Summary
The Michigan onAir Hub supports Michiganders to become more informed about and engaged in local, state, and federal politics while facilitating more civil and positive discussions with their representatives, candidates, and fellow citizens.
- Michigan is one of 50 state governance and elections hubs that the US onAir Network is providing to help reinvigorate US democracy. This post has short summaries of current state and federal representatives with links to their complete Hub posts. Students curate post content from government, campaign, social media, and public websites. Key content on the Michigan Hub is also replicated on the US onAir nations Hub at: us.onair.cc.
- AMichiganstudents will be forming onAir chapters in their colleges and universities to help curate Hub content. As more students participate and more onAir chapters are started, we will expand to include more state and local content as well as increase the number of aircasts – student-led, livestreamed, online discussions with candidates, representatives, and the public.
Find out more about Who Represents Me in Michigan
Learn more about the US onAir Network
News
The base content in each post in this Michigan onAir Hub has been updated as of 12/20/23. In addition to the eight posts on the home page, in depth posts on each US House member and posts on Michigan government and elections have been started. These posts have been shared with the US onAir Hub and will updated in the US onAir automatically when they are updated in this hub.
If your university or nonpartisan organization (such as a government focused research center, citizen engagement program or a League of Women Voters chapter) is interested in assisting the US onAir network to help curate new issue posts or other posts on this Hub and moderate the forums in each post, contact Ben Murphy at Ben.Murphy@onair.cc.
We are also supporting college students to start an onAir chapter on the their campus to coordinate the curation and moderation of posts especially on state and local representatives and government.
About
All hub content in onAir hubs is free to the public. Hub ontent is under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial license which permits content sharing and adaptation by nonprofit organizations as long as proper attribution is given to its author(s) and is used for non-commercial purposes. Content and moderation guidelines reinforce our commitment to fact-based, comprehensive content and civil and honest discourse.
To participate in aircast and post discussions, email usdemocracy@onair.cc and include your first name last name, and zipcode. Your real name and any other profile information will not be displayed unless you choose to do so. Your personal information is not shared with any other website or organization.
Hub membership will enable you to:
- Participate in issue and interview aircasts (student-led livestreamed discussions);
- Interact directly with post authors and curators giving them feedback, content suggestions, and asking questions;
- Ask questions, make suggestions, and give endorsement to representatives
Web Links
State Representatives
Michigan is located in the Midwest region of the USA with Lansing as its capital. Gretchen Whitmer (D) is Governor.
The Michigan legislature has 38 Senate members and 100 House members.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Current Position: Governor since 2019
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position: State Senator from 2011 – 2015; State House from 2001 to 2006
In 2013, Whitmer gained national attention for a floor speech during a debate on abortion in which she shared her experience of being sexually assaulted. For six months in 2016, she was the prosecutor for Ingham County.
While in college she became an intern for state representative Curtis Hertel, which convinced her to study law. She received her Juris Doctor from Michigan State’s College of Law and began practicing law at the Dickinson Wright law firm’s Lansing offices
Featured Quote:
The recent flooding is just one example of the extreme weather events we’ve seen in the last few years. The disaster relief funding @MichiganDOT has applied for will help keep Michiganders safe on our roads.
OnAir Post: Gretchen Whitmer – MI
US Representatives
Senator Debbie Stabenow
Current Position: US Senator since 2001
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Positions: US Representative from 1997 – 2001; State Senator from 1991 – 1994; State Delegate from 1979 – 1991
Other Positions: Chair, Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Upcoming Election: Not running
Stabenow became the state’s first female U.S. senator after winning the 2000 election. tabenow chaired the Senate Agriculture Committee from 2011 to 2015 and again since 2021. She became chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee in 2017.
Featured Quote:
The first @January6thCmte hearing has started and the police who responded that day are testifying. I am grateful for their service and bravery that day.
Debbie Stabenow Praises Biden-Harris Administration’s Record At Six Months
OnAir Post: Debbie Stabenow – MI
Senator Gary Peters
Current Position: US Senator since 2015
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Positions: US Representative from 2009 – 2015; Commissioner of the Michigan Lottery from 2003 – 2007; State Senator from 1995 – 2002
Other Positions: Chair, Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee;
Chair, Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight and Ports
Before his election to Congress, Peters served in the United States Navy Reserve, spent 22 years as an investment advisor, and worked briefly in academia. He was appointed commissioner of the Michigan Lottery by Governor Jennifer Granholm, serving from 2003 to 2008, when he resigned to successfully run for Congress.
