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Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s sixth State of the State set for Jan. 24

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will speak before a joint session of the Michigan Legislature on Jan. 24 (Bridge file photo)
  • Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to deliver sixth annual State of the State Address on Jan. 24
  • The second-term Democrat is expected to lay out her legislative priorities for 2024
  • Democrats control the Michigan Legislature but temporarily lost their voting majority in April

LANSING — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will deliver her annual State of the State Address on Jan. 24, her office announced Thursday. 

The second-term Democrat will speak to a joint session of the Michigan Legislature from the state House Chambers at 7 p.m.

Whitmer will lay out ideas to "lower costs," continue to invest in education, expand access to affordable housing, protect seniors and "boost our state's economy to new heights," according to her office. 

"I look forward to sharing my vision for how we continue getting things done so everyone can build a brighter future in Michigan," the governor said in a statement. 

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It's Whitmer's second annual address since Democrats won full control of the state Legislature for the first time in 40 years. 

After an eventful 2023, Democrats will have a harder time getting big bills to Whitmer's desk this year without at least some Republican cooperation. 

That's because Democrats temporarily lost their voting majority in the state House in November when two members resigned after winning mayoral races. 

Special elections to fill those seats are set for April 16.

Whitmer last year appointed a bipartisan council to develop policy proposals that address the state's stagnant population, which since 1990 has grown at a slower rate than all but West Virginia.

The council released its recommendations in December, calling for education reform, more public transportation and community investments -- without any concrete plan for how to pay for those policies. 

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