January 3, 2023 •
Michigan Legislature Adjourns Sine Die

Michigan State Capitol - By Brian Charles Watson
The 101st Michigan Legislature adjourned sine die on December 28, 2022, after 88 legislative days in session. During the session, lawmakers voted to pass House Joint Resolution R to amend section 10 of article IV of the Michigan Constitution to […]
The 101st Michigan Legislature adjourned sine die on December 28, 2022, after 88 legislative days in session.
During the session, lawmakers voted to pass House Joint Resolution R to amend section 10 of article IV of the Michigan Constitution to require certain disclosures and to modify limitations on terms of office of state legislators.
The resolution requires each member of the legislature, the governor, the lieutenant governor, the secretary of state, and the attorney general to electronically file an annual financial disclosure report by April 15, 2024, and annually thereafter, including gifts, travel payments and reimbursements, and payments to a charity in lieu of honoraria made by lobbyist or lobbyist agent.
The resolution also modifies term limits in section 54 of article IV of the Michigan Constitution to prohibit anyone from being elected as a state representative or senator for terms or partial terms that combined total more than 12 years. The resolution is to be submitted to voters at the next general election and will be effective upon voter approval.
November 11, 2022 •
Michigan Lobby Registration Act 2023 Reporting Thresholds Published

Michigan State Flag
The Michigan Bureau of Elections posted the Lobby Registration Act 2023 Reporting Thresholds, which change every year in January to reflect the change in the consumer price index for Detroit. The registration thresholds for individual lobbyist compensation and for employer […]
The Michigan Bureau of Elections posted the Lobby Registration Act 2023 Reporting Thresholds, which change every year in January to reflect the change in the consumer price index for Detroit.
The registration thresholds for individual lobbyist compensation and for employer expenditures on a single official increased from $675 to $725.
Exempt expenditures increased from $14 to $15. The registration threshold for an employer making lobbying expenditures increased from $2,675 to $2,900 for any 12-month period.
The financial transaction threshold between a registered employer or lobbyist and a public official increased from $1,350 to $1,450.
The reporting threshold for travel and lodging reimbursements increased from $875 to $950.
Monthly food and beverage expenditures allowance for a public official increased from $66 to $72, and the threshold for food and beverages purchased between January 1 and end the reporting period increased from $400 to $450.
Employee reimbursements increased from $27 to $29, and the general gift threshold also increased from $66 to $72.
Late filing fees increased from $27 a day up to a maximum of $810, to $29 a day up to $870 maximum.
November 9, 2022 •
Michigan Voters Pass Constitutional Amendment Modifying Term Limits

Michigan State Capitol - By Brian Charles Watson
Michigan voters overwhelmingly passed Proposal 1, a constitutional amendment requiring disclosures and modifying term limits with 66% voting yes and 34% voting no with 87% of the votes counted. The proposal amends section 10 of article IV of the Michigan […]
Michigan voters overwhelmingly passed Proposal 1, a constitutional amendment requiring disclosures and modifying term limits with 66% voting yes and 34% voting no with 87% of the votes counted.
The proposal amends section 10 of article IV of the Michigan Constitution to require each member of the legislature, the governor, the lieutenant governor, the secretary of state, and the attorney general to electronically file an annual financial disclosure report by April 15, 2024, and annually thereafter, including gifts, travel payments and reimbursements, and payments to a charity in lieu of honoraria made by lobbyist or lobbyist agent.
The amendment also modifies term limits in section 54 of article IV of the Michigan Constitution to prohibit anyone from being elected as a state representative or senator for terms or partial terms that combined total more than 12 years.
This limitation does not prohibit a person elected to the office of state senator in 2022 from being elected to that office for the three times permitted at the time the person became a candidate for that office.
November 9, 2022 •
Michigan Incumbent Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Reelected

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer - by Julia Pickett
Incumbent Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer won reelection over Republican challenger, Tudor Dixon. As of Wednesday morning, with 87% of votes counted, Whitmer won by 9%. Third-party candidates, including Libertarian Party candidate Mary Buzuma, Green Party candidate Kevin Hogan, Taxpayer Party […]
Incumbent Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer won reelection over Republican challenger, Tudor Dixon.
As of Wednesday morning, with 87% of votes counted, Whitmer won by 9%.
Third-party candidates, including Libertarian Party candidate Mary Buzuma, Green Party candidate Kevin Hogan, Taxpayer Party candidate Donna Brandenburg and Natural Law candidate Daryl Simpson pulled in just 1.6% of the vote combined.
March 17, 2022 •
Michigan Introduces Bills to Change Lobbying Disclosure and Gift Laws

