November 10, 2006
Michigan followed the rest of nation in Tuesday’s elections as Democrats won major victories, many of them surprises.
Governor Jennifer Granholm handily won a second four-year term by defeating Republican businessman Dick DeVos by a surprising 13 percentage points. Her victory and the national Democratic groundswell enabled Democrats to take control of the Michigan House of Representatives. The GOP saw its 58-52 majority replaced by a 58-52 majority for the Democrats, despite predictions Republicans would retain power.
Senate Republicans fared better by losing only one seat and slipping to a 21-17 majority. Leadership elections in the Senate to replace term-limited Senate Majority Leader Ken Sikkema will be held on November 14.
Republican Attorney General Mike Cox retained his seat, as did Secretary
of State Terry Lynn Land. But Democrats swept the bottom-of-the-ticket
education seats, demonstrating the strength of the governor’s coattails
and the overall Democratic surge. Democratic U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow
also posted a large victory margin in her re-election bid.
Of the five ballot proposals, the most controversial one, banning affirmative
action, passed by a wide margin. A proposal to provide K-16 education
with mandated inflationary increases was defeated. Approval of the K-16
plan would have threatened the state budget going forward.
More information will be forthcoming regarding the leadership elections and how yesterday's election will impact the lame-duck legislative session.
KEY BILL INTRODUCTIONS:
No new key bill introductions to report
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