The Michigan Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday on whether they should direct the state’s redistricting commission to redraw recently approved district maps. A coalition of current and former Detroit politicians and activists allege the newly-redrawn districts violate the Voting Rights Act and would limit Black representation in state and federal government. If you reduce those majorities of African-American districts, and you look at the voting patterns, it's..
13th Congressional District race in Michigan: Here’s who’s running, so far
Michigan’s redistricting commission changed the current legislative boundaries, including the 12th and 13th congressional districts. In the 12th, Rep. Rashida Tlaib says she will run in the new district. That leaves the new 13th wide open, a district that includes Detroit’s downtown and Midtown and stretches from Downriver communities to the Grosse Pointes. Rep. Brenda..
State Sen. Adam Hollier announces bid for Michigan’s 13th Congressional District
State Sen. Adam Hollier is jumping into the fray of Michigan’s newly-redrawn 13th Congressional District. Hollier’s Senate district lies within the 13th. He says he’s running to help bring about structural change. “It's cliche to say that our system is broken,” Hollier says. “We all know that, but what we don't talk about is that is by design. Our system is..
Dearborn inauguration ceremony highlights changing political demographics
Dearborn’s mayor Abdullah Hammoud and other elected officials were sworn in over the weekend. Hammoud made history as the city’s first Arab American and Muslim mayor. Two imams and a reverend opened prayers to begin a historical swearing-in ceremony Saturday at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center. But the focus of attention during the..
Michigan secretary of state and attorney general are investigating whether fake electors broke law
State officials — including Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General Dana Nessel — say they’re looking into whether people who tried to flip the results of the 2020 presidential election in Michigan broke any laws. “Yes. I do think laws were broken here and I do think there needs to be some sort..
Reactions to Michigan’s new district lines are all over the map
Michigan’s redistricting commission has approved new legislative and congressional district maps. But that’s just the beginning of a new chapter of court battles and political maneuvering. As part of the weekly series MichMash, Slate’s Cheyna Roth and WDET’s Jake Neher talk about what happens next. Subscribe to MichMash on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, NPR One or wherever you get your podcasts. It..
Rep. Dan Kildee Shares His Story of the Capitol Insurrection: ‘It Was Really Scary’
Even before the insurrection at the Capitol, Jan. 6, 2021 was set to be different. Rep. Dan Kildee entered the day set to defend Michigan’s Electoral College votes from a Republican challenge. The GOP goal was to deny Joe Biden the required votes needed for the presidency and keep Donald Trump in the nation’s highest office. Kildee,..
Attempts to Upend American Democracy Not Going Away Anytime Soon, Political Columnist Says
About one year ago, an armed mob broke into the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. The mob was eventually subdued, and many Capitol stormers are being tried in court, but the events that day marked the first time a group of people attempted to disrupt the peaceful transfer of presidential..
Rep. Brenda Lawrence’s Retirement Announcement Shakes Up Michigan Congressional Races
Rep. Brenda Lawrence, Michigan’s only Black member of Congress, will not seek re-election, and her retirement announcement has shaken up the races for the 12th and 13th Congressional Districts. In a video statement posted Tuesday night, Lawrence says she knows her retirement from Congress will leave a void in African American representation in the state. “It is not lost on me that I'm currently the only Black member of..
A Defense of — and Rebuttal to — Michigan’s New Political Maps
This year, electoral politics will be critical in Michigan and across the country. Notably, however, this election will be distinct from those of the past. That’s largely because the state has new political maps that were drawn not by politicians in Lansing, but by an independent redistricting commission made up of citizens. “It really was an exercise..