Michigan's legislature, governor's office controlled by Democrats for the first time in nearly 40 years

LANSING (WWJ) - Effective January 1, 2023, Democrats will be in full control of Michigan government.

Two closely watched races in Macomb County and parts of Detroit ended with Democrats beating out their Republican rivals Wednesday morning, all but securing the State Senate while Democrats won the majority of House seats.

Democrats won 56 State House seats to 54 for the Republicans, midterm election results indicate.

In the State Senate, Democrats will have a 20 to 18 advantage after incumbent Senator Michael MacDonald lost his race to Macomb County Commissioner Veronica Klinefelt. Another close race was in the 12th Senate District in Macomb County and a portion of Detroit where Kevin Hertel beat Pamela Hornberger.

As a result, it will be the first time in nearly 40 years that both chambers of the Michigan legislature, as well as the governor's office will be controlled by Democrats.

Michigan Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, representing District 19, said pulling off the trifecta was never going to be easy.

"I would never say, oh we had it in the bag and we knew this was going to happen," she told WWJ's Mike Campbell. "But we knew that if we did the work, we knocked the doors, we spent the money, we focused where we knew we could make gains ... that work would more than likely pay off."

For three and a half decades, Republicans had held control of Lansing. The Democrats haven't simultaneously held the governor’s office, the state House and the Michigan Senate since 1983.

Rep. Pohutsky said these wins mean Democrats can now better focus on issues such as a clean environment, reproductive rights and helping the working class.

"That's a good thing, and it's a better then when we have gavels in both chambers and a governor in the executive office who is willing to sign these bills into law," she said. "That's better for the state, it's better for the citizens and it's good news."

In a statement issued by the House Republican Campaign Committee, Speaker of the House Jason Wentworth in part blamed redistricting for its losses.

“The people of Michigan have seen the success of the past twelve years, and they know our bold reforms have paved the way,” said Wentworth.

“This election was always going to be an uphill climb, with a challenging political environment statewide, a redistricting commission that publicly admitted it helped Democrats gain seats, and special interests from all over the country targeting the Michigan House for Democrat control," he added. "When the focus was actually on our work at the state Capitol and what House Republicans accomplished for the people of Michigan, our candidates performed well. House Democrats ran a good race this year, but House Republicans will be back in majority in two years to continue our work.”

Related

Dems beating back GOP surge, but control of Congress unclear

For more election results for Wayne County, visit this link.

For more election results for Oakland County, visit this link.

For more election results for Macomb County, visit this link.

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