Question 1): If, as seems likely, a ‘Blue Wave’ really is coming to Michigan on Nov. 3, and Republican gubernatorial nominee John James loses to Jocelyn Benson at the top of the ticket by a margin in the high single digits, or worse, are there offices down ballot where Republican candidates can manage to survive […]
What’s important to think about?
INSIDE MICHIGAN POLITICS: DID THE BIG DEBATES CHANGE ANYTHING?
Question 1): Who won the debate this past Tuesday between the Democratic nominee for Michigan governor, Jocelyn Benson, and Republican nominee John James? And will it make any difference to voters leading up to Nov. 3? Answer 1): The debate was pretty much a draw, compared with, say, 1962, where Gov. John Swainson outperformed challenger George Romney […]
INSIDE MICHIGAN POLITICS: 5 BURNING QUESTIONS, 5 ANSWERS
Question 1): Have we reached the point where state government leaders in Lansing will succumb to public demand and pass, for political purposes, some type of pause in the state’s 52.4 cents gas tax? Answer 1): As recently as early this past week, it looked like this would never happen. Republican House Speaker Matt […]
“KEEP OUR REPUBLIC” — TWO TOP CLERKS + BILL BALLENGER
2026 NON-PARTISAN PROGRAM BRINGING TOGETHER CIVIC LEADERS & LOCAL ELECTION OFFICALS TO TALK TO VOTERS ABOUT TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY IN THE ELECTION PROCESS HASLETT LIBRARY, 1590 FRANKLIN ST, HASLETT, MICHIGAN OCTOBER 7, 2026, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM FEATURING Ingham County Clerk BARB BYRUM Lansing City Clerk CHRIS SWOPE MODERATOR: BILL BALLENGER of The […]
INSIDE MICHIGAN POLITICS: WHO WANTS TO BE ATTORNEY GENERAL?
All around the country, interest in the races for the office of state Attorney General appears to be at an all-time high. True, some A.G. races are not on the ballot this year, and some never will be — a few states appoint them. But 31 A.G. races are being contested in 2026 amidst unprecedented […]
JON MEACHAM SPEAKS IN FLINT TONIGHT!
Address by Jon Meacham in Flint Institute of Arts, 7 pm, Thursday, Sept. 24 America 250: Then, Now & Next Presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham is one of America’s most prominent public intellectuals. A highly sought-after commentator, Meacham regularly appears on MSNBC, CNN, and other news outlets. A skilled orator with a […]
INSIDE MICHIGAN POLITICS: BALLOT PROPOSAL SHOCKERS!
Out of the half-dozen or so initiative petition drives over the past two years aimed at putting questions on the 2026 general election ballot in Michigan, only two will actually appear Nov. 3 for voters to decide. In fact, one of them didn’t need any signature gathering at all — Proposal 1 automatically qualifies for […]
TOP HISTORIAN JON MEACHAM SPEAKS IN FLINT SEPT. 24
Ballenger Eminent Persons Lecture Series and the Griffin Endowed Chair Present “America 250: Then, Now & Next” Keynote Address With Jon Meacham.The presentation will take place Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 7 p.m. at the Flint Institute of Arts. The event is free and open to the public; seats are first come, first served. In […]
INSIDE MICHIGAN POLITICS: ANSWERS TO THREE BIG QUESTIONS
Question 1): Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II has the worst attendance record in Michigan history in presiding over the state Senate, even though he’s showed up for work this year at a higher rate (20%) than he did in 2025 (7%) or in previous years. The state constitution makes the Lt. Gov. the president of the […]
INSIDE MICHIGAN POLITICS: THREE MORE QUESTIONS, THREE MORE ANSWERS
Question 1): The Michigan Democratic Party convention closed last weekend without gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson on stage at the same time as Abdul El-Sayed and the rest of the Democratic ticket. Defeated Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Haley Stevens, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and Attorney General Dana Nessel didn’t show up. Neither did any Democrat in […]