At the Detroit Regional Chamber's 2026 Policy Conference in late January, Mike Duggan claimed that Lansing Democrats intentionally held up crucial school funding because they were prioritizing legislation to allow transgender athletes to compete in girls' sports. Progressive advocacy groups and Democratic lawmakers immediately slammed Duggan, accusing him of lying and throwing "trans youth under the bus" for cheap political points. For Republicans, this controversy serves a devastating dual purpose: it exposes Duggan as a political chameleon willing to say anything to sound like a moderate, while simultaneously reinforcing the GOP's core narrative that the Democratic establishment prioritizes radical woke ideology over passing a basic state budget for Michigan families.

• News From The States: Duggan's inconsistency on trifecta raises alarms for Dems Details how Duggan was heavily criticized by Democratic leadership for claiming education funding was held up by lawmakers seeking to pass transgender legislation.
• Progress Michigan: Dirty Duggan Throws Trans Youth Under the Bus The primary source of the progressive meltdown. This press release directly attacks Duggan for his speech at the Detroit Regional Chamber.
• Michigan Public: Facing state gov't shutdown, MI Dems say GOP bathroom bill is budget distraction Provides the historical proof for the GOP narrative, detailing how the state budget actually did stall over cultural wedge issues.
• Bridge Michigan: Mike Duggan banks on partisan fatigue in independent bid Contextualizes Duggan's broader strategy of using Lansing's budget failures to launch his campaign.
• The Alpena News: Where does Mike Duggan stand on the issues? An editorial breakdown noting that Duggan is actively taking advantage of the fumbling legislative process.
• MIRS: 'The Dollhouse': Four Transgender Women Run For The Michigan House Provides the broader context of why the transgender issue is so hyper-sensitive for Michigan Democrats right now.

Hyperscale data centers are currently a major political flashpoint due to the severe strain they place on the state's energy grid. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson recently went on the record supporting their expansion. However, her husband, Ryan Friedrichs, is a Vice President for Related Companies—the multi-billion dollar real estate developer behind Michigan's controversial, first-approved hyperscale data center project. Primary candidates are citing this as an example of a Lansing insider willing to strain Michigan's grid to benefit her family's corporate interests.

• Michigan Capitol Confidential: MichCapCon Energy Reporting Energy & grid policy covering data center grid strain.
• The Midwesterner: Benson Data Center Controversy Michigan politics and conflict of interest coverage.
• The Sun Times News: Tensions Boil at Saline Township Meeting Details the explosive local town hall where residents explicitly called out the conflict of interest between Related Companies and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.
• Detroit City Clerk: Lobbyist Registration: Ryan Friedrichs The official, primary source document proving Ryan Friedrichs operates as a registered lobbyist for The Related Companies in Michigan.
• Bridge Michigan: Where Michigan gubernatorial candidates stand on data centers Provides the direct contrast for the 2026 race regarding corporate welfare and grid protections.
• Planet Detroit: Saline Township settles with data center developer Highlights how Related Digital aggressively sued a rural Michigan township to force the massive data center project.
• Related Companies Press Room: Related Companies accelerates push into data centers Primary source establishing corporate scale and their specific mandate to build hyperscale infrastructure for AI companies.
• Bridge Michigan: Tech giants announce $7B data center Exposes the massive utility burden of the Related Companies' project.
• Tech Policy Press: Michigan Offers Handouts for Data Centers A substantive breakdown of the massive taxpayer subsidies the Michigan legislature handed out to Big Tech.
• Downtown Publications: The push for data centers in Michigan Covers the growing wave of conservative and local pushback across the state.
• Real Estate & Industry News: OpenAI's 1GW Data Center Planned for Saline Township Explains the broader network of the "Stargate" AI initiative and state-level enabling.

House Republicans, led by Speaker Matt Hall, are aggressively criticizing the "Rx Kids" program—which provides unconditional cash assistance to mothers. Hall labeled the program a "scam" that bypasses traditional welfare work requirements and lacks basic spending oversight. Compounding the issue, Jocelyn Benson's husband, Ryan Friedrichs, officially serves on the Advisory Circle for the Rx Kids program. Republicans are actively pointing to his advisory role to frame Benson's praise for the program as unaccountable welfare cash intertwined with insider access.

