Michigan SD 35
Battleground State
Michigan
Senate: Democratic Majority
20D
18R
House: GOP Majority
52D
58R
Michigan is a top DLCC Battleground State in 2026.
2026 is a historic opportunity to win back full control of the Michigan legislature and deliver a Democratic trifecta in this ultracompetitive battleground state. Protecting the one-seat majority in the Senate is a top DLCC priority, and that will start with a majority-deciding special election on May 5th.
Democrats flipped the legislature in 2022 and made historic progress, passing free school meals legislation, expanding gun safety laws, and repealing anti-worker legislation before a tough election year in 2024. Putting Democrats back in full control of the legislature will provide a bulwark against the chaos of the Trump administration and make progress toward lower costs and expanded economic opportunities for Michiganders.
The DLCC will be targeting competitive races across the state and sharing more info on DLCC Target Races in Michigan soon.
DLCC Target Races
Leader Winnie Brinks Speaks At The 2025 DLCC Downballot Defenders Summit
2024 Target Race Victories In Michigan
Michigan HD-13
Mai Xiong
Michigan HD-38
Joey Andrews
Michigan HD-61
Denise Mentzer
Michigan HD-22
Matt Koleszar
DLCC Board Member
Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks
Over a decade ago, fed up with the lack of transparency in politics, Leader Winnie Brinks launched a gutsy write-in campaign to challenge the status quo. A few years later, she made history as the first woman majority leader in the Michigan Senate and continues to make headlines as she leads the upper chamber in one of the nation’s toughest battlegrounds. The daughter of immigrants, Brinks brings grit, resilience, and a relentless work ethic to every fight. She’s delivered for the people with wins for cleaner drinking water, expanded access to high-quality health care, and helping small businesses. While Republicans fight to make devastating cuts to health care, Leader Brinks has protected Michiganders, delivering legislation that established Michigan as one of the nation’s strongest states on sick leave.
Leader Brinks was first elected to the DLCC Board in 2025.
News in Michigan
Press Releases |
RSLC Names Conspiracy Theorists to Executive CommitteeList includes Michigan’s Mike Shirkey, who called the Capitol insurrection a “hoax”
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State of the States: We're a Year Into This and They Still Won't Wear MasksThere’s a lot going on, so every Wednesday, the DLCC is sending a roundup of the state legislative stories you might have missed. It's March 3rd, and here is the state of the states.
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State of the States: "We're All Trying to Find the Guy Who Did This" - GOP on Election IntegrityThere’s a lot going on, so every Wednesday, the DLCC is sending a roundup of the state legislative stories you might have missed. It's February 17th, and here is the state of the states.
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Republicans Launch Coordinated Voter Suppression EffortThe Republican State Leadership Committee will spearhead an effort with GOP legislatures and secretaries of state to roll back voting rights
Press Releases |
More Than a Dozen State Lawmakers Who Supported the Insurrection Are Currently ServingDonald Trump is facing a trial, but state Republicans involved are still making laws
Press Releases |
Michigan Senate Republicans Must Condemn Leader Mike Shirkey or They Stand With HimLeader Shirkey’s not sorry about his unhinged comments — are Senate Republicans?
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Voters Call on Insurrectionist Republican Lawmakers to ResignAmericans are demanding accountability for Republicans who incited violence
Press Releases |
ICYMI: “Republican State Legislatures Are Radicalizing Against Democracy”HuffPost highlights Republican extremism and attempts to rig future elections in the state legislatures
Press Releases |
State of the States: New Administration, Same GOPIt’s a new year, so we’re bringing back State of the States. It goes without saying that there’s a lot going on, and Republicans are still up to their old tricks: spreading conspiracies, using dangerous rhetoric, denying reality, etc.