Whitmer, who has faced criticism from Republicans and business groups for not linking COVID restrictions to identified metrics, changed that approach. Her new plan offers economic and social incentives for residents to get vaccinated.
Jonathan Oosting
Jonathan is a deputy editor for Bridge Michigan. He helps plan and execute in-depth reporting and campaign coverage. As a longtime political reporter, Jonathan was named 2021 Journalist of the Year by the Michigan Press Association. He and a colleague shared that honor again in 2023, when they were also named Journalists of the Year by the Society of Professional Journalists – Detroit Chapter. Jonathan covered the state Capitol for The Detroit News and MLive before joining Bridge in September of 2019. He's from Grand Rapids, lives in Lansing and loves spending time Up North.
Posted inMichigan Government
Activists want to oust Michigan GOP director for saying Trump ‘blew it’ in 2020
Conservatives are campaigning to remove a high-ranking Michigan Republican Party official because he blamed former President Donald Trump — not fraud — for last year’s election loss.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan GOP pushes to ban vaccine passports, university mandates
Republicans in Michigan are joining conservative colleagues across the country in a race to pre-emptively ban COVID-19 “vaccine passports,” citing concerns over privacy and personal liberty amid a mass inoculation effort.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan’s political geography is shifting. These interactive maps show how.
Democrat Joe Biden carried Michigan by extending his support into the suburbs to withstand a surge for Republican Donald Trump in rural parts of the state. But precinct-level data shows many exceptions, with one sliver of Detroit going for Trump and more of west Michigan favoring Biden.
Posted inMichigan Government
Partisan deadlock blocks Unlock Michigan initiative over emergency powers
The Board of State Canvassers on Thursday failed to certify petition signatures from Unlock Michigan, blocking initiated legislation to repeal the 1945 law used by Gov. Whitmer during the pandemic.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan Gov. Whitmer defends her Florida trip, calls criticism ‘maddening’
This is the latest travel-related controversy the Whitmer administration has faced in the last few weeks.
Posted inMichigan Government
GOP wants to split Michigan Electoral College votes. That would help the GOP.
Republicans in the Michigan House want to award most of the state’s presidential electors by congressional district, an overhaul that would increase clout of rural areas and decrease it in metro Detroit.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan Gov. Whitmer draws fire for out-of-state trip before she was vaccinated
Whitmer visited her ill father before receiving any vaccines, drawing accusations of hypocrisy from Republicans. Whitmer’s staff has defended trips from other aides, noting they were vaccinated.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan hasn’t passed any police reforms since George Floyd’s death
The trial of police officer Derek Chauvin has ignited a debate about police practices. More than 30 states have passed reforms. Michigan isn’t one of them, despite general support on the need for change.
Posted inMichigan Government
Toyota resumes giving to Michigan Republicans who voted to overturn election
Following the Jan. 6 riots in the U.S. Capitol, Toyota said it would pause and assess political donations. It’s given money to two of those who voted to overturn the election, U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman of Watersmeet in February and March, and another $1,000 to U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg of Tipton.