On January 28, 2021, Peters was selected as chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee for the 2022 election cycle. He was later selected again for the 2024 cycle.
Featured Quote:
We must keep working together to pass infrastructure legislation. This is about spurring job creation, strengthening our economy, supporting Michigan businesses and investing to upgrade our roads, bridges and broadband access.
OnAir Post: Gary Peters – MI
Jack Bergman MI-01
Current Position: US Representative of MI 1st District since 2017
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position: Marine Corp from 1969 – 2009
District: 15 counties of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and 20 counties of Northern Michigan in the Lower Peninsula.
Upcoming Election:
Bergman served as commanding general of the Marine Forces Reserve and the Marine Forces North. He also served as a naval aviator, flying rotary-winged aircraft such as the CH-46 and UH-1, as well as fixed-wing aircraft such as the T-28 and KC-130.
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations- Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
Featured Quote:
Unregistered lobbying activity is, in itself, enough to warrant investigation. But lobbying efforts on behalf of the @StimsonCenter raises grave concerns of ongoing foreign government influence operations that undermine our Nation’s legislative process.
Introducing Rep. Jack Bergman
OnAir Post: Jack Bergman MI-01
John Moolenaar MI-02
Current Position: US Representative of MI 4th District (formerly the 2nd) since 2015
Affiliation: Republican
Former Positions: State Senator from 2011 – 2014; State Delegate from 2003 – 2008
District: Western Michigan. Barry, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Ionia, Isabella, Lake, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, Oceana, and Osceola counties, as well as portions of Eaton, Kent, Midland, Muskegon, Ottawa and Wexford counties.
Upcoming Election:
Moolenaar is a chemist, and worked at Dow Chemical Company for eight months before entering politics.
Featured Quote:
Congress should never allow the money of hardworking taxpayers to be used to end the lives of unborn children. We should continue to protect unborn children and keep the Hyde Amendment. #HydeSavesLives
OnAir Post: John Moolenaar MI-02
Hillary Scholten MI-03
Current Position: US Representative of MI 3rd District since 2023
Affiliation: Democrat
District: greater Grand Rapids and Muskegon areas, including portions of Kent, Muskegon, and Ottawa counties. Redistricting removed Barry, Calhoun, and Ionia counties.
Upcoming Election:
Scholten was a judicial law clerk and attorney adviser for the Board of Immigration Appeals from 2013 to 2017. When the Obama administration ended, she moved back to Grand Rapids and became a staff attorney for the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center.
OnAir Post: Hillary Scholten MI-03
Bill Huizenga MI-04
Current Position: US Representative of MI 4thDistrict (formerly the 2nd) since 2011
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position: State Delegate from 2003 – 2009
District: covers much of the southwestern corner of the state, including Kalamazoo, Holland and Battle Creek.
Upcoming Election:
Born to a family of Dutch Americans, Huizenga is the co-owner and operator of Huizenga Gravel Company, a family business in Jenison, Michigan. In the early 1990s, he worked in real estate. He left real estate in 1996, becoming an aide to U.S. Representative Pete Hoekstra.
Featured Quote:
Both governments should follow the science and drop all travel restrictions for travelers between the United States and Canada who are fully vaccinated travelers or provide proof of a negative PCR test.
OnAir Post: Bill Huizenga MI-04
Tim Walberg MI-05
Current Position: US Representative of MI 5th District (formerly the 7th) since 2011
Affiliation: Republican
District: all of Branch, Cass, Hillsdale, Jackson, Lenawee, Monroe (except the city of Milan), and St. Joseph counties, southern Berrien County, most of Calhoun County, and far southern Kalamazoo County.
Upcoming Election:
From 1973 to 1977, Walberg served as pastor at Grace Fellowship Church in New Haven, Indiana. As the longest tenured member from Michigan, Walberg is the current Dean of its delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Featured Quote:
Pleased two of my bipartisan @HouseCommerce bills passed the House this week. These bills take important steps to strengthen America’s energy security and ensure our nation remains on the forefront of wireless innovation.
OnAir Post: Tim Walberg MI-05
Debbie Dingell MI-06
Current Position: US Representative of MI 6th District (formerly the 12th District) since 2015
Affiliation: Democrat
District: In 2022, the district was redrawn to be centered around Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County, as well as western and southern Wayne County, small part of southwestern Oakland County, and the city of Milan in Monroe County
Upcoming Election:
She is the widow of John Dingell, her predecessor in the seat, who holds the record as the longest-serving member of Congress in U.S. history. She worked as a consultant to the American Automobile Policy Council. She was a superdelegate for the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Dingell is active in several Michigan and Washington, D.C., charities and serves on a number of charitable boards. She is a founder and past chair of the National Women’s Health Resource Center and the Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).[4] She is also a member of the board of directors for Vital Voices Global Partnership.
