but is required for the ballot summary process.

“The caption does need to go on the ballot, but there’s not a caption on the 100-word summary that appears on the petition, so that does require some restructuring because the 100-word limit does not apply to the caption. It does allow a bit more explanation to be added in the caption, which can help you save a few words in the summary because you do also need to add some words to the summary like, ‘should this proposal be adopted’ (which is required by law),” he said. “So you do need to make some changes. The caption enables that. I think it was a good discussion on making sure that the caption was consistent with the rest of the summary as well.”

Brater said although Michiganders are likely to see political advertising and messaging on both sides of the MMOP issue in the final weeks of the general election that seeks to sway their vote, he feels confident in the resources that will be provided by the Bureau of Elections to give voters an informational, impartial base from which to form an opinion.

“That’s the goal, is that it be understandable and clear and obviously impartial, so that the voters understand basically what this proposal is going to do, and then it’s their decision whether they think it’s a good idea or a bad idea,” he said. “Obviously, there’s going to be political advertising that’s beyond all of our control, but you know, all that we can control is what they see on the ballot. In polling places, there is also a poster that’s put up in every polling place that has the full language of the proposal, so voters do have the opportunity to look at it themselves as well. But what we’re trying to do here is obviously follow the statutory requirement and make sure that voters just understand what they’re voting on, so they can make a decision.”

Cambensy approved for ballot in SD-38

The canvassers also voted to deem sufficient independent Senate candidate Sarah Cambensy’s petitions for ballot access as a candidate for the 38th Senate District without party affiliate, granting her a spot on the general election ballot despite objections from challengers.

A challenge to Cambensy’s signatures made via affidavits reasoned that she had signed several sheets as a circulator when she did not circulate them personally.

Cambensy, a former Democratic state lawmaker, made her case for the validity of several signatures before the board, arguing she had been present and in the vicinity of the signers when petition forms had been filled out and that only one form had been signed in error by Cambensy designating herself as the circulator when she was, in fact, not. All but one of the forms were circulated in a social setting in which Cambensy moved between groups of people and discussed her candidacy with signees and handed out petition sheets.

Cambensy also said several of the individuals which swore the challenge affidavits had contacted her to express regret for doing so and said they were not fully aware of the purpose of the affidavits when they stipulated them.

Bureau of Elections staff recommended the board find Cambensy’s petitions sufficient and the canvassers agreed.

“I don’t find that the conduct of the candidate here is so egregious that that her petitions should be rejected,” Democrat Mary Ellen Gurewitz said.

“I’m in agreement with you; I think in order to take that approach, we would have to leave common sense at the door,” Republican board chair Richard Houskamp replied before making a motion to find Cambensy’s petitions sufficient.