For years, Michigan was a national laughing stock as bad news stalked the state like the villain in a bad '80s horror movie.
There was the recession of a state of the early years, thanks to the bruised auto industry that nearly collapsed during the ensuing Great Depression, and two partial state government shutdowns.
Then came the Republicans pushing Right to Work a decade ago in an attempt to reverse Michigan's economic fortunes (but actually soften wealthy donors), despite strong protests by more than 10,000 union members on the Capitol lawn that made international news.
And then there was the Flint water crisisthe crowning achievement of former Gov. Rick Snyder's dismal eight-year tenure as the state's effort to save a few bucks In a city where administration was indifferent, it resulted in Flint residents, especially children, paying the ultimate price with their health.
It's easy to forget just what the bad old days felt like in Michigan.
But today, Michigan is known as the anti-Florida (thanks to some smart marketing by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer), a veritable liberal landscape in the Midwest that is expected to play a vital role, once again, in electing the president next year.
This year, Whitmer worked with the first Democratic legislative majority in nearly 40 years to not only overturn long-standing right-wing policies, but also to pass major legislation that advances progressive causes such as abortion rights, climate change policy, equality LGBTQ+, education funding, voting rights. gun and labor rights reforms; All of this comes as unions are back on track thanks to huge wins like the UAW's “Stand Up Strike” against Michigan-based domestic automakers.
For too long, it's been easy to feel helpless in Michigan.
Efforts to protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination have come and gone. Anti-abortion lobbyists have continued to successfully undermine basic health care rights. And a devastating school shooting in 2021 in Oxford resulted in thoughts and prayers but little immediate legislative action.
But as it turns out, it wasn't that leaders didn't care about issues deeply important to most Michiganders. There just weren't enough of them in a position to do anything about it.
Voters, fed up with the inaction, broke the story (and shocked the expert class) last year by voting in favour total democratic control of michigan — even though it was a midterm election where President Joe Biden's polls weren't exactly setting the world on fire.
As state Sen. Jeremy Moss (D-Southfield) he said during the March signing of landmark LGBTQ+ rights legislation, “This moment is so long overdue and too many have suffered on the journey to get here.
“But… turns out they were waiting for us. They waited for a Legislature with the courage to stand up to hate and stand up for equality. They waited for members of our community to tell our story in the halls of the State Capitol. And they were waiting for a governor like Gretchen Whitmer to sign on [this bill].”
Michigan is proof that real progressive victories that change the lives of millions are possible in swing states, not just deep blue California.
So can this success be repeated?
Like almost anything in politics, the answer is: not exactly. A unique set of circumstances, laws and players made this possible in Michigan. However, there are still critical lessons for leaders and advocates across the country.
But as it turns out, it wasn't that leaders didn't care about issues deeply important to most Michiganders. There just weren't enough of them in a position to do anything about it.
Michigan has had some structural advantages that others don't have that have helped the state to progressive victories this year.
Mitten state's relatively simple process for ballot initiatives and constitutional amendments (which many states lack — and Michigan Republicans have tried unsuccessfully to tighten) laid the groundwork, with voters approving an independent redistricting process and voting rights amendments in 2018.
This helped even the playing field after decades of aggressive and recent Republican efforts to make voting more difficult. Fairer maps for the 2022 elections and policies Like same-day voter registration and absentee voting, they certainly helped propel Democratic candidates to victory in key legislative seats last year.
Michigan also had a knack for making eye contact budget surplus of $9.2 billion; at the start of the year, boosted by an unexpectedly strong economy for which Biden has yet to take credit and the last GOP-controlled Legislature sitting on billions in federal COVID aid in the naive hope that Republican Tudor Dixon will defeat Whitmer in the election (this lost by 11 units).
After decades of penny pinching, massive budget cuts and a few government shutdowns, Michigan finally had some cash to invest school fundingcombating climate change, implementing electoral reforms and institutionalization tax cuts for seniors and people with low income.
And as for the stereotype that Democrats can't get it together, especially when it counts (there's a reason #DemsinDisarray trends regularly), Michigan has shown that it is possible to come together for big, systemic change, despite heavy lobbying from powerful business interests and gun rights.
At the end of the year, Michigan had the smallest of the Democratic majorities – 20-18 in the Senate and 56-54 in the House. The party he was not responsible of the House since 2010 and the Senate since 1984, so there has been a steep learning curve.
But House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) and Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) proved they were able to work with Whitmer to execute a progressive game plan with ruthless efficiency and relatively few hiccups, like scaling back the Reproductive Health Act and parts thereof clean energy plan.
Trying to run a caucus with narrow majorities is often compared to herding cats, and rightly so. Both Brinks and Tate demonstrated an extraordinary ability to balance the myriad needs of their constituents while ensuring that important policy was delivered.
Having tried and trusted partners in the judiciary and executive branch, like Attorney General Dana Nessel, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, and Democratic Supreme Court officials didn't hurt.
But hands down, the biggest boon to Michigan's progress has been Gretchen Whitmer at the helm.
Voters elected a governor in 2019 who came armed with the most experience since Republican John Engler was elected in 1990. In her more than 14 years in the Legislature, she endured it all in the minority as the state rotted under austerity. As minority leader, he did thankless work behind the scenes on issues such as; Medicaid expansion, as Republicans did not want to boost her stature by passing landmark legislation bearing her name.
That helped Whitmer deal with a Republican-controlled legislature obsessed with limiting her power in her first term — both before and especially during the pandemic. Time and again, pundits underestimated her as she faced budget cuts and efforts to kill public health measures, even as she faced stream of sexist insults and in fact a Murder attempt 2020.
And so when Democrats defied the odds and tabled last year's midterms, Whitmer was eminently poised to govern with a majority.
It has become unfashionable to say that experience and moral compass count in politics (or much anymore), but one need only look at the devastation caused by our last president, Donald Trumpwho had zero government experience and seems to have been born without a conscience.
Whitmer was ready on Day 1 to finally achieve Democratic priorities. Skillfully drawing on institutional knowledge, her team had a clear plan of attack. The governor has demonstrated her methodical mastery of the legislative process that requires constant balancing of competing interests and resolution of maddening intraparty conflicts.
It hurts that Whitmer's name was on the VP list in 2020 and it is widely considered to be a leading candidate for the 2028 presidency? Of course not.
All politicians are naturally ambitious (if they weren't, they'd just be eating Cheetos while watching '90 Day Fiance' and moaning about politics on social media like the rest of us). If they leverage this ambition to strengthen democracy, protect human rights, fight climate change and more, it's the ultimate win-win.
So Whitmer has quite a legacy to run on if she chooses to launch a White House bid at some point — the impressive sight of her bill signings last month for reproductive rights and clean energy packages alone told a powerful story (and on purpose).
Of course, nothing is guaranteed. And Michigan Democrats face their own uncertainty for next year, as two members of the House resigned, leaving a temporary 54-54 deadlock which will force any progress to stop.
No one ever said that rebuilding a great state after decades of doom and gloom would be easy.
