Updates About Elections

A new report from AdImpact projects that in the next 14 months leading up to the 2026 Michigan midterm elections, $936 million is expected to be spent in political advertising. The open gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races are contributing factors to the considerable ad spending. Pending ballot eligibility for several petition initiatives could further intensify political expenses.

The U.S. Senate race to replace Senator Gary Peters (D- Bloomfield Township), is expected to be one of the most expensive upcoming races in the country. AdImpact reports that over $220 million was spent on Michigan’s 2024 U.S. Senate election, with projections for 2026 topping $500 million.

Heavy spending is likely in competitive state Senate and House districts, as well as the gubernatorial race. The Michigan Legislature races are predicted to be the second highest in the nation, with $56.9 million expected to be spent on advertisements. The race for governor, currently recognized as a toss-up, is forecasted to be the highest cost gubernatorial race nationwide with a projected $152 million. Compared to the 2022 cycle, similar competitive races drew $80 million.

Lansing District Judge Kristen Simmons rejected all criminal charges against a group of 15 Republican electors who forged a counterfeit public document containing their own signatures claiming that then-presidential candidate Donald Trump had won Michigan in the 2020 election.

Simmons ruled that the defendants were not culpable of any criminal activity because they were acting under the direction of Trump attorney Shawn Flynn, and the Michigan Attorney General’s office had failed to establish probable cause. Therefore, the electors believed they were exercising their constitutional right to raise concerns about election fraud to the U.S. Senate.

As Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) reaches her term limit in District 29, three Grand Rapids Democrats are emerging as frontrunners for the upcoming primary:

• Ivan Diaz: Former progressive Kent County Commissioner
• Rep. Phil Skaggs: Current Representative for House District 80 and former legislative director to then-Rep. David LaGrand (now Mayor of Grand Rapids)
• Rep. Kristian Grant: Current Representative for House District 82 and Grand Rapids-based real estate developer

In neighboring District 30, incumbent Sen. Mark Huizenga (R-Walker) is preparing to defend one of West Michigan’s last Republican-held Senate seats in a district that leaned narrowly Democratic in 2024. While Rep. Carol Glanville (D-Grand Rapids) is frequently mentioned as a potential challenger, she has not filed. The only declared Democrat so far is Richard Kreuzer, a former member of the State Board of Nursing.