Featured Quote:
Today, the bipartisan @January6thCmte is holding its first hearing with @CapitolPolice & @DCPoliceDept
officers whose lives were threatened by violent insurrectionists. We owe it to them to get the clear facts about that dark day.
OnAir Post: Debbie Dingell MI-06
Elissa Slotkin MI-07
Current Position: US Representative of MI 8th District since 2019
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2023 US Representative for 8th
District: based in Lansing and stretches into Detroit’s outer western suburbs.
Upcoming Election: Running for US Senate
A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served as a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) analyst and Department of Defense official. Slotkin was acting assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs from 2015 to 2017.
Her family farm was part of Hygrade Meat Company, founded by her grandfather, Hugo Slotkin. Hygrade was the original company behind Ball Park Franks which is now owned by Tyson Foods.
OnAir Post: Elissa Slotkin MI-07
Dan Kildee MI-08
Current Position: US Representative of MI 5th District since 2013
Affiliation: Democrat
Candidate: 2023 US Representative for District 8
Former Position: Genesee County Treasurer from 1996 – 2012
District: centered on the city of Flint, and includes all of Saginaw and Bay counties, almost all of Genesee County, and portions of Midland and Tuscola counties.
Upcoming Election: Not running in 2024
At age 18, Kildee became one of the nation’s youngest elected officials when he was elected to the Flint Board of Education in 1977.[5] In 1984, Kildee was elected to serve on Genesee County’s board of commissioners. He served on the board for 12 years, including five as chair.
In 2002, Kildee helped create the Genesee County Land Bank, a Washington-D.C. based nonprofit organization focused on urban decay. In 2009, Kildee co-founded and served as president of the Center for Community Progress, a nonprofit focused on urban revitalization.
Featured Quote:
Thank you to these brave police officers. Thank you for protecting the lives of members, staff and visitors on January 6th. Thank you for defending our democracy. Thank you for your heroism & bravery to testify before Congress and bring the truth to the American people.
OnAir Post: Dan Kildee MI-08
Lisa McClain MI-09
Current Position: US Representative of MI 9th District (formerly 10th) since 2021
Affiliation: Republican
District: located in The Thumb and northern portions of Metro Detroit of the State of Michigan. Counties either wholly or partially located within the district include: Huron, Tuscola, Sanilac, Lapeer, St. Clair, Macomb and Oakland.
Upcoming Election:
McClain worked at American Express for 11 years, and from 1998 to 2019, served the Hantz Group.
Featured Quote:
As “that woman,” no I won’t apologize for calling out the double standards that you have set @SpeakerPelosi.
OnAir Post: Lisa McClain MI-09
John James MI-10
Current Position: US Representative for District 10 since 2023
Affiliation: Republican
District: Lower Peninsula of Michigan. It consists of southern Macomb County, Rochester and Rochester Hills in Oakland County.
Upcoming Election:
John James was the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018 and 2020. He served as a board member of the Michigan Council for Future Mobility, Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council and National Veteran Business Development Council. He serves on the Detroit Workforce Development Board.
In 2012, James joined James Group International, where his father, John A. James, was the CEO. James Group is a global supply chain management service company; James became its director of operations, and eventually became president of James Group International and CEO of its subsidiary, Renaissance Global Logistics.
OnAir Post: John James MI-10
Haley Stevens MI-11
Current Position: US Representative of MI11th District since 2019
Affiliation: Democrat
District: north of Detroit, comprising most of urbanized central Oakland County.
Upcoming Election:
She worked on Hillary Clinton’s and Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns in 2008, beginning with Clinton before the primary.
In 2009, Steven Rattner hired Stevens to join the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry, and she served as his chief of staff. She worked for the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute in Chicago, returning to Michigan in 2017.
Featured Quote:
Today, my amendment with @repmeijer to the @nist reauthorization bill passed through @HouseScience. This addition to the bill will provide funding to expand MEP center’s workforce development efforts and will promote the resiliency of domestic supply chains!
OnAir Post: Haley Stevens MI-11
Rashida Tlaib MI-12
Current Position: US Representative of MI 13th District since 2019
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position: State Delegate from 2009 – 2014
District: centered around the cities of Detroit and Dearborn
Upcoming Election:
Tlaib became the first woman of Palestinian descent in Congress, the first Muslim woman to serve in the Michigan legislature, and one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress (the other being Ilhan Omar). Tlaib is a member of The Squad, an informal group of eight (four until the 2020 elections) U.S. representatives on the left wing of the Democratic Party.
