Michigan elections FAQ: Debate dodges, top races to watch

• In new Michigan elections FAQ show, Bridge reporters dissect vice presidential debate and ‘big dodges’ by JD Vance and Tim Walz
• It was ‘refreshing’ to candidates ‘spar with one another without making it seem ugly,’ said reporter Jordyn Hermani
• Reporters also highlighted down-ticket races and trends they are watching ahead of the Nov. 5 general election

Well, that was surprisingly civil. 

No, not Wednesday’s Michigan elections FAQ show, in which Bridge reporters were predictably collegial. 

We mean Tuesday night’s vice presidential debate between JD Vance and Tim Walz, which at times seemed like an exercise in "Midwest nice” by candidates who hail from Ohio and Minnesota.

It was "refreshing" to see politicians meet in the "marketplace of ideas and spar with one another without making it seem ugly," Bridge reporter Jordyn Hermani said during a special Wednesday edition of the FAQ show. "For a lot of voters I've talked to throughout this cycle, that civility, people feel, is certainly lacking."

Watch the full Michigan elections FAQ show here: 

The debate allowed Vance, in particular, to “show a little bit of a different side of himself, which I think was probably goal number one,” said Bridge reporter Mike Wilkinson. While some voters may disagree with him on policy, Vance was able to move beyond his own “caricature” and present himself as “just another guy from Ohio.”

The debate was not without false and misleading claims, however. And there were also “some big dodges” by both vice presidential candidates, reporter Simon Schuster said in response to a reader question.

Walz, for instance, declined to say whether he supports any restrictions on abortion access. And Vance again refused to say whether he believes his running mate, Donald Trump, lost the 2020 election (Trump lost by 154,188 votes in Michigan).

Related:

• Fact focus: False, misleading claims made in JD Vance and Tim Walz debate
• Michigan elections FAQ: Where Trump, Harris stand on climate, Great Lakes
• Crime fact check: Violence fell in ‘23, but still high in many Michigan cities

The election certification question Vance avoided — the last of the night — was among "the biggest moments" of the debate because it gives Democrats an opportunity to continue to cast the Trump ticket as a threat to democratic institutions, Schuster said. 

But beyond the debate — and the never-ending presidential election — Bridge reporters also identified other big and important storylines to pay attention to in the final month of the election:

• Battle for the state House: Two years ago, Democrats won a 56-54 majority in the Michigan House that gave them "trifecta control" of state government for the first time in four decades. Now, all 110 seats are up for election again. "If Republicans are able to hold on to the seats that they have now and flip just one or two seats, you can see a markedly changed state government that's going to have to completely alter the way it does business over the next two years," Schuster said. 
• Senate splitters? Voters have strong opinions about Harris and Trump, but the top of the ticket may not decide key congressional races if enough voters split their tickets, Wilkinson said. That could be especially interesting to watch in the U.S. Senate race, where Democrat Elissa Slotkin is running to succeed Debbie Stabenow against Republican Mike Rogers, who has "aligned himself" with Trump. "Are the coattails going to extend?"
• Michigan Supreme Court: Democratic nominees currently hold a 4-3 advantage on the state's highest court, but two seats are up for grabs in November. Hermani noted the court has made some big rulings of late, including a decision that will require the state to raise its minimum wage. If Democratic nominees lose, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and legislative Democrats could "be faced with a less-friendly state court."

There’s much more to watch in the full video above, which you can also find on the Bridge Michigan YouTube channel. 

This free, online event was part of our Michigan elections FAQ series that aims to engage and inform readers about critical contests that will help shape the direction of our state and country. 

Join us for our next show Monday, Oct. 7, at 11:30 a.m. Sign up now, and ask your question about Michigan elections here.