• Michigan House Republicans: GOP Pushback on Rx Kids Caucus news and Speaker Hall's statements.
• Rx Kids Official Site: Rx Kids Advisory Circle Roster The smoking gun for the conflict of interest, listing Ryan Friedrichs as an expert advisor.
• Bridge Michigan: RxKids 'in limbo,' Flint reeling over surprise cuts by House Republicans The hard-news baseline of the conflict detailing how Speaker Matt Hall blindsided Democrats by clawing back funding.
• MIRS: Benson Promises To End Undisclosed Corporate Influence, Expand Rx Kids Covers Jocelyn Benson's recent gubernatorial campaign speeches where she explicitly pledges to expand the Rx Kids program.
• The Midwesterner: The Insider Nexus: Benson, Friedrichs, and the Push for Universal Basic Income Ties the entire segment together for a right-leaning audience, framing Rx Kids as a Trojan horse for taxpayer-funded UBI.
• News From The States: Hall's baseless Rx Kids attack betrays Michigan's most vulnerable Documents Speaker Matt Hall's press conference calling the program a "scam".
• Michigan Capitol Confidential: Michigan's $270M Experiment in Unconditional Cash Welfare A strict, conservative policy breakdown of the program's mechanics and lack of strings attached.
• City of Detroit / Mayor's Office: Apply NOW: Rx Kids - Detroit Useful for broadcast b-roll and proving the sheer scale of the Democratic agenda.
• The Federalist: Michigan Democrats Want to Hand Out 'No Strings' Cash While Taxpayers Foot the Bill Nationalizes the local fight, providing the broader conservative argument against government-funded "cash prescriptions".
• Breitbart News: Michigan GOP Speaker Torches 'Soros-Backed' Unconditional Welfare Scheme Highlights the most aggressive populist rhetoric from the recent legislative clash.

Over two dozen prominent Michigan Republicans have formally requested that the Trump administration’s DOJ monitor Michigan’s 2026 elections. They argue that Jocelyn Benson has an inherent conflict of interest acting as the chief elections officer while actively running for Governor.

• The Federalist: Elections Coverage Conservative reporting on election oversight.
• Michigan Secretary of State: MI SOS Elections Elections Administration and current SOS policies.
• The Midwesterner: Michigan GOP Leaders Demand Trump DOJ Monitor 2026 Elections Details the formal letter sent to the Trump Justice Department outlining the grassroots demand for federal monitors.
• The Federalist: Why Jocelyn Benson Cannot Be Trusted to Oversee Her Own Gubernatorial Election A sharp analysis piece focusing entirely on the ethical conflict of interest.
• Breitbart News: Conservatives Call for Federal Monitors in Michigan Ahead of 2026 Connects the current DOJ request back to the 2020 and 2022 election cycles.

In late January 2026, sitting Detroit 36th District Court Judge Andrea Bradley-Baskin, her attorney father, and two associates were federally indicted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The DOJ alleges they orchestrated a scheme to embezzle hundreds of thousands of dollars from incapacitated adults through the Wayne County Probate Court, using the funds to purchase an ownership stake in a local bar. This case highlights ongoing concerns regarding institutional corruption within Wayne County's judicial system.

• DOJ: Sitting Judge and Three Others Charged with Scheme to Steal Hundreds of Thousands The foundational primary source detailing the exact charges.
• FOX 2 Detroit: Judge, 3 others accused of embezzling hundreds of thousands Local broadcast coverage providing excellent local context on the scale of the scheme.
• Crain's Detroit Business: Detroit judge faces charges in scheme embezzling from incapacitated adults Legal and business breakdown focusing on the timeline.
• CBS News Detroit: Detroit judge, 3 others, accused of embezzling $273K Broadcast news coverage detailing the immediate administrative fallout.
• ABA Journal: FBI targets Detroit judge and her father in public corruption probe Crucial backstory revealing the FBI had previously seized over $580,000 from properties.

Following the guilty plea of a West Michigan early learning center CEO who embezzled over $1 million, the Michigan Auditor General is launching a performance audit of the state's child care subsidy program starting in March 2026. This mirrors federal actions by the Trump administration freezing child care funds over fraud concerns, equipping the GOP with a potent oversight tool regarding state spending under the Whitmer administration.