After leaving the state legislature, Tlaib worked at Sugar Law Center, a Detroit nonprofit that provides free legal representation for workers.
Featured Quote:
One time survival checks don’t cut it when the bills haven’t stopped coming in every month. We need monthly, recurring, $2,000 survival checks
OnAir Post: Rashida Tlaib MI-12
Shri Thanedar MI-13
Current Position: US Representative of MI 13th District since 2023
Affiliation: Democrat
District: Wayne County, Michigan.
Upcoming Election:
Thanedar served as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 2021 to 2023. He was also a candidate in the Democratic primary for governor of Michigan in the 2018 election. His political platform included a $15 minimum wage, public education reform, infrastructure improvements, and increased government transparency.
He took out a loan to buy Chemir in 1991 for $75,000. By 2005, Chemir’s revenues were $16 million and it employed 160 people, including 40 PhD chemists.
OnAir Post: Shri Thanedar MI-13
More Information
Wikipedia
Michigan has a republican form of government with three branches of government: the executive branch consisting of the governor of Michigan and the other independently elected constitutional officers; the legislative branch consisting of the House of Representatives and Senate; and the judicial branch consisting of the one court of justice. The state also allows direct participation of the electorate by initiative, referendum, recall, and ratification.[1]
Legislative branch
The Michigan Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is organized as a bicameral institution consisting of the Senate, the upper house, and the House of Representatives, the lower house. Article IV of the Michigan Constitution, adopted in 1963, defines the role of the legislature and how it is to be constituted. Legislative acts are published in the official Acts of the Legislature and codified in the Michigan Compiled Laws.[2] The Michigan Legislature meets in the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. Michigan is one of ten states to have a full-time legislature.[3][4]
- State Officers Compensation Commission
The state officers compensation commission, consisting of seven governor appointed members, exists to set salaries for the governor and other elected officials, unless a two-thirds majority in both legislative chambers turned it down.[5]
- Independent redistricting commission
The independent redistricting commission draws up legislative and congressional districts after each census. The 13 non-office holding members consisting of five independent members, four self-declared Democrats and four self-declared Republicans, would be selected randomly by the secretary of state from submitted applications.[6]
A Commission on legislative apportionment was written into the 1963 state constitution. However, the same state constitution provided for land weighting factors for state senatorial districts. Such weighting factors were found unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court in Reynolds v Sims (1964) for violating the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution.[7] Because land weighting factors were interdependent and not severable from the commission on legislative apportionment, the commission was also invalidated by the Supreme Court’s decision in Reynolds v Sims (1964). This commission was transferred to the Department of State under the Executive Organization Act OF 1965.[8] The state legislature has apportioned districts after census until 2020 as the November 6, 2018 general election proposal 2 created a constitutional independent redistricting commission.[6]
Executive branch
Michigan’s elected executive officers are:[1]
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For elected single person executives, term limits of two terms were put into place in 1993.[1] Since 1966, the lieutenant governor is elected with the governor on the same ticket.[9] The lieutenant governor is the president of the Michigan Senate[1] and acts as the governor when the governor is unable to execute the office, including whenever the governor leaves the state. The governor is the principal executive officer with the power of veto, appointment, reorganize executive government, budget proposal and other powers.[1]
The two other elected constitutional executives of the state are the secretary of state and attorney general. Both are elected separately for four-year terms concurrently with the governor/lieutenant governor slate. The elected officeholders are second and third in the line of succession respectively and may act as governor during disabilities or absences from the state. The attorney general is the state’s chief law enforcement officer, executive agencies legal counsel and leads the Department of the Attorney General. The secretary of state and its department handles automobile-related licensing, elections and record holding.[1]
Departments
The 1963 Constitution requires that all permanent agencies or commissions, except universities, be assigned to one of a maximum of 20 principal departments.[1] The principal departments are the Department of:[10][11]
- Agriculture and Rural Development
- Attorney General
- Civil Rights
- Corrections
- Education
- Environment, Great Lakes and, Energy
- Health and Human Services
- Insurance and Financial Services
- Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
- Military and Veterans Affairs
- Natural Resources
- State
- State Police
- Labor and Economic Opportunity
- Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential
- Technology, Management and Budget
- Transportation
- Treasury
Type 1 agencies are under the administration of the agency but operate independently of the principal department in carrying out its function and in most cases created by a type 1 transfer.[12] Regulations are published in the Michigan Register (MR) and codified in the Michigan Administrative Code (MAC or AC).[13][14][15]
Education
The state board of Education is a statewide elected board that head the Michigan Department of Education which oversees all education except that of the state universities.[1]
Michigan’s state universities are immune from control by the legislature, many aspects of the executive branch, and cities in which they are located; but they are not immune from the authority of the courts. Some degree of political control is exercised as the legislature approves appropriations for the schools. Furthermore, the governor appoints the board of control of most state universities with the advice and consent of the state Senate. Only the board members of the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University are chosen in general elections.
