During a Wednesday virtual discussion, our Capitol team broke down where the candidates stand on a number of the issues on the minds of Bridge Michigan readers.
2026 Michigan election
What’s Michigan’s top election issue? Cast your ballot with Bridge Listens
Make your voice heard. Help Bridge identify the top state issue so we can demand answers from candidates.
Hey, Gov. Whitmer: Here’s what Michigan says is real State of the State
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will discuss the State of the State on Wednesday. Here are what the facts — and Bridge readers — say.
Jocelyn Benson wants to bring high-speed rail to Michigan. What would it take?
In her bid for governor, Democrat Jocelyn Benson says she wants to build a high-speed rail network between Michigan’s largest cities.
In Michigan, 3 Democrats test vision of affordability in US Senate primary
The three Senate candidates competing in Michigan for the Democratic nomination are making different pitches about how to address rising costs. Their success or failure will help determine the party’s fortunes in the November midterms, when control of Congress is at stake.
Mike Duggan ‘studying’ Trump school choice program for Michigan
In his bid for Michigan governor, independent Mike Duggan is not ruling out a new federal ‘Education Freedom Tax Credit’ program that unions argue amounts to a ‘voucher scheme.’
In bid for governor, John James proposes ‘bill of rights’ for Michigan parents
In a new ‘bill of rights’ for Michigan parents, GOP gubernatorial candidate John James proposes opting into a private school choice