• Michigan Office of the Auditor General: OAG Performance Audits Official state oversight reports.
• WZZM 13: Former CEO of West Michigan early learning center pleads guilty Hard-news report establishing the baseline reality of the fraud problem in Michigan.
• Michigan Senate Republicans: Nesbitt demands audit of MiLEAP child care program A direct look at the GOP legislative response to force the Michigan Auditor General to investigate.
• Bridge Michigan: Michigan has 'zero tolerance' for child care fraud, agency says Covers the defensive posture of the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education as the GOP turns up the heat.

House Speaker Matt Hall and Republican leadership are advancing legislative and ballot initiatives to eliminate or severely cut property taxes. This forces Democratic candidates to defend current tax rates amidst ongoing inflation, creating a clear economic contrast for the 2026 cycle.

• MMA: Key ballot proposals aimed at Michigan's 2026 election Business perspective on tax cuts.
• Michigan House Republicans: GOP Property Tax Plan Legislative updates on tax initiatives.
• Michigan Capitol Confidential: Speaker Matt Hall Unveils Historic $5 Billion Property Tax Cut Details the conservative blueprint to eliminate the 6-mill State Education Tax, scrap the real estate transfer tax, and end the "pop-up" tax.
• The Midwesterner: The $5 Billion Tax Fight: Republicans Force Whitmer’s Hand on Affordability A political strategy breakdown of the looming budget battle contrasting Speaker Hall’s plan against Governor Whitmer’s final budget proposal.
• Detroit Regional Chamber: Tax Relief and Utility Rollbacks Highlights the critical provision in Hall's plan that eliminates the personal property tax on small businesses and mandates utility rollbacks.

The Trump administration’s EPA revoked federal vehicle emissions standards, ending Biden-era EV mandates. However, Michigan Democrats remain bound by a 2023 state law requiring 100% clean energy by 2040. GOP candidates are leveraging this policy split to position themselves as defenders of the internal combustion engine and UAW jobs against Lansing's green energy mandates.

• EPA Press Office: EPA Announcements Newsroom and federal emissions rollback updates.
• Michigan Chamber of Commerce: MI Chamber Energy Policy Energy & environment policy regarding state-level mandate resistance.
• Fox Business: Trump Unveils ‘Historic Reset’ of Biden Fuel Rules Covers the Trump administration officially rolling back the Biden-era CAFE standards.
• Detroit Regional Chamber: Will Michigan’s Green Energy Mandate Survive Trump 2.0? Highlights how Governor Whitmer and Lansing Democrats are still legally bound by their 2023 state law.
• American Energy Alliance: Trump’s EPA Embarks on Largest Deregulation Effort in American History Comprehensive policy brief outlining the sheer scale of the Trump administration's first-year energy victories.

In early 2026, students at East Lansing High School organized a walkout protesting ICE enforcement, utilizing the school's PA system and receiving full authorization from district administrators. The school's "Students for Political Action Club" was advised by an English teacher who helped coordinate their efforts. In response to this publicly funded facilitation of left-wing activism, U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett’s campaign filed a FOIA request to uncover the email communications between the teacher, the students, and Democratic operatives, highlighting a push by GOP leaders to expose how public school staff are organizing anti-ICE political demonstrations during school hours.

• East Lansing Info: Congressman Tom Barrett's Campaign Seeks High School Students' Emails Local coverage detailing the teacher's involvement and Rep. Barrett's FOIA request.
• MIRS: Capitol coverage of the political fallout Ongoing updates and analysis on the legislative reaction.

In February 2026, hundreds of students across the Ann Arbor Public Schools district—including Pioneer, Skyline, and Community High Schools—walked out of class to march on a federal building demanding the abolition of ICE. Rather than enforcing truancy policies, district officials openly authorized the walkouts. Former and current educators publicly praised the students, marching alongside them. Critics and grassroots conservative groups are pointing to the district's official sanctioning of the protests as proof that administrators are prioritizing progressive indoctrination over keeping students in the classroom.

