Updates About Governor

The Michigan Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on DHHS recently released their budget recommendations for the department for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 (FY 27). The proposal came in at $40.4 billion ($7.6 billion GF/GP), a gross increase from last year of $10.5 billion ($206.9 million GF/GP). The Senate came in $500 million under Gov. Whitmer’s proposal.

Notably, the Senate recommendation did not include new taxes proposed by the Governor on digital advertising, tobacco, vapes, and other nicotine products, or the changes to online gambling taxes, that would generate an estimated $800 million to assist in covering Medicaid costs. While the Senate did not include any identified Medicaid cost savings in its budget, Gov. Whitmer’s proposal included $150 million in savings and House Republicans called for $300 million. The Senate also proposed 485 new Full-Time Employees (FTEs) compared to the 589 new positions recommended by the Governor.

A brief overview of the Michigan House Republicans proposal can be found here.

The primary field for the Governor’s race in both parties is expected to be finalized after the Michigan Bureau of Elections (BOE) completes signature validation, with nine candidates having submitted the minimum required signatures for review. The candidates who filed for each party are listed below:

Democrats

• Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson
• Genesee County Sheriff, Chris Swanson
• Former Federal Auditor, Kim Thomas

Republicans

• U.S. Congressman, John James
• Businessman, Perry Johnson
• Former Attorney General, Mike Cox
• Senate Minority Leader, Aric Nesbitt
• Pastor, Ralph Rebrandt

Former Mayor of Detroit, Mike Duggan, who is running as an independent, will forgo any primary election and instead have to turn his signatures in by July 16 in order to appear on the November general election ballot.

Some of Governor Whitmer’s latest appointments to boards and commissions include:

Michigan Board of Medicine

• Aurelia Gooden, of Riverview – reappointed, member of the public

Michigan Board of Marriage and Family Therapy

• Angela Miller, of Livingston – appointed, succeeds Bernard Lawler
• Natasha Wippel, of Okemos – appointed, succeeds Nadia Bazzy

Michigan Board of Nursing Home Administrators

• LaTosha Agee-Gussman, of Southfield – reappointed, general public member

Board of Interpreters for the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing

• Randa Hermez, of Troy – appointed, succeeds Linda Sykora

Certificate of Need Commission

• Sarah Spannbauer, of Royal Oak – appointed, succeeds Gregory Salwin

Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services

• Justin Caine, of Holt – appointed, succeeds Todd Culver