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 |
DLCC Election Update (as of 3am)The DLCC breaks down tonight's need-to-know statehouse results. As results come in, here's what you need to know...
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DLCC Shares Breakdown of 2018 Democratic Legislative CandidatesToday the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) released a new report highlighting the record number of Democrats running for state legislatures nationwide, including the number of men and women, first-time candidates, veterans, and educators who are running this fall.
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MEMO: DEMOCRATS POSITIONED TO FLIP STATE LEGISLATURESWith less than 30 days left until Election Day, there is no question this is the most important election of our lifetime.
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President Obama Endorses Almost 200 Additional State DemocratsToday former President Barack Obama announced he is endorsing an additional 180 Democrats running for statehouses nationwide. The candidates include veterans, educators, union advocates, small business owners, lawyers, health care workers, community organizers, activists, and more. The DLCC has also endorsed many of these changemakers and included them on its list of Spotlight Races.
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DLCC Releases September “State of Play” MemoWith less than 40 days until Election Day, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) has released a new memo highlighting state Democrats’ progress in battleground states across the country.
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DLCC Announces New Races To Watch In 2018After releasing its Flip Everything initiative outlining the 17 seats Democrats need to win in order to flip eight legislative chambers this November, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is highlighting additional state Democrats running this fall on its Spotlight Races page.
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MEMO: Protecting Our EnvironmentAs we approach Earth Day this weekend and on the eighth anniversary of the Deep Water Horizon oil spill, we take a look at how state legislatures have worked to protect our environment for future generations.
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More State Democrats to Know in 2018Since the 2016 election, the DLCCÂ expertise and fifty-state strategy have produced monumental wins nationwide, including flipping 39 legislative seats and an entire chamber from Republican to Democratic control. Today, DLCC Executive Director Jessica Post announced the committee is highlighting several more critical 2018 midterm races on its Spotlight Races page. This group of November candidates includes Democrats who are running in battleground states crucial to redistricting like Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, and more
Press Releases |
One Year of Trump ResistanceIn the past year since Donald Trump was inaugurated as President, state Democrats have stepped up to create a blue wall of resistance against the Trump administration’s extremist policies. And it’s working. Facing the lowest approval rating of any elected president in his first term, Trump and his Republican legislators are desperate to claim victories that simply are unattainable in the toxic environment they have created in Washington.
Press Releases |
The DLCC's 2018 RoadmapOn Nov. 7, voters turned out in droves in a direct rebuke of state Republicans and the Trump administration. Americans from coast to coast sent a clear message that they will step up and defend Democratic values, safeguard the progress we have made, and push onward.