• Michigan Advance: Hundreds of Ann Arbor Pioneer students leave class to protest ICE Details on the scale of the walkouts and quotes from participating educators.
• CBS News Detroit: Hundreds of Ann Arbor high school students walk out in protest Broadcast coverage of the protests and the district's response.

Following a wave of student walkouts protesting federal immigration operations, the Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT) is weaponizing the protests to demand sweeping policy changes from the Detroit Public Schools Community District. As contract negotiations open in early 2026, union leadership is demanding the district codify its commitment as a "sanctuary district" directly into their collective bargaining agreement. The union is insisting on new contract language that mandates strict protocols to protect staff who harbor or support undocumented students from cooperating with the Trump administration's ICE enforcement efforts.

• Chalkbeat Detroit: Detroit teachers union asks district to reaffirm commitment to immigrant students Detailed reporting on the union's specific sanctuary demands.
• Michigan Public: Detroit teachers' union to begin contract negotiations soon Coverage of the union president pressing the school board.

Teachers' unions (MEA and AFT) and school administrators face intense scrutiny from conservative groups for prioritizing political strikes over addressing the state's severe literacy crisis. Concurrently, DOJ investigations into Michigan districts regarding gender ideology instruction have elevated the "Parents' Rights" movement, positioning school choice and curriculum transparency as top-tier primary issues.

• The Heritage Foundation: Education Policy Research School choice and curriculum data metrics.
• State of Michigan: Michigan Student Assessment Data State literacy and reading statistics.
• The Center Square: Nesbitt Center Square Op-Ed: Michigan reading scores signal education failure A substantive op-ed outlining the conservative argument against the state's education establishment.
• Mackinac Center for Public Policy: The Case for Choice in Schooling A foundational policy brief providing the intellectual framework for the "Parents' Rights" movement.
• Manhattan Institute: Gender Debrief: Federal Policy Update on Radical Indoctrination Details the Trump administration's aggressive DOJ and executive actions to strip federal funding from schools.

President Trump has threatened to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge over a trade dispute with Canada. The confrontation pits MAGA trade leverage against traditional, business-wing Republicanism, serving as a high-profile policy test for GOP primary candidates. (Notably, Mike Rogers has publicly backed the President's stance on the bridge).

• Bridge Michigan: President Trump rethinking Canada bridge permit Trade dispute context and local impact.
• Crain's Detroit Business: Gordie Howe Bridge Standoff Coverage Politics & policy covering the business impact of the standoff.
• Fox News: Trump Threatens to Block Gordie Howe Bridge Opening in Trade Fight with Canada Details President Trump's use of the bridge's opening as maximum leverage to force concessions.
• Daily Caller: Mike Rogers Backs Trump’s Hardline Play on Canada Bridge Standoff A deep dive into the primary politics of the standoff.
• Washington Examiner: Why Trump’s Play on the Gordie Howe Bridge is a Win for Auto Workers An economic nationalist breakdown of the dispute.

The U.S. Supreme Court is actively hearing arguments on whether the fate of the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline belongs in state or federal court. The litigation acts as a sharp contrast point, with Republicans running on energy dominance and emphasizing the Whitmer-Nessel administration's willingness to jeopardize the state's energy infrastructure.

• U.S. Supreme Court Docket: SCOTUS Docket Search Official case tracking.
• Mackinac Center for Public Policy: Line 5 Legal Breakdown Energy infrastructure analysis.
• Bridge Michigan: Michigan, Enbridge Battle Over Line 5 Pipeline Before U.S. Supreme Court Outlines the high-stakes jurisdictional battle.
• The Midwesterner: Nessel's Line 5 Lawfare Reaches SCOTUS Frames Dana Nessel’s years-long legal crusade against Line 5 as reckless environmental activism.
• National Energy Reporting: Enbridge Starts Pipeline Reroute Work Despite Ongoing Legal Battles Update on the actual infrastructure progress.

Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s serious independent gubernatorial campaign makes Michigan’s governor’s race a 3-way general election. The GOP primary field includes John James, Perry Johnson, Aric Nesbitt, Mike Cox, and Tom Leonard. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is the Democratic frontrunner in a primary field that includes Chris Swanson, Marni Sawicki, and Kevin Hogan.