Medical Marijuana
In Michigan, medical and recreational cannabis is regulated by the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency, formerly called the Marijuana Regulatory Agency.[16] Initially, when the law was passed, the state ran a Bureau of Marijuana Regulation within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.[17]
Judicial branch
The court system consists of the Michigan Supreme Court, the Michigan Court of Appeals as the intermediate appellate court, the circuit courts and district courts as the two primary trial courts, and several administrative courts and specialized courts. The Supreme Court administers all the courts. The Michigan Supreme Court consists of seven members who are elected on non-partisan ballots for staggered eight-year terms, while state appellate court judges are elected to terms of six years and vacancies are filled by an appointment by the governor, and circuit court and district court judges are elected to terms of six years.
Local government
Michigan is largely divided in the same way as many other U.S. states, but is distinct in its usage of charter townships. Michigan ranks 13th among the 50 states in terms of the number of local governmental entities.
The state is divided into 83 counties, and further divided into 1,240 townships, 276 cities, and 257 villages. Additionally, the state consists of 553 school districts, 57 intermediate school districts, 14 planning and development regions, and over 300 special districts and authorities.[18]
County government
Michigan has home rule for counties, meaning there is flexibility for the organization of county government and number of elected officials.[19]
Some common elected officials include:
- County Commissioners
- County Clerk
- County Treasurer
- Sheriff
- Prosecuting Attorney
- Register of Deeds
- Drain Commissioner
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h “Chapter 2: About State Government” (PDF). Michigan In Brief: 1998–99. Public Sector Consultants, Inc. 1999.
- ^ Browne, William P.; VerBurg, Kenneth (1995). Michigan Politics and Government: Facing Change in a Complex State. Politics and Governments of the American States. University of Nebraska Press. p. 349. ISBN 0-8032-6088-1. LCCN 94-18928.
- ^ “States with a full-time legislature”. Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
- ^ National Conference of State Legislatures. “Full- and Part-Time Legislatures”. National Conference of State Legislatures. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
- ^ Harrison, Wilma L. (ed.). “2: About State Government” (PDF). Michigan in Brief: 2002–03. Public Sector Consultants. p. 9. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
- ^ a b Gibbons, Lauren (November 6, 2018). “Voters Not Politicians declares victory for Proposal 2”. MLive Lansing. Mlive Media Group. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
- ^ “Constitution of Michigan of 1963 Article IV Legislative Branch Section 2 & 6” (PDF). www.legislature.mi.gov. State of Michigan. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
- ^ “Michigan Legislature – Section 16.132”. www.legislature.mi.gov. State of Michigan. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
- ^ Dunbar, Willis F.; May, George S. (1995). Michigan: A History of the Wolverine State (3rd ed.). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 585. ISBN 0-8028-7055-4. LCCN 95-13128.
- ^ MCL 16.104
- ^ “Executive Branch”. State of Michigan.
- ^ “T”. Glossary. Michigan State Budget Office. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
- ^ Browne & VerBurg (1995), p. 349.
- ^ Administrative Rules in Michigan: A Manual of Style and Procedures (PDF). Michigan Legislative Service Bureau. 2003. pp. 6–8.
- ^ Koscielniak, Kimberly (January 2002). “Finding Michigan Agency Materials” (PDF). Michigan Bar Journal. 81 (1).
- ^ “Michigan consolidates cannabis, hemp regulatory bodies”. Financial Regulation News. February 17, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
- ^ https://www.michigan.gov/mra/-/media/Project/Websites/mra/Laws-Rules-Other-Resources/R_333101_to_R_333133_1_671719_7.pdf?rev=0cc914ae729243fe80800930a8fc2658&hash=FA0D16D4D11FE3AE49A99C606A19B493 [bare URL PDF]
- ^ “Michigan’s System of Local Government” (PDF). Michigan Manual 2005-2006. pp. 715–718. Retrieved May 15, 2007.
- ^ “Elected county executives and county home rule in Michigan: Part one”. MSU Extension. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
External links
