Detroit Today: Why Michigan faces political deadlock after Tuesday’s elections
State Rep. Lori Stone became the first female mayor of Warren following her win to replace term-limited Mayor Jim Fouts, while state Rep. Kevin Coleman won his bid for mayor in Westland.
Michigan State Capitol building.
Two Democratic members of the Michigan House of Representatives won their respective mayoral races on Tuesday, reducing the Democrats’ two-member majority to a 54-54 tie.
State Rep. Lori Stone became the first female mayor of Warren following her win to replace term-limited Mayor Jim Fouts, while state Rep. Kevin Coleman won his bid for mayor in Westland.
Both Stone and Coleman must take office within a few weeks, leaving the chamber in a partisan deadlock until Gov. Gretchen Whitmer calls a special election to fill the vacant seats. The Michigan Secretary of State’s office previously estimated it would take approximately 120 days to hold a special election.
Colin Jackson, Capitol reporter for the Michigan Public Radio Network, joined Detroit Today on Wednesday to discuss the repercussions the local mayoral elections will have in the Michigan Legislature going forward.
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Guest:
Colin Jackson is a politics reporter for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He says since Democrats have lost their majority in the State House of Representatives and they won’t have momentum like they did in the beginning of the year.
“This is definitely a big headache for Democratic leadership,” said Jackson.
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