• Ballotpedia: Michigan Gubernatorial Election, 2026 Authoritative candidate list.
• Michigan Public: Detroit Mayor Duggan will run for Michigan governor in 2026 as independent General overview of the independent run.
• Bridge Michigan: Benson, James, and Duggan Fundraising Update Campaign finance info and fundraising momentum.
• The Midwesterner: Mike Duggan’s Independent Run Threatens to Upend Democrat Control in Michigan Highlights how Duggan’s departure from the Democratic Party creates a massive vulnerability for Jocelyn Benson.
• Washington Examiner: Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s independent run complicates Michigan governor race A substantive breakdown of the structural advantage this three-way race gives to Republicans.

Democratic Senator Gary Peters is retiring. Former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers is the overwhelming GOP primary frontrunner. Rogers carries President Trump's official endorsement and is backed by a super PAC with a reported $6 million war chest. He faces a primary challenge from former MIGOP co-chair Bernadette Smith. The Democrats are engaged in a highly expensive primary featuring U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, State Sen. Mallory McMorrow, Abdul El-Sayed, Rachel Howard, and Travis Zollner.

• Bridge Michigan: Dems battle for bucks as Mike Rogers builds war chest Senate campaign finance and war chest reporting.
• FEC: Michigan Senate 2026 Official financial data.
• Ballotpedia: United States Senate election in Michigan, 2026 Polling and primary field.
• Washington Free Beacon: Mike Rogers Builds Massive War Chest in Michigan Senate Race Details the overwhelming financial and structural advantage Mike Rogers has secured with his $6 million super PAC.
• Daily Caller: Michigan Dems Drain Resources in Brutal Primary A strategic analysis piece explaining how the Democratic primary battle is forcing them to burn cash early.

The Republican primary field is highly fractured, creating a mathematical scenario where the eventual nominee could win the August 4 primary with a low-20% plurality. The established tier includes U.S. Rep. John James, businessman Perry Johnson (who pledged $9 million of his own money upon entering in late January), former Attorney General Mike Cox, former House Speaker Tom Leonard, and State Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt. The grassroots tier features Evan Space, Ralph Rebandt, Karla Wagner, and Joyce Gipson.

• → Deep Dive Analysis: Explore the full GOP Primary Candidate Directory & Interactive Map Our comprehensive hub for all Governor, Senate, and House primary candidates.
• Michigan Republican Primary Hub: GOP Primary Tracker Conservative field analysis.
• Ballotpedia: Michigan 2026 Primary Elections Authoritative election dates.
• Breitbart News: Perry Johnson Launches $9 Million Bid for Michigan Governor Covers the massive financial injection Perry Johnson brings to the primary field and his America First messaging.
• Fox News: Crowded GOP primary forms in Michigan to replace Gretchen Whitmer A detailed look at the fracture within the primary base as established candidates compete against grassroots challengers.

Republicans flipped the State House in 2024 and hold a 58-52 majority, keeping House Speaker Matt Hall focused on defending volatile suburban districts. Democrats hold a razor-thin 19-18 edge in the State Senate. Republicans require a net gain of just one seat to force a tie.

• → Featured Analysis: The Battle for the 35th: A Comprehensive Guide to the Special Election
• → Featured Resource: Michigan Legislature Directory & Race Coverage
• Michigan House Republicans: MI House GOP Caucus news, data, and GOP legislative priorities.
• Michigan Legislature: Legislative Rosters District maps, roster, and official balance of power.
• The Midwesterner: Jason Tunney Wins GOP Primary in MI-35 Outlines the stakes of the May 5th special election to fill the seat vacated by Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet.
• The Federalist: Why the May 5th Special Election in Michigan's 35th District is a Must-Win A national, conservative look at the MI-35 special election and the push to reclaim working-class voters.
• Michigan Capitol Confidential: Conservative Jason Tunney Advances in MI-35 A policy-heavy breakdown of Tunney’s platform framing the special election as a direct referendum on the state's economic climate.

MI-10 (Macomb County and northern Detroit suburbs) is an open seat due to John James vacating it to run for Governor. While the district leans Republican, it remains a prime Democratic target. The GOP primary is a high-stakes financial race to lock down the working-class conservative vote in Macomb County, which is essential to the party's statewide formula.

