Learn more about the 2018 candidates for Michigan governor
- Republican Bill Schuette Michigan must fix education, lower taxes and car insurance
- Democract Gretchen Whitmer: Grow Michigan by offering debt-free community college
- Where Michigan governor primary winners Schuette and Whitmer stand on issues
Analysis of the 2018 Michigan governor race
Coverage from the August 2018 Michigan's gubernatorial primary election.
- Gretchen Whitmer and Bill Schuette, ideological opposites, face off for governor
- Gretchen Whitmer wins Democratic primary | Bill Schuette wins Republican primary
- Eight takeaways from Michigan’s gubernatorial primary
- Maps show easy paths to victory for Whitmer, Schuette in Michigan governor race
- Who’s funding Michigan governor primary winners, Schuette and Whitmer
2018 Michigan Facts & Issues Guide
Two dozen quick-yet-comprehensive reports on Michigan’s biggest issues.
- Download PDF of the full printed report.
- 100 Key Michigan Facts in one chart.
- Fact Slideshows: Education & Talent | Economy & Prosperity | Quality of Life | Government & Reform
Education & Talent
- K-12 Student Performance: Michigan's K-12 performance dropping at alarming rate
- School Reform: Many Michigan K-12 reform ideas are jumbled, broad, or wildly expensive
- Early Childhood: Michigan preschool funding has improved, but child care still unaffordable
- Higher Ed: College funding cuts in Michigan have led to fewer students, greater debt
Economy & Prosperity
- Economy: Michigan business climate improves, but educated workforce is shrinking
- Jobs & Labor: Demand for Michigan workers is very high, but many have given up looking
- Incomes: Michigan income growth hindered by lack of college graduates
- Business: Business incentives cost Michigan millions, and it’s uncertain they work
Quality of Life
- Public Health: Michigan's adverse health trends track along racal, poverty lines
- Health Care: Health care in rural Michigan communities suffering, despite Obamacare
- Safety Net: $1B of Michigan’s welfare money goes to college students who aren’t poor
- Water Issues: Michigan's Great Lakes are good, but water concerns include lead and Line 5
- Lands & Energy: Michigan battling 22 invasive forest species, high electric bills
- Michigan Tourism: Does state make $8.33 for every $1 spent on Pure Michigan campaign?
- Infrastructure: Michigan needs $4B more per year for infrastructure, but how to pay for it?
- Cities: In Michigan, more than 150 communities are financially distressed
- Rural Michigan: Limited Internet in rural Michigan depresses student, business opportunity
- Public Safety: Michigan pays 18% less per citizen than nat'l average for public safety
Government & Reform
- Michigan Taxes: Michigan gives more tax breaks than it collects for schools, government
- State Spending: Big government? Michigan's state, local workforce 2nd smallest in nation
- Gov't Reform: Despite low trust of gov't, Michigan legislators have done little to change
2018 Michigan Solutions Summit Reports
In March, the Center for Michigan and Bridge Magazine convened more than 50 policy experts to discuss Michigan’s biggest issues. What they said about statewide priorities and Michigan’s future:
- Full Summit Videos: Detroit | Grand Rapids
What we learned (includes expert video clips)
- How to solve Michigan’s big problems? Be willing to talk about solutions
- Michigan’s riding high. But a downturn is coming and the safety net is frayed.
- Getting past politics to give Michigan the schools it deserves
- Michigan’s infrastructure is in shambles. Answers aren’t easy
- Michigan’s economy is improving. But suburbs may face next fiscal crisis.
- Pure Michigan faces troubles from climate change to drinking water
- Why don’t Michiganders trust government? Let’s count the ways.
- Michigan voters may weigh legalizing pot, repealing prevailing wage
- West Michigan leaders join chorus for state education reform
Truth Squad: Watchdogging the Facts in 2018 Campaigns
The Michigan Truth Squad fact-checks political claims made by candidates and third-party interest groups. We've limited this list to candidates still in the gubernatorial race, even if claims were made by party rivals in the primary election.
- Abdul El-Sayed says rival Gretchen Whitmer opens door to ‘dark money’
- Bill Schuette says Michigan is ‘last’ in third-grade reading
- Gretchen Whitmer says she’s fought two governors on school aid
- Brian Calley says Bill Schuette once supported abortion
- Gretchen Whitmer depicts Michigan teachers in poverty
- Schuette says tax hikes put family dreams at risk
- Koch brothers group attacks Gretchen Whitmer’s tax votes
- Bill Schuette’s track record as attorney general
- Questioning Gretchen Whitmer’s gun control record in Michigan
- Read Truth Squad’s latest fact checks.
- Fight Fake News & Fake Politics: Quickly learn how to spot fake news on social media and report questionable or suspicious political advertising.
Play the “You Be the Governor” Game
How would you run Michigan? How should Michigan’s elected officials act? The You Be the Governor Game simulates the difficult decisions the governor and legislators must make. Give it a try:
Documentary: Understand Michigan’s Political Divide
Bridge Magazine closely followed a dozen Michigan families to illustrate political divisions and shared values across the state.
- Watch the full "Michigan Divided" documentary on Facebook. (Recorded.)
- Watch clips of the Michigan Divided documentary movie.
- Schedule a Michigan Divided screening and discussion in your community.
- Read Bridge reports about Michigan’s political divide and hyper-partisanship.
Join the 2018 Michigan Truth Tour
The Center for Michigan and Bridge Magazine are traveling across Michigan on a 100-stop tour through election day in November to: Hold community discussions about Michigan issues, hold ‘Michigan Divided’ documentary screenings, distribute nonpartisan voter issue guides and make citizenship fun again with interactive public affairs games, contests, and Coney the Truth Dog.
- See where Truth Tour is headed next.
- Schedule a stop in your community.
Stay Informed throughout the 2018 Campaign
Bridge Magazine is a three-time-defending Michigan Press Association “Newspaper of the Year.” Readers and leaders depend on Bridge for Michigan’s most in-depth public service journalism. Bridge is your place to stay informed on big-picture statewide issues and the 2018 election.