Updates About Elections

The winners of the April 16 special election for the two House seats vacated by former Representatives Kevin Coleman (D-Westland) and Lori Stone (D-Warren) back in November were sworn in to the Michigan State House following the certification of the election results.

Representatives Peter Herzberg (D-Westland) and Mai Xiong (D-Warren) gave the House Democrats theirs two-seat majority back following their wins. Subsequently, the new members were given committee assignments. Herzberg will serve on the Transportation, Mobility and Infrastructure Committee, the Health Policy Subcommittee on Behavioral Health, the Agriculture Committee, and the Energy, Communications and Technology Committee. Xiong was assigned to the Insurance Committee, the Military, Veterans and Homeland Security Committee, the Education Committee, and the Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee.

The April 16 special elections in two Metro Detroit districts carry immense significance for Michigan’s House control, currently deadlocked between Republicans and Democrats. Following successful mayoral races for former state representatives Kevin Coleman (D-Westland, district 25) and Lori Stone (D-Warren, district 13), both vacated their seats in the Michigan House in December, leading to the current 54-54 split between the parties. However, Tuesday’s vote could break this stalemate.

With Democratic candidates Mai Xiong and Peter Herzberg expected to secure victories against Republican Candidates Ronald Singer and Josh Powell in their respective Democratic-leaning districts, the stage is set for a potential shift in power. Xiong and Herzberg prioritize local issues like education funding and infrastructure improvements, while Singer and Powell aim to challenge the odds by focusing on taxation and transparency. Regardless of the outcome, the special elections mark a pivotal moment in Michigan’s political landscape for years to come.

The federal panel overseeing the redistricting of several Detroit-area House districts has approved the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission’s Motown Sound remedy map for the upcoming 2024 elections. The court ruled that the commission’s map complies with federal law, rejecting arguments for an alternative map. The Motown Sound map will be used for the upcoming elections after changes were made to 15 districts following the ruling that seven were unconstitutional. Read more about the redistricting and Supreme Court ruling here.

¶See the Michigan Motown Sound Final House District Map Here