Democrats take full control of Legislature, Michigan government. What to expect

Michigan Democrats have again won a legislative trifecta, flipping not just the state House but also growing their Senate majority
With some race results still pending, it appears House Democrats will hold an at least 60-seat majority
Senate Democrats, meanwhile, are likely to have a 23-15 majority by the time all races are called — their largest margin in decades

LANSING — For only the second time in more than four decades, Democrats will control both chambers of the Michigan Legislature after flipping the state House and growing their majority in the state Senate, according to unofficial election results.

With Jocelyn Benson also winning the governor’s race, Democrats are poised to have a governing “trifecta” in Lansing for the next two years, a power they last enjoyed in the 2023-24 session.

In the 110-seat House, Democrats secured at least 60 seats, in part by ousting at least five GOP incumbents, with several race results still outstanding. And in the 38-member Senate, Democrats grew their majority from 20 to 23 seats, ousting two GOP incumbents in the process.

That will give Democrats their largest majority in the Michigan Senate since 1982, according to Gongwer subscription news service.

“Our Democratic trifecta is going to go to Lansing and pass a voting rights act for the state of Michigan to ensure that every citizen in this state is protected at the ballot box in every election,” Benson promised early Wednesday morning in a victory speech.

The last time the Democrats held complete power, they acted quickly to pass gun reforms, clean energy laws and protections to union and gay rights.

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Democrats told Bridge last month to expect an encore, focusing this time on affordability, reining in drug costs and addressing housing affordability. Benson has promised a new tax on vacation rentals and tax subsidies for the construction of starter homes.

Not only will Democrats control the Legislature and governor, but Tuesday balloting ensured they will maintain control of the state Supreme Court, university boards, the state Board of Education and secretary of state and attorney general.

“Voters have given us a mandate to address the cost of living crisis head-on,” state Sen. Darrin Camilleri, D-Trenton, said Wednesday.

Flipping the House

Democrats entered into Election Day with a 52-58 minority in the state House — and were able to defend their incumbents, but flip several hotly contested races as well.

In the 55th House district, state Rep. Mark Tisdel, R-Rochester Hills, lost by about 4 percentage points to Democrat Alex Hawkins, a US Army veteran.

Tisdel has served since 2021 and has won re-election by 4 to 7 percentage points, even as Democrats like outgoing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer won by double digit margins.

Other Republican House incumbents ousted Tuesday night include state Rylee Linting in the Wayne County-based 27th district and Jamie Thompson in the 28th district, which includes parts of Monroe and Wayne counties.

Steve Frisbie in the Calhoun County-based 44th district and David Martin in the 68th district, which includes parts of Genesee and Oakland counties, also lost their reelection bids.

Democrats also defended the 61st district, where incumbent Rep. Denise Mentzer withstood a challenge from Republican Robert Wojtowicz.

With all precincts reporting, Mentzer won reelection to the Macomb County seat by more than 5,000 votes — outperforming her 2024 contest, also against Wojtowicz, where she only won reelection by a few hundred votes.

Republicans had invested heavily in this district, as had Democrats, with spending cumulatively topping at least $863,000 between the two major parties, according to the Capitol research service MIRS News.

Big gains for Democrats in the House on Tuesday include:

House District 27: Former Democratic state Rep. Jaime Churches beat Linting by roughly 1,641 votes according to unofficial totals Wednesday. Linting had unseated Churches in 2024 by about 2,300 votes and was part of the successful push by Republicans to end the 2022 Democratic trifecta.
House District 46: Democrat Jan Maino toppled incumbent Schmaltz, R-Jackson, for control of a House district which includes parts of Jackson and Washtenaw counties. Republicans spent heavily on Schmaltz, who lost to Maino by more than 2,800 votes.
House District 54: Democrats secured one of the two open House seats this cycle, with Democrat Sarah Pounds beating out Republican Roman Gaskey in the Oakland County-based district. Republican Rep. Donni Steele currently holds the seat but chose not to seek reelection, instead successfully running for the state Senate.

Retaining the Senate

Both Senate Republicans and Democrats in October told Bridge there were five races to watch on election night which could determine chamber control.

Of those, Democrats won four and appear poised to take the final one, according to unofficial vote totals Wednesday.

Should they secure all five, that would give Democrats a 23-15 seat majority over Republicans in the state Senate — the largest margin in almost 50 years.

Based on unofficial results, the competitive districts Democrats won include:

Senate District 9: Democrat Dr. Theresa Brooks ousted incumbent state Sen. Michael Webber, R-Rochester Hills, by nearly 8,300 votes. Webber won the seat by just 795 out of 115,111 votes in 2022. The district includes parts of Oakland and Macomb counties.
Senate District 12: Incumbent state Sen. Kevin Hertel, D-Saint Clair Shores, defended his seat from Republican John Goldwater by more than 9,000 votes. Hertel won the seat by just 404 out of 125,140 votes in 2022. The district includes parts of Wayne, Macomb and St. Clair counties.
Senate District 13: Democrat Sean Carlson beat former Republican state Rep. Ryan Berman by nearly 8,200 votes. The district, which includes part of Oakland County, was an open seat after incumbent state Sen. Rosemary Bayer, D-West Bloomfield, chose not to run for reelection.
Senate District 30: Incumbent state Sen. Mark Huizenga, R-Walker, fell to state Rep. Carol Glanville by more than 13,400 votes. Huizenga won the seat by just 391 out of 129,633 votes in 2022. The district includes parts of Kent and Ottawa counties.

Senate District 32 has still not yet been called, though Democrat Rebecca Amidon seems likely to beat out Republican Kim Cole for an open seat being vacated by term-limited state Sen. Jon Bumstead, R-North Muskegon.

Unofficial returns show Amidon leading Cole by more than 13,400 votes with 88% of the district’s precincts reporting as of time of publication. Bumstead won the district by about 5 percentage points in 2022, and Democrats believe his departure gives them a good chance to close that gap.