Question 1): A pair of special elections were held last Tuesday to pick nominees from the two major parties to fill seats in the state House of Representatives vacated when Rep. Lori Stone (D-Warren) and Kevin Coleman (D-Westland) were elected last November to be mayors of their respective communities. In Stone’s 13th District, Macomb County […]
WHAT DID GRETCHEN WHITMER’S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS TELL US?
Apologies for the slight delay of this issue, but nothing could interfere with the playoff hopes of the Detroit Lions, which have now been dashed … Question 1): Last Wednesday, Gov. Gretchen WHITMER‘s delivered her sixth State of the State address to a packed Michigan House of Representatives chamber. It gave Whitmer a chance to […]
KARAMO, POLICE CHIEFS, & SUNSHINE LAWS
Question 1): What’s the most realistic scenario for how the Michigan Republican Party can ultimately resolve the Kristina KARAMO mess? Answer 1): Rival factions of the Michigan Republican Party convened separately Saturday and last week, but not to make peace. Rather, it was how to devise ways to destroy each other. One camp elected former […]
JUDGES, MAPS, & JOCELYN BENSON IN MICHIGAN POLITICS
Question 1): Last week, a three-judge federal panel ordered the Michigan Independent Redistricting Commission (MICRC) to try to come up with new maps by February 2 for a number of state House districts in Metro Detroit, but they also appointed two ‘special masters’ from outside Michigan to come up with alternate maps and some oversight […]
EVEN WITH GOP DYSFUNCTION, TIDE RUNNING AGAINST MICHIGAN DEMOCRATS
Question 1):. What will happen to Michigan’s Detroit-area legislative districts? Will they be redrawn? If so, by whom? And when? We still don’t know! Last week, a panel of three federal judges in Kalamazoo heard arguments, pro and con, as to whether Michigan’s Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) should be given a second chance to […]
ARE REPUBLICANS MAINLY TO BLAME FOR TODAY’S ‘POLARIZATION’ IN MICHIGAN POLITICS?
2023: Fewest Unanimous Michigan House Votes Since 1849 Question 1): The Michigan House of Representatives voted unanimously on legislation a mere 19 times out of 586 roll call votes this past year, the fewest number of unanimous votes in a regular session since the year after the U.S.-Mexican War in 1849, according to a MIRS analysis of […]
BIG ANSWERS TO MAJOR QUESTIONS IN MICHIGAN POLITICS, BUT NOW WHAT?
Here are the major questions that, last week, The Ballenger Report told readers should finally get answered by New Year’s Eve. As we predicted, all of them now have been responded to, with some important caveats: QUESTION 1 was): WILL DANA NESSEL MOVE FORWARD ON EX-SPEAKER LEE CHATFIELD & DARK MONEY DISCLOSURE? Question 2 was): […]
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE BALLENGER REPORT!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE BALLENGER REPORT December 23, 2023 by tbreport 1 Comment (Edit)
CHATFIELD, ANYONE? WHAT MICHIGAN MAY KNOW BY NEW YEAR’S EVE
MAJOR QUESTIONS IN MICHIGAN POLITICS SHOULD FINALLY GET ANSWERED BY YEAR’S END QUESTION 1): WILL DANA NESSEL MOVE FORWARD ON EX-SPEAKER LEE CHATFIELD & DARK MONEY DISCLOSURE? ANSWER 1): Attorney General Dana Nessel has promised reports by year’s end on her investigations into dark money abuses by former state House Speaker Lee Chatfield and […]
WOULD MICHIGAN REPUBLICANS SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS BY OUSTING CHAIR KARAMO?
Question 1): A Dec. 27 meeting has been scheduled to remove Kristina KARAMO from the post of Michigan Republican Party Chair. About what percentage of the state party’s dysfunction would this fix? Answer 1): Maybe 30%. She’s the biggest single problem, but an enormous clean-up operation awaits the new chair. Also, WHO WILL BE THE […]