• → Featured Analysis: Michigan's 10th Congressional District Race Analysis
• → Featured Data: Congressional Fundraising Totals (Year-End Reports)
• Inside Elections: MI-10 Race Analysis Open seat competitiveness and House ratings.
• The Macomb Daily: Macomb County Political News Local politics coverage and regional voter priorities.
• Michigan Capitol Confidential: John James Vacating MI-10 Triggers High-Stakes Battle An analysis of the critical importance of Macomb County’s working-class conservative vote.
• Townhall: Why Michigan’s 10th District is a Must-Win Defense A substantive breakdown of the district's right-leaning demographics and mobilization of GOP donors.

Republican Rep. Tom Barrett flipped mid-Michigan's 7th District in 2024. He is now a freshman incumbent defending a highly competitive, evenly split bellwether seat against a coordinated Democratic spending push.

• NRCC: GOP Target Districts GOP defense strategy.
• American Communities Project: Mid-Michigan Bellwether Metrics District demographic analysis.
• Fox News: Republican Projected to Take Key Michigan Open House Seat The foundational coverage of Tom Barrett successfully flipping the highly contested 7th District.
• Breitbart News: Tom Barrett Defends Michigan Bellwether Against Democrat Spending Blitz A look at freshman Rep. Tom Barrett’s voting record in Congress and how he is actively pushing back against the Biden-era administrative state.

The 8th District (Flint/Saginaw) is a top-tier national GOP target. Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet narrowly won the seat in 2024 despite President Trump carrying the district at the presidential level. Republican Amir Hassan—a Flint native, Navy veteran, and former federal law enforcement officer—is running an "America First" campaign in the GOP primary focused on restoring auto manufacturing jobs and securing the working-class vote in the Saginaw Valley.

• Cook Political Report: 2026 House Ratings National target context.
• MIRS News: MIRS 8th District Coverage Capitol coverage and local district profiling.
• Amir Hassan Campaign: Navy Vet Seeking Michigan Seat Outlines Ambitious Proposal A deep dive into Republican Amir Hassan’s policy platform and America First focus.
• Capital B: The Black Conservatives Still Riding with Trump to Flip Key Districts Details Amir Hassan’s push to bring his solutions-first conservatism to Flint and Saginaw.

Two Michigan Supreme Court seats are on the ballot. Nominees are chosen at the state party convention. Grassroots organizers view a conservative court as an essential check on executive power and administrative overreach. The March 28 early endorsement convention also serves as a strategic pivot point for gubernatorial candidates struggling to gain traction in the primary.

• → Deep Dive Analysis: Endorsement Conventions: Legal Requests & Unsettled Rules
• → Key Document: March 28, 2026 Endorsement Convention Rules
• Michigan Courts: Michigan Supreme Court Elections Judicial election information and seat details.
• MIGOP: Convention Hub March 28 endorsement info.
• MIGOP Official: Michigan Republicans Set March 28 Early Endorsement Convention Primary source document outlining the strategic shift to consolidate behind a single slate of conservative nominees.
• The Midwesterner: The 2026 Michigan Supreme Court Race: The Conservative Counteroffensive Frames the court as the last line of defense against executive overreach.
• Michigan Capitol Confidential: Why the GOP's March Convention is the Most Important Date Editorial diving into the mechanics of the convention floor fight and constitutionalist credentials.

Michigan law mandates an automatic ballot question every 16 years asking if the state should hold a convention to rewrite the constitution. If passed in 2026, it triggers a statewide election for convention delegates. Grassroots conservatives are actively organizing around this as a structural opportunity to bypass the legislature and enshrine strict spending limits and school choice directly into the constitution.

• Mackinac Center for Public Policy: Michigan Constitutional Convention Analysis Conservative analysis of constitutional rewrites.
• Citizens Research Council of Michigan: 2026 Con-Con Publications Historical context of the 16-year mandate.
• Mackinac Center Legal Foundation: Mackinac Center Launches Database Provides the foundational conservative architecture to arm citizens with historical context ahead of the vote.
• Mackinac Center for Public Policy: Michigan’s Constitution Demands Transparency A substantive policy brief framing why a constitutional convention might be necessary to force transparency.
• Michigan Capitol Confidential: Why the 2026 'Con-Con' Question is the Ultimate Grassroots Weapon Explores the political mechanics of using the convention as a direct bypass around the Democratic legislative map.

