The same Mitchell Research poll also took a quick look at the race for governor, with substantial undecideds in each hypothetical race. If the Republican primary were held today, Congressman John James would take 48 percent with former Michigan AG Mike Cox at 11 percent; former Speaker of the House Tom Leonard at five percent; state Senate Minority Leaders Aric Nesbitt at two percent; and Ralph Rebrandt at one percent. On the Democrat side, if held today the primary res

Who knows the value of straw polls conducted at political party gatherings, but in the case of Congressman John James they may well illustrate the GOP division over his unorthodox run for governor in 2026. James, who has missed a number of party-sponsored get-togethers, most recently lost a straw poll of 98 party members when Leelanau County Republicans met. Aric Nesbitt took 41 votes; Tom Leonard , 30; and Mike Cox , 23 votes. John James? He only got two votes, while “non

Another Michigan Democratic congressman not feeling the love from his fellow congressman – nor his party – is Shri Thanedar (D-Detroit, Grosse Pointe, Highland Park), who introduced articles of impeachment against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegeseth –charging Hegseth with “Murder and Conspiracy to Murder, and for Reckless and Unlawful Mishandling of Classified Information.” “Pete Hegseth is uniquely unqualified to serve as Secretary of Defense,” Thanedar said in the release

There’s a new player in the race for Secretary of State. Democrat Suzanna Shkreli of Birmingham, who until recently was the Michigan Lottery Commissioner as well as a former Director of Juvenile Justice Reform in DHHS, announced she is running to replace Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson , who is term-limited and running for governor. Shkreli joins a crowded field, where she’ll tussle with Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum , former state Senator Adam Hollier and Assistant Mich

Former Congressman and Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers – who had the field all to himself since he announced his reprise run – is getting some company on the campaign trail. After Republicans shooed away legit contenders (ie, Congressman Bill Huizenga , who represents southwest Michigan, who was convinced by party leaders, including President Trump , to let Rogers have it to himself), Michigan GOP co-chair Bernadette Smith resigned in early November and announced

For decades state lawmakers in Lansing have complained that the short time between an early August primary and then an early November general election is simply not sufficient and local municipal clerks have tended to agree with that position. So months ago some Republicans in the legislature proposed in a bill to move the primary election to either May or June, followed by a November general election, starting in the 2026 election year. But weeks ago the powers in Lansing sa

When U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens announced for the U.S. Senate this year, and state Senator Jeremy Moss ( D-Southfield) announced for her House seat, some political observers speculated that his entry into the Democratic primary would not necessarily clear the field of other contenders but would limit the number of candidates for this congressional district that includes most of Oakland County. Lots of luck with that theory. First came attorney Aisha Farooqi , Stu Baker of Aubu

Republican gubernatorial candidate John James skipped most of the earlier annual gathering at Mackinac Island and in October was a ‘no show’ at the Grand Rapids GOP debate, the first of three sponsored by the state Republican Party. Although the second term member of Congress is doing well in polling and campaign contributions, his campaign reportedly has issued a statement that James will not be attending any primary debates until the field is more “set.” His failure to app

Polling for the governor’s race for ‘26 is beginning to reveal the haves-and-have-nots as both money and backers coalesce behind certain candidates – and are leaving others out in the winter cold. What is coming into clearer focus is that outgoing Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan , long a Democrat but running as an independent for governor, could play the spoiler for Democrats – and potentially win the contest, if you believe the bucketful of endorsements he is carting around, from

Former Michigan GOP Party co-chairman Jeff Sakwa has been feeling the heat from both political parties over a fundraiser he hosted for independent gubernatorial candidate Mike Duggan . “I’ve been getting shit from both sides – from people who are not in my inner circle – but I’m getting money from people on both sides who are excited about his candidacy and I’ve never had an easier time raising money,” Sakwa said. “The excitement is through the roof. I’ve even gotten call f