Michigan State Capitol - By Brian Charles Watson
Michigan lawmakers introduced several new bills proposing fundamental changes for lobbying disclosure and gift laws. Senate Bill 963 requires lobbyists to file monthly reports instead of the current schedule of twice a year. The bill also includes a two-year revolving door […]
Michigan lawmakers introduced several new bills proposing fundamental changes for lobbying disclosure and gift laws.
Senate Bill 963 requires lobbyists to file monthly reports instead of the current schedule of twice a year. The bill also includes a two-year revolving door ban for members of the Legislature.
House Bill 5926 amends the definition of lobbying to include partisan legislative employees in the list of covered officials.
House Bill 5927 implements a gift ban, prohibiting a public official or his or her immediate family member from directly or indirectly soliciting, agreeing to accept, or accepting anything of value from a lobbyist or lobbyist agent.
January 4, 2022 •
Michigan Special Election Called for House District 15

Michigan State Capitol - By Brian Charles Watson
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced a special election to fill a vacancy in the House of Representatives following the election of District 15 Rep. Abdullah Hammoud as mayor of Dearborn. The special primary election will be held on March 1 […]
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced a special election to fill a vacancy in the House of Representatives following the election of District 15 Rep. Abdullah Hammoud as mayor of Dearborn.
The special primary election will be held on March 1 and the general election will be held on May 3.
January 4, 2022 •
Michigan Lobby Registration Act 2022 Reporting Thresholds Published

Michigan State Flag
The Michigan Bureau of Elections posted the Lobby Registration Act 2022 Reporting Thresholds, which change every year in January to reflect the change in the consumer price index for Detroit. The thresholds for individual lobbyist compensation and for employer expenditures […]
The Michigan Bureau of Elections posted the Lobby Registration Act 2022 Reporting Thresholds, which change every year in January to reflect the change in the consumer price index for Detroit.
The thresholds for individual lobbyist compensation and for employer expenditures on a single official increased from $650 to $675.
Exempt expenditures increased from $13 to $14.
The threshold for an employer making lobbying expenditures increased from $2,575 to $2,675 for any 12-month period.
The financial transaction threshold between a registered employer or lobbyist and a public official increased from $1,300 to $1,350.
The reporting threshold for travel and lodging reimbursements increased from $850 to $875.
Monthly food and beverage expenditures allowance for a public official increased from $64 to $66, while the $400 threshold for food and beverages purchased between January 1 and the end of the reporting period remains the same as last year.
Employee reimbursements increased from $26 to $27, and the general gift threshold also increased from $64 to $66.
Late filing fees increased from $26 a day up to a maximum of $780, to $27 with an $810 maximum.
December 15, 2021 •
Michigan Special Elections Called for Three House Vacancies

Michigan State Capitol - By Brian Charles Watson
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced special elections to fill three vacancies in the Michigan House of Representatives following the election of District 36 Rep. Douglas Wozniak and District 74 Rep. Mark Huizenga to the Michigan State Senate, and the passing of […]
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced special elections to fill three vacancies in the Michigan House of Representatives following the election of District 36 Rep. Douglas Wozniak and District 74 Rep. Mark Huizenga to the Michigan State Senate, and the passing of District 43 Rep. Andrea Schroeder.
The special primary elections will be held on March 1, 2022, and the general elections will be held on May 3, 2022.
An election to fill the expected vacancy in District 15 due to Rep. Abdullah Hammoud’s election as mayor of Dearborn has not been called because Hammoud has not yet resigned.
The District 15 special election is expected to be held on the same dates of March 1 and May 3.
August 4, 2021 •
Sterling Heights, Michigan Primary Election Results

Michigan State Flag
In the Sterling Heights, Michigan nonpartisan mayoral primary election incumbent Mayor Michael C. Taylor received the most votes and will face Ken Nelson in the Nov. 2 general election. The City Council will also be elected on Nov. 2 when […]
In the Sterling Heights, Michigan nonpartisan mayoral primary election incumbent Mayor Michael C. Taylor received the most votes and will face Ken Nelson in the Nov. 2 general election.
The City Council will also be elected on Nov. 2 when voters will choose from the 12 candidates receiving the most votes in the primary.
August 4, 2021 •
Detroit, Michigan Primary Election Results

