MLC Insider Intelligence: July 24, 2026
Michigan Legislative Consultants
Weekly Recap: The House and Senate are on their reduced summer schedule and didn’t hold session or committees this week.
From Paper Hats to Politics: At first glance, one of MLC President Tim Ward’s first jobs couldn’t be more different than his career. However, there are more similarities than first meets the eye. Both involve long hours and sometimes late nights. Both have high-pressure situations, lots of demands, and seemingly not enough time to get all the tasks done. The deadlines in both can be unrelenting; as soon as one is met, another one is created. And both jobs have many variables beyond one’s control, where all that you can do is focus on what you can control and not worry about the rest. There are also numerous parts that need to come together to meet the objective; certain parts are led by others, making it a team effort. Oh, and both involve food! The job long ago that held great work lessons with similar dynamics? Being a cook in the grill room at Bill Knapp’s restaurant during college.
Lessons: Being part of a six-person crew, each with a defined role needing to be carried out, provided Tim the lesson that a lot of activity and coordination are required to produce something that, in the end, is simple. Today, that lesson helps him set aside the busyness and less valuable activity and focus on the important and productive items. When he’s successful in doing so, the workday becomes simple.
Career Growth: While the working dynamics of being a short-order cook are transferable to the lobbying environment, fortunately, Tim was able to leave other things behind. No more paper hats and unfashionable aprons. No waitresses yelling “where’s my order?!” through the kitchen window. And of course, going home at the end of the day without carrying kitchen odors with me.
Governor Signs State Budget: This week, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the 2027 Fiscal Year budget, providing appropriations for the next fiscal year beginning on October 1. The budget makes a number of large investments, including $532 million for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which provides a tuition pathway for full-time community college students and up to $27,500 for full-time students at universities, and $184.3 million for the state to meet new federal requirements for food and health care access, including $94.3 million in increased SNAP administrative cost-sharing. Additionally, investments in the state’s infrastructure continue with $343 million appropriated for local road funding and $52.7 million more in additional funds for state and local roads and bridges.
Education Omnibus Budget: The budget makes a large investment to address the state’s literacy crisis, including $502 million towards literacy curriculum, literacy training for teachers, literacy coaches, and high-impact tutoring. The budget also appropriates $325 million for a 2.5% increase in base per-pupil funding, $200 million to continue free school meals for all 1.4 million public school students, and $150 million to continue educator bonuses and supports for teachers.
Additional Legislation: As part of the budget negotiations, a number of bills were passed by the legislature, and a handful of those were signed into law along with the budget bills. This includes a requirement for elementary teachers to complete intensive training in the science of reading, including phonics, codifying requirements for districts to receive weighted funding, and modifications to the interim teaching certification process to expand pathways for individuals training to become special education teachers. Governor Whitmer also signed legislation codifying the MI Tri-Share program into law, which splits the cost of an employee’s licensed child care equally among the employer, the employee, and the state.
Governor’s Chief of Staff Departing: After nearly 8 years, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that her chief of staff, JoAnne Huls, is leaving the role on July 31. She will continue to serve the administration as a senior adviser. Effective August 1, Zack Pohl will be promoted from principal deputy chief of staff to chief of staff. Prior to serving as communications director for the executive office and the governor’s 2018 campaign, he worked for former U.S. Representative Mark Schauer and the Michigan Senate Democratic Caucus.
Importance: “For almost eight years, JoAnne has served the people of Michigan with strength, courage, and professionalism,” said Governor Whitmer. “She was by my side through it all, acting as an effective and decisive leader and helping us make historic progress to fix the damn roads, create jobs, and more. JoAnne is a dear friend, and I’m grateful she will continue to serve Michigan as my senior adviser. I’m excited to promote Zack Pohl to be my next chief of staff. He’s been on the team since my 2018 campaign, and he’s a clear strategic thinker who steps up every day for Michiganders. I’m looking forward to working with him as we run through the finish line. Let’s keep getting things done.”
Promotions: Additional changes within the executive office were also announced, including Maria Martinez was promoted from deputy chief of staff to chief deputy, Kara Cook was promoted from director of legislative affairs to deputy chief of staff, and Emily Mellits was promoted from Director of the Office of Community Engagement to Director of External Affairs.
Absentee Voting Increases From 2022: With two weeks left before the August 4 primary election, 572,553 Michigan voters have already cast their ballot, according to data on the relaunched Michigan Voting Dashboard. Voter requests for mail ballots and the number of completed ballots returned are significantly higher than the same time in the 2022 midterm primary. As of July 21, 1,967,288 voters have requested a mail (absentee) ballot, including 1,915,564 on the permanent mail ballot list. Additionally, 572,553 voters have returned their completed ballot by mail, drop box, or to their clerk’s office. Compared to the same time in 2022, mail ballot requests have increased 68.5%, and ballots returned are up 43.6%. At this point in 2022, 1,167,369 mail ballots were requested, and 398,756 mail ballots had been returned.
Michigan Voting Dashboard: Housed by the Michigan Department of State, it’s a tool that gives the public, media, and election officials immediate access to voting data. The data is updated daily and is pulled from the state’s Qualified Voter File, the secure database of voters used by the Michigan Bureau of Elections and more than 1,600 election clerks throughout Michigan. It does not display information about individual voters to protect their right to ballot secrecy.
Election Dates: Early voting sites open on Saturday, July 25 and will be open at least 8 hours every day through Sunday, August 2. Voters can bring their ballot to an early voting site before Election Day and must be received by clerks no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
Unemployment Rate Declines: Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in June declined by one-tenth of a percentage point to 5%. Employment during the month decreased by 21,000, while the number of unemployed declined by 4,000.
