Despite a solid victory for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and fellow Democrats in the Michigan Legislature, Republicans increased their share of county commission seats, where maps are still drawn by local politicians.
Voters created an independent panel in 2018 to draw fairer lines for state races. Partisans, though, still control the process for counties, and some commissions clearly favor one party.
Given a fairer shot with new legislative districts drawn by a citizens panel, Michigan Democrats took control of both chambers of Legislature for first time in decades.
Democrats haven’t controlled the Michigan Senate since Ronald Reagan was president. Redistricting makes both chambers more competitive after years of gerrymandering.
The 2020 elections made clear that political parties, through the state’s archaic canvassing boards, exert potentially dangerous control over Michigan’s process for certifying results.
The southeast Michigan county is anchoring its own congressional district, and the candidates reflect the region’s growing diversity. With Michigan losing a seat, it could prove pivotal.
New state House maps appear to be set for the next decade after the Michigan Supreme Court declined to take up a lawsuit alleging they will create an unfair partisan advantage for Republican candidates.
Michigan redistricting commissioners had already finished drawing new political maps when they gave themselves a pay raise in February. Now, they’re reversing the raise as they consider disbanding for the decade.