Downtown Detroit, Michigan
In Detroit’s nonpartisan mayoral primary election, incumbent Mayor Mike Duggan, seeking his third term, overwhelmingly won the day with Anthony Adams coming in second. Duggan and Adams will vie for Mayor in the Nov. 2 general election. Incumbent Janice M. […]
In Detroit’s nonpartisan mayoral primary election, incumbent Mayor Mike Duggan, seeking his third term, overwhelmingly won the day with Anthony Adams coming in second.
Duggan and Adams will vie for Mayor in the Nov. 2 general election.
Incumbent Janice M. Winfrey received the most votes and will face off against Denzel Anton McCampbell for City Clerk in the Nov. 2 election.
And Proposal P which would have added 47 new elected positions and 102 new appointed positions to the city’s government, was overwhelmingly rejected by voters.
August 4, 2021 •
Michigan State Senate Special Primary Results

Michigan State Capitol - By Brian Charles Watson
Two special primaries were held yesterday to determine who would be on the ballot for the Nov. 2 special election to fill two vacant state senate seats. For Michigan State Senate District 8, Democrat Martin Genter and Republican Douglas Wozniak […]
Two special primaries were held yesterday to determine who would be on the ballot for the Nov. 2 special election to fill two vacant state senate seats.
For Michigan State Senate District 8, Democrat Martin Genter and Republican Douglas Wozniak won their respective special primary elections to fill the seat vacated by Sen. Pete Lucido.
They advance to the Nov. 2 special election with Andrew Kamal, who is running as an independent.
For Michigan State Senate District 28, Democrat Keith Courtade and Republican state Rep. Mark Huizenga won their respective special primary elections to fill the seat vacated by Sen. Peter MacGregor.
Republicans currently have a 20-16 majority in the Michigan State Senate.
May 6, 2021 •
Detroit City Councilman Resigns

Downtown Detroit, Michigan
Detroit District 7 Councilman Gabe Leland resigned after pleading guilty to misconduct in office. Leland was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2018 on bribery conspiracy and two counts of bribery. Detroit’s council can, by a two-thirds vote, […]
Detroit District 7 Councilman Gabe Leland resigned after pleading guilty to misconduct in office.
Leland was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2018 on bribery conspiracy and two counts of bribery.
Detroit’s council can, by a two-thirds vote, appoint a replacement to finish out Leland’s term that ends this year.
An appointee, not already certified for 2021 race, would have to run as a write-in candidate in the upcoming election for a chance to win a full four-year term starting in January 2022.
There are currently six candidates certified to run for District 7 Council seat in the August 3rd primary.
April 26, 2021 •
Michigan Introduces Plan for Ethics Reform

Michigan State Capitol - By Brian Charles Watson
The Michigan House introduced 13 new bills proposing fundamental changes for lobbying and disclosure laws. Changes proposed include requiring members of the Legislature and other public officials to file financial disclosure reports and prohibiting them from voting on bills if […]
The Michigan House introduced 13 new bills proposing fundamental changes for lobbying and disclosure laws.
Changes proposed include requiring members of the Legislature and other public officials to file financial disclosure reports and prohibiting them from voting on bills if there is a conflict of interest.
Other proposals include a prohibition on lobbying by members of the Legislature, a two-year revolving door ban for members of the Legislature and other executive branch officials, and making lobbyists ineligible for civil appointments.
The proposed changes also include increasing fines for violations of the lobbyist gift ban and establishing ethics committees in the House and Senate with the power to accept complaints, investigate complaints, and make recommendations for disciplinary action.
January 19, 2021 •
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Calls Special Election

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer - by Julia Pickett
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced special elections to fill vacancies in Senate District 8 and 28. The vacancy in Senate District 8 was caused by the election of Sen. Pete Lucido as the Macomb County Prosecutor. In addition, the Senate […]
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced special elections to fill vacancies in Senate District 8 and 28.
The vacancy in Senate District 8 was caused by the election of Sen. Pete Lucido as the Macomb County Prosecutor.
In addition, the Senate District 28 vacancy was caused by Sen. Peter MacGregor’s election as the Kent County Treasurer.
Therefore, the special primary election will be held on August 3 and the general election will be held on November 2.
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