September 19th-October 5th, 2026

The 2026 midterm election, taking place on Tuesday, November 3, is just under a month away. This year is especially important due to the large number of state and federal offices up for election. In addition to the state and federal House elections, the entire State Senate is also on the ballot. Majority in both the State House and the State Senate are expected to be competitive this election cycle. Republicans currently control the State House 58-52, and Democrats control the Senate 20-18.

Michigan will also elect a new governor, as current Governor Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited. While the gubernatorial race is typically the top-of-the-ballot contest in Michigan, this year the national spotlight is on the U.S. Senate race for the seat being vacated by Senator Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Township).

Voters will also decide on the approval or rejection of two ballot initiatives. Every 16 years, the opportunity to hold a constitutional convention appears on the ballot. Proposal 1, if passed, will call for a constitutional convention where delegates draft a revised version of the State Constitution. After the drafting process, the revised constitution is presented to voters for approval. The last time the state held a constitutional convention was in 1961-1962. Changes made during the constitutional convention were later approved by voters in 1963, resulting in the current constitution Michigan follows today. Since then, support for a constitutional convention has never exceeded 33%, with the highest level of support coming in 2010.

Proposal 2 would place new restrictions on campaign contributions and political communications. It would prohibit certain utilities, government contractors, and those closely connected to them from contributing to candidates who could directly impact their interests. The proposal would also expand disclosure requirements for political communications, including online political advertisements, to make it clearer who paid for them.

Using the following steps you can see your entire sample ballot on the official Michigan Secretary of State website.

1. Go to https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/PublicBallot/Index.
2. Fill in the Election, County, Jurisdiction, and Precinct information.
3. Click “View Ballot” and a sample ballot will be displayed.

Recently, Governor Whitmer signed a four bill bi-partisan package to balance the State’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget. Included in the legislation is a plan to move forward with a $1.3 billion investment in construction and renovation projects at public universities and community colleges.

Two of the bills authorize financing for 27 higher education projects included in the budget. Under SB 729, the State Building Authority’s debt ceiling was raised, allowing for the financing of the projects. HB 5482 provides the Legislature with the authority to appropriate funding for the State Building Authority’s rental payments and long-term projects.

The remaining two bills divert money into the General Fund. SB 569 transfers money from the Public Health Code to the General Fund, while HB 5109 moves money from the Transportation Administration Collection Fund.

The patch these bills provide ensures the state can move forward with the higher education projects that aim to modernize existing facilities, renovate older classrooms, and create new labs, while maintaining a balanced FY 2027 budget.

A recent survey of over 1,000 Michiganders showed that voters on both sides of the aisle share the same affordability concerns over healthcare issues. The survey, commissioned by Healthier United during the month of September, asked the participants various health policy questions.

Over 90% of respondents agreed that Medicaid is an important or very important part of healthcare access in their community. Support was high among both parties, with 97% of Democrats and 86% of Republicans sharing this view.

The top priority among survey goers was making health insurance premiums more affordable, with 76% agreeing. Again support was bipartisan, with 70% of Republicans and 85% of Democrats putting it as their top priority. The second-highest priority identified in the survey was addressing the growing mental health crisis among the state’s children and youth, with 66% of respondents indicating it is a top priority.

Responses for support of “Medicare for All” and state funding for the RxKids program saw a wider partisan split. Overall, 60% of respondents supported “Medicare for All,” while 34% opposed it. Support was higher among Democrats, at 85%, compared with 37% of Republicans. The approval numbers for the RxKids program, which provides direct cash payments to new and expecting mothers, were lower. Overall, 58% of respondents supported using state funding to make the program available across Michigan, including 75% of Democrats and 42% of Republicans.

The survey indicates that healthcare affordability and health policy reform are top of mind for voters during the final stretch of the 2026 election season.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced that they will be hosting the Medicaid Health Plan Common Formulary over Zoom on Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the list of prescription drugs covered under Michigan Medicaid health plans.

During the meeting, the public community partners, and other interested parties will have an opportunity to provide comments on the prescription drug list. The common formulary was created in 2016 to streamline prescription drug coverage policies and ensure consistent coverage across contracted Medicaid health plans.

To view the full press release and how to RSVP for the Zoom call, click here.

This year’s state Christmas tree has been selected! The Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (DTMB) announced that the winner is a 60-foot spruce tree from Iron Mountain in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, donated by Larry Riccio and his family.

The tree will be harvested on November 5th and arrive in downtown Lansing on November 7th. Once placed in front of the Capitol, local Boy Scout troops will continue their tradition of untying the tree. The City of Lansing’s forestry team will then prepare the tree for the decorations and lights developed by the Lansing Board of Water and Light and the Michigan Capitol Commission.

After the preparations are made, the tree lighting ceremony will take place at the 42nd annual Silver Bells in the City ceremony on November 20th, where the thousands of decorative lights will be switched on at approximately 7:30 PM.