October 20th-November 2nd, 2026

In a shock to all in the political world, on Sunday current Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens announced her endorsement of Republican Former Congressman Mike Rogers’s campaign for US Senate. Rogers is facing Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, who defeated Stevens in the Democratic Primary for the race back in August.

The Democratic primary gained national attention and was noted for the distinct differences between the two candidates. El-Sayed a progressive, critical of Israel and Stevens an establishment Democrat, who is staunchly pro-Isreal. During the primary campaign, tensions were high between El-Sayed and Stevens. While she initially endorsed El-Sayed after losing the primary, their feud was recently reignited when Stevens asked El-Sayed to condemn a political ad posted to social media that criticized Israel. El-Sayed refused, claiming neither he nor his campaign has any connection to the advertisement.

Despite the recent contention between them, El-Sayed and Stevens were both invited to attend a Democratic unity event being hosted at a church in Detroit. When Stevens proclaimed that she would only attend if El-Sayed denounced the group’s advertisement, El-Sayed declined and suggested that Stevens should not attend. On Sunday, Stevens instead joined Mike Rogers at a different church service. Afterwards, Stevens held a joint conference with Rogers announcing her change in endorsement.

The announcement was met with heavy criticism from many high-ranking Democrats who question her allegiance to the party. On the other hand, several Republicans, including President Donald Trump, applauded Stevens for her decision.

The effect of Stevens’ endorsement remains to be seen, as the announcement came just two days before election day, when more than 1.7 million Michiganders have already voted during the absentee and early voting periods.

According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, over 150,000 Michiganders have lost access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the past year. The large decline is a result of federal policy changes stemming from H.R.1, which rolled back federal funding for both SNAP and Medicaid and implemented new eligibility requirements for the programs.

The new law limits eligibility for work requirement waivers to specific areas with unemployment rates of at least 10%. Previously, the waivers had covered 80 Michigan counties and several cities. Under the new threshold, coverage has been reduced to 15 counties and the cities of Bay City, Detroit, Eastpointe, Flint, Jackson and Saginaw.

Eligibility requirements for certain immigrant statuses went into effect on October 1, 2026, causing approximately 5,000 immigrants in Michigan to have their coverage reduced to Medicaid Emergency Services Only (ESO).

The number of Michigan residents who will lose access to SNAP is expected to increase to over 200,000 in the new year when work requirements and eligibility determination changes take place. Under the changes, individuals will have to prove they completed 80 hours of approved activity or earned a minimum of $580 per month. Eligibility verification to ensure these requirements are being met will now take place every 6 months, replacing the current policy of once per year.

MDHHS has developed an educational toolkit and screening tool to help beneficiaries and providers understand work requirements and exemptions. The department is also providing updates on the changes and offering grants to nonprofits assisting residents with Medicaid and SNAP applications and renewals. Link to the toolkit and screening tool.

Recently, the Senate Fiscal Agency (SFA) released the Monthly Revenue Report for September 2026. The state brought in $4.2 billion, $255.8 million higher than the projected number, and 11.4% more than September 2025. General Fund revenue came in at $179.2 million above expectations, while School Aid Fund revenue came in at $76.1 million above the forecast.

For September 2026, the largest source of revenue was net income tax collections, totaling $1.6 billion, up 2.2% from September 2025 but $91.2 million below forecast. Combined sales and use tax collections totaled $1.1 billion, $77.7 million above forecast. Sales tax receipts declined 4.3%, partly due to the motor fuel sales tax exemption, while use tax collections increased 30.1% from the previous September.

The big surprise was revenue from the repealed Single Business Tax, Michigan Business Tax, and Corporate Income Tax totaled $486.8 million, up 117.3% from September 2025 and $216.2 million above expectations, driven largely by record-high Corporate Income Tax collections.

So far, the revenue collections in the current fiscal year the General Fund has beaten projections by $684.7 million and the School Aid Fund has overperformed by $369.7 million.

Last week, Michigan Auditor General Doug A. Ringler announced that he will retire in the spring of 2027. Ringler has been Michigan’s Auditor General since 2014, and had previously served as Michigan’s director of internal audit. Ringler said he will help with the transition of the next auditor general.

In related changes, Governor Whitmer has announced several new appointments and reappointments to the following state boards and commissions:

Michigan Board of Occupational Therapists

Clyde Mayberry – Succeeds Barry Lesnick

Child Lead Exposure Elimination Commission

Diane McCloskey – Reappointed

Lyke Thompson – Reappointed

Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services

Carol Bergquist – Reappointed

Michigan Opioids Task Force

Caitlin Koucky – Reappointed

Helen Klingert – Reappointed

Catherine Kelly – Succeeds Stephen Alsum

Public Health Advisory Council

Charles Bloom – Succeeds Rory Lafferty

Michigan Board of Medicine

Tiffany Brown – Succeeds Nancy Wayne

Michigan Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee

Dr. Jennifer Baldridge – Succeeds Nora Orow

Autism Council

Patricia Neitman – Reappointed

Health Information Technology Commission

Sarah Musser – Succeeds Maya Cleaver

Statewide Independent Living Council

Aaron Andres – Reappointed

Stacy Bobo – Succeeds Jamia Davis

Council on Physical Fitness, Health, and Sports

Terra Castro – Succeeds Bryan Rief

Ira Newble – Reappointed