Updates About Elections

State Board of Education President Pamela Pugh has shifted her political aspirations by withdrawing from the U.S. Senate race to pursue the soon-to-be vacant seat left by retiring U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee in Michigan’s 8th U.S. House District. Pugh’s decision to shift gears removes her from the Senate race and positions her as the inaugural Democrat to officially vie for the 8th District seat.

Simultaneously, Matthew Felan, president and CEO of the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance and incumbent president of the Bay City school board, has signaled contemplation of a potential run for the same congressional seat.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson released the candidates that will appear on the 2024 presidential primary ballot. Under state law, anyone who was advocated by the national news media to be a candidate qualifies to be on the ballot.

For the Democratic Party, President Joe Biden, Dean Phillips, and Marianne Williamson will be represented. The Republican Party will have Doug Burgum, Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Asa Hutchinson, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Donald Trump listed. Candidates have until December 8 at 4 p.m. to withdraw their name or file a nominating petition if they would like to be added to the ballot.

The Michigan presidential primary will be on February 27, 2024. Voters can vote for their desired candidate or may choose “uncommitted” as an option. Ballots will be sent by January 13, 2024 for those who are military or overseas. Absent voter ballots are to be printed by January 18, 2024.

Representatives Lori Stone (D-Warren) and Kevin Coleman (D-Westland) both won their respective mayoral elections on Tuesday, November 7. The two local elections will impact the Michigan House as it creates an even split of 54 Democrat to 54 Republican seats. The two Representatives will soon resign from their current positions as they transition to their new roles as Mayor. In response to the loss of two Michigan Representatives, the Governor will hold special elections for the open seats. Amid the change, Representative Joe Tate (D-Detroit) will continue to act as the Speaker of the House for the remainder of the term. The requirement that legislation must by approved by a majority adds a layer of complexity in the now evenly split Michigan House.

In other election news, Michigan voters in Kalamazoo, East Lansing, and Royal Oak all voted for ranked choice voting for municipal elections. Ranked choice voting allows voters to rank their preferred candidates, meaning the top two candidates would ultimately receive all of the votes without splitting the votes three ways. Although the state does not allow ranked choice voting at a municipal level, there have been efforts in the past to change this voting system. Ann Arbor has previously voted for ranked choice voting as well.

The eight marijuana proposals were not favored by voters in the November 2023 elections. Most of the marijuana business proposals were concentrated in Oakland County, including Rochester and Birmingham. Voters rejected marijuana business to establish and build their facilities. Yale and Gross Pointe Park also voted against the establishment of marijuana centers.