Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan reported $3.2 million in direct donations for his independent gubernatorial campaign, the most by any declared candidate. Democrat Jocelyn Benson and Republican John James report big numbers too.
Simon D. Schuster
Simon D. Schuster is a Capitol Reporter for Bridge Michigan. Simon joined Bridge Michigan in 2024 after working as MLive's senior political reporter and later covering politics on their investigative team. He spent three years tracking the influence of political money in Michigan as executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, a nonpartisan nonprofit. A Michigan native, Simon received a bachelor's and a master of public policy from Michigan State University, where he was a policy fellow at the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research. Outside of work you'll find him in Detroit, backpacking northern Michigan or visiting his fiancée in Scandinavia. He lives in Lansing.
Posted inMichigan Government
Subpoena targets Michigan AG Dana Nessel over stalled 'dark money' probe
Republican-led House panel questions why Michigan AG Dana Nessel’s office returned a criminal referral for a group accused of raising “dark money” funds for a ballot committee co-chaired by her wife.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan GOP moves against ranked choice voting as petition drive gears up
A new plan from state House Republicans would ban ranked choice voting in Michigan – just as organizers launch a petition drive to try to adopt the method via a 2026 ballot proposal.
Posted inMichigan Government
Records: Businesswoman hosted Whitmer fundraiser while seeking $20M earmark
An ongoing embezzlement probe reveals communication between businesswoman Fay Beydoun and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office.
Posted inMichigan Government
Singapore owns 5% of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Its wealth fund bet on timber
As Michigan lawmakers scrutinize foreign land ownership, records obtained by Bridge reveal the Singapore government’s sovereign wealth fund owns more than half a million acres in the Upper Peninsula.
Posted inMichigan Government
No deal: In blow to schools, Michigan’s divided Legislature misses budget deadline
Michigan law required lawmakers to finalize a state budget by July 1. They didn’t. That’s bad news for schools, who are making their own spending decisions without knowing how much money they’ll get from the state.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan petition summer: What to know about voting, tax, wage proposals before you sign
From ranked choice voting to a ‘tax the rich’ plan, Michigan voters could soon be asked to sign at least six petitions for potential 2026 ballot proposals. Here’s what you need to know.
Posted inMichigan Government
Tech flaws, weak rules mar Michigan system to shine light on lawmaker conflicts
A new voter-approved law requires Michigan officials to disclose their personal financial information. Good luck figuring out how to find it.
Posted inMichigan Government
As resistance grows, Michigan Dems disagree on path to ‘take back our country’
Tens of thousands of Michiganders protested Donald Trump this weekend, pushing Democratic officials to confront a president Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has so far tried to work with.
Posted inMichigan Government
Time to rewrite the Michigan Constitution? Voters will decide 2026 ballot proposal
‘We need’ a constitutional convention, according to Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall. Voters get to decide every 16 years, including next November. Recent proposals have failed amid fears of a ‘runaway’ convention.