Michigan currently has 17 majority-Black districts. But in the 10 proposed maps released by the commission last week, only one district would have a voting age population of more than 50 percent African-American.
African Americans, Bangladeshis, and Latinos all told the state’s redistricting commission how to draw districts representative of their communities. Some are happy. Most are not.
Republicans have controlled the Michigan Senate for decades. Three new draft redistricting plans could allow Democrats to at least cut into that advantage.
Eight incumbents would be clustered in districts with at least another representative. The maps now go to the public for hearings before final approval.
Critics of the bill — part of a 39-bill election package pushed by Republicans — say it amounts to voter suppression by disproportionately impacting Black and low-income voters who tend to vote for Democrats.
Rep Beau LaFave is the second Republican to announce his candidacy in race that could become a litmus test for loyalty for former President Donald Trump.
The Democratic governor says the bills were ‘designed to undermine confidence in our election system.’ One sponsor calls her vetoes a ‘slap in the face.’
Current districts drawn by a bipartisan citizen group would allow Republicans to receive fewer total statewide votes than Democrats, but still keep hold of power in Lansing.
A state budget praised by both sides is causing widespread confusion and angst because of provisions that threatened funding for agencies that impose school mask mandates.
Tom Leonard, a former House speaker, is squaring off against state Rep. Ryan Berman and Matt DePerno, an attorney endorsed by the former president who is challenging Michigan’s 2020 election results.
Reducing the costs of child care is a rare point of bipartisan agreement, and many daycares are on the brink of bankruptcy. The deal also gives big boosts to colleges, cities and environmental cleanups.
A new commission has spent weeks drawing districts in rural areas of Michigan, but has set aside only five days for southeast Michigan. Some fear they could be in a rush to complete the process.