National Numbers: The national unemployment rate also declined by one-tenth of a percentage point last month, coming in at 4.2%. The national jobless rate advanced by one-tenth of a percentage point over the year, while the statewide rate remained unchanged since June 2025.
Importance: “Michigan’s labor market was stable in June, as the unemployment rate fell to 5.0 percent and payroll jobs added another 3,000 workers. Both metrics matched similar levels in June 2025.” said Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for Michigan’s Center for Data and Analytics. “Participation in the state’s labor force continued to decline.”
Changes to Unemployment Benefits Take Effect: This week, increased work-search requirements took effect for those receiving unemployment benefits. Effective July 19, those receiving benefits must log at least three work activities each week, an increase from one per week.
Eligibility: To be eligible for benefits, workers must actively seek employment and report their job search activities to the Unemployment Insurance Agency, unless they have a waiver. Accepted activities include applying for jobs in person or online, attending job fairs, creating a profile or resume on a professional networking or job site, or participating in online job search workshops or seminars.
Public Act 173 of 2024: The change stems from bipartisan legislation passed in December 2024. Additional changes under the legislation include an increase to the maximum weeks of benefits from 20 to 26, and prescribed changes in the maximum weekly benefit rate, which will increase from $530 to $614 on January 1, 2027.
Spotlight On Representative Pauline Wendzel: Representative Wendzel (R-Watervliet) is serving her fourth term in the Michigan House of Representatives. Prior to her election to the House, she was a director at a local museum and served as deputy clerk of Bainbridge Township. She grew up living and working on her family farm.
District: The 39th House District includes Coloma, Watervliet, and Bainbridge in Berrien County. Additionally, all of Van Buren County except Covert and South Haven, and Lee, Cheshire, Trowbridge, and part of Otsego Township in Allegan County.
Committees:
- Energy, chair
- Communications and Technology
- Regulatory Reforms
- Rules
Next Week: On Monday, July 27, candidates in the Democratic primary for the United States Senate seat will debate on Fox 2 Detroit. The House and Senate are scheduled to hold session on Wednesday, July 29.
Congratulations to MLC’s information management administrator Kaylee Gingras on her 4th anniversary at MLC!
Leading up to the August 4 primary, we are highlighting key races shaped by voter demographics in the district. Candidate websites and professional backgrounds are listed when available.
26th Senate District Primary Election Overview: After serving 14 years in the Legislature, Republican Senator Kevin Daley is term-limited from running for reelection. While the district has a 55.4% Republican base, during the last Senate election in 2022, the Republican candidate for the seat received 62% of the vote.
District Overview: The district includes portions of Lapeer, Tuscola, Genesee, and Saginaw Counties.
Republican Candidates:
- Daltson Atwell – Small business owner.
- Matthew Bierlein – State Representative, small business owner, former Tuscola County Commissioner, and legislative staffer.
- James Graham
- Gabriel Lossing – Veteran and farmer.
- Candice Miller
28th Senate District Primary Election Overview: After serving 10 years in the Legislature, Democratic Senator Sam Singh decided against running for reelection. The district has a 55.5% Democratic base, and the winner of that primary race is expected to win this November.
Key points: The district includes portions of Clinton, Ingham, and Shiawassee Counties.
Democratic Candidates:
- Rashida Harrison – Professor, holds a Ph.D. in African American and African Studies, with a concentration in sociology.
- Ted Kilvington – Air Force Veteran, court analyst.
- Robert Pena – Ingham County Commissioner.
- Mark Polsdofer – Works in government affairs for the Michigan Department of Transportation, Ingham County Commissioner, former deputy director of legislative affairs for Governor Granholm.
10th Congressional District Primary Election Overview: Republican Congressman John James opted against running for reelection in Congress to run for Michigan Governor, leaving this seat open. The base is a near 50-50 split, with the Democratic Party having a slight lead with a 51.2% base. This seat will be competitive in the general election and one to watch this fall.
District Overview: The district includes portions of Macomb and Oakland Counties in southeast Michigan.
Democratic Candidates:
- Eric Chung – Attorney, worked at the United States Senate and U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division.
- Tim Greimel – Pontiac Mayor, former State Representative and Oakland County Commissioner, attorney.
- Christina Bertrand Hines – Prosecutor.
Republican Candidates:
- Michael Bouchard – US. Army Veteran & endorsed by President Trump.
- Steffan Demetropoulos – Army Veteran, construction project manager.
- Justin Kirk – Attorney, former congressional staffer.
- Robert Lulgjuraj – Attorney, worked in the Wayne and Macomb Counties prosecutor’s office. He suspended his campaign, but because of the late decision, he will still appear on the ballot.
11th Congressional District Primary Election Overview: After two terms, Congresswoman Haley Stevens opted to run in the Democratic primary for Michigan’s open United States Senate seat. The seat has a 57.6% Democratic base, making it likely the winner of that primary will win this November. There is one candidate in the Republican primary, Ethan Baker, whom the winner of the Democratic primary will face in the general election.
District Overview: This southeast Michigan district includes portions of Oakland County.
Democratic Candidates:
- Aisha Farooqi – Attorney, worked in private and public sectors, appointed to the Michigan Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board by Governor Whitmer.
- Jeremy Moss – State Senator, former State Representative, served on the Southfield City Council.
- John Paul Torres – Court administrator and United States Congressional Fellow.
- Don Ufford – Former head of global vehicle engineering at Ford Motor Company, worked at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Made in America Office, and the Office of Management and Budget.