Led by Michigan Chamber executives, the Michigan Redistricting Resource Institute paid $1 million to bolster GOP control of Lansing and the state’s congressional delegation even as state Democrats won just as many votes.
Joel Kurth
As executive editor of impact, Joel Kurth oversees newsgathering, investigations, and coverage strategy at Bridge Michigan. He joined Bridge in 2017 after 17 years as an investigative reporter and editor at The Detroit News, where he led investigations that drove policy changes on water shutoffs and surgical instrument sterilization and resulted in criminal charges against government officials. He and his teams have won more than 60 state and national awards across a 30-year career in Michigan that has also included stints at newspapers in the Upper Peninsula and Saginaw. Joel also authors Bridge's popular weekly News Quiz.
Joel lives in West Bloomfield with his wife and two children.
Posted inMichigan Truth Squad
As elections loom, Bridge is changing its approach to Michigan Truth Squad
Truth Squad is simplifying how its rates the accuracy of political ads and rhetoric, while making it easier to alert voters to statements that may be technically factual but misleading
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Get to know Garlin Gilchrist II, Gretchen Whitmer's pick for Lt. Governor
Garlin Gilchrist, 35, is not well known outside Detroit so it’s unclear how many votes he can inspire as candidate for Michigan’s lt. governor under Gretchen Whitmer. He does bring smarts, national organizing skills and diversity.
Posted inUrban Affairs
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan flexes clout, mostly scores with Dem wins
The mayor got behind Gretchen Whitmer and targeted lawmakers who fought auto insurance reforms. But Duggan candidates had some big misses, too.
Posted inMichigan Truth Squad
Truth Squad: Bill Schuette’s ‘push’ for 1,000 new Michigan cops
Bill Schuette, the Michigan attorney general and Republican candidate for governor talks tough on crime. Does the public record back it up?
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Republican Supreme Court justices have ties to Michigan gerrymandering group
A campaign treasurer for Republican-backed justices is on the board of a dark-money group that helped finance the drawing of GOP-friendly legislative districts, federal records show. The justices say they didn’t know.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Democrats blast Michigan Chamber over gerrymandering emails
Chamber president claims group had no knowledge of emails blasting Democrats. Emails reported by Bridge show a top chamber executive was involved in several emails about Dems.
Posted inMichigan Politics Watch
Emails suggest Republicans gerrymandered Michigan to weaken ‘Dem garbage’
Emails involving Republican strategists and the Michigan Chamber emerge in a federal lawsuit. The messages suggest that helping GOP candidates was the central focus in redrawing legislative boundaries back in 2011.
Posted inUrban Affairs
Lawsuits, dirty tricks and an angry ex-wife: Is this Detroit’s ugliest election?
Monique Baker McCormick’s 10-year campaign for Wayne County Commission is a primer on dirty political tricks. She’s learned well, but at what cost?
Posted inUrban Affairs
Is Detroit finally turning the corner?
Rising rents and tax breaks for developers revive Detroit gentrification fears. But city insiders also note easier access to loans and new business in some long-dormant neighborhoods.