With Jocelyn Benson term-limited, current Democratic Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist dropped out of the governor's race to clear the field and run for SOS. The Republican nominee will be chosen by delegates at the state convention. Convention delegates are prioritizing candidates who commit to implementing strict proof-of-citizenship voting requirements and comprehensive audits of the state's voter rolls.

• → Featured Resource: View the 2026 Endorsement Candidate Menu
• Bridge Michigan: What Garlin Gilchrist's switch means for Michigan governor, SOS races Analysis of the cleared Democratic field.
• MIGOP: Convention Guidelines Delegate priorities and rules.
• Bridge Michigan: Prominent Michigan Republicans Ask Trump DOJ to Oversee 2026 Election Covers GOP leaders formally requesting the DOJ monitor Jocelyn Benson due to conflicts of interest.
• MIGOP Official: Michigan Republicans Set March 28 Early Endorsement Convention Outlines the critical shift in the MIGOP's strategy to hold an early endorsement convention.
• WDET: A Republican Outlook on Michigan’s 2026 Elections Features conservative strategists highlighting the demand for proof-of-citizenship voting requirements.

Dana Nessel is term-limited. The GOP convention delegates are vetting candidates based on their prosecutorial priorities. The focus is strictly on candidates who pledge to drop progressive environmental litigation—like the state's crusade against the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline—and redirect resources toward prosecuting violent crime, government waste, and election fraud.

• → Featured Resource: View the 2026 Endorsement Candidate Menu
• Ballotpedia: 2026 MI Attorney General Race Candidate tracker.
• The Detroit News: AG race coverage Politics section and ongoing coverage.
• Michigan Women's Wire: Catholic School Superintendent and Defense Attorney Kevin Kijewski Launches GOP Bid Highlights his pledge to eliminate politically motivated lawfare and aggressively prosecute violent crime.
• The State AG Report: Eaton County Prosecutor Doug Lloyd Enters Michigan AG Race A substantive look at Doug Lloyd's entry representing the established prosecutorial wing of the party.
• The Midwesterner: Matt DePerno Mounts 2026 Comeback Bid for Michigan Attorney General Covers the return of the 2022 nominee and his support among the populist, MAGA base.

On February 9, 2026, a Macomb County jury convicted Shawn Wilmoth and Willie Reed of conducting a criminal enterprise and election law forgery. The pair orchestrated the 2022 signature fraud scheme that kept major GOP gubernatorial candidates off the ballot. Perry Johnson is citing these convictions on the trail, while election integrity advocates point to the case as proof that Michigan's signature-gathering laws remain dangerously unregulated.

• → Essential Resource: The Michigan Nominating Petition Manual (User-Friendly Version)
• Michigan Department of Attorney General: Two Convicted of Conducting Criminal Enterprise Official press release and conviction details.
• Votebeat Michigan: 2 found guilty in signature fraud case Analysis of unregulated signature gathering laws.
• Breitbart News: Macomb Jury Convicts Signature Fraud Ring Highlights how the criminal enterprise intentionally defrauded top-tier Republican campaigns.
• The Midwesterner: How a Criminal Enterprise Robbed Michigan Republicans A sharp look at the political fallout from the Macomb County verdict.
• Daily Caller: Jury Finds Wilmoth and Reed Guilty: A Wake-Up Call for Election Integrity Pivots from the courtroom to the legislature, arguing that Michigan’s petition laws remain dangerously unregulated.

Former State Rep. Beau LaFave is challenging establishment-backed incumbent State Rep. Dave Prestin in the GOP primary for the 38th State Senate District. U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman publicly endorsed LaFave, triggering immediate blowback. Prominent U.P. Republicans, including term-limited State Sen. Ed McBroom, publicly rescinded their endorsements of Bergman in retaliation.

• → Deep Dive Analysis: The Bergman-LaFave-Prestin Endorsement Split Explained
• The Iron Mountain Daily News: GOP feud surfaces in UP over 38th State Senate race Local coverage of the U.P. feud.
• The Mining Journal: U.P. Republicans at Odds Regional political fallout.