Bridge Listens Issues Watch recap: Voters face high costs, economic struggles

Bridge Michigan’s monthly reader discussions resumed Wednesday with a conversation about Michigan’s affordability challenges
High housing costs, tax plans, the state’s aging workforce and how to attract new businesses to Michigan all came up during the discussion
Bridge is asking readers to vote on their top issues for the 2026 election in a nomination form

Bridge Michigan reporters and readers weighed in on affordability and the economy, including the rising cost of goods and housing, tax reforms, business diversification and sluggish population growth during a Wednesday evening edition of Issues Watch.

The virtual event featured reporters Jordyn Hermani, Simon D. Schuster and Paula Gardner as they dug into not just Michigan’s economy and affordability, but how the 2026 gubernatorial candidates say they would address those issues if elected.

Reporters also highlighted the state’s use of subsidies to attract businesses, and why public perception of the state’s main economic development arm — the Michigan Economic Development Corporation — has soured in recent years.

You can watch Wednesday’s full discussion here:

The discussion was part of the fourth installment of Bridge Michigan’s monthly Bridge Listens series, an effort to hear directly from readers about their pressing issues in the 2026 election.

Nearly 2,800 people responded to our first round of surveys, and more than 3,100 have helped us narrow the list of top issues using this nomination form, which you can still fill out through July.

Next month’s Issues Watch discussion is expected to center on democracy, voting and election administration in Michigan.

The series will culminate with the first ever Bridge Michigan Issues Summit on Wednesday, Oct. 1, at the Marygrove Conservancy in Detroit. Sign up now to receive updates about the summit and be the first in line to register.

Related:

Prior Issues Watch virtual discussions have focused on the state of Michigan’s education systems, environmental concerns and issues with health care.

Bridge has also recently hosted virtual discussions covering topics including nursing homes, opioid settlement funds, the state’s population crisis, youth mental health, voter issues, health care, schools, the marijuana industry, gun violence, the collapse of whitefish in the lower Great Lakes, tourism , deer hunting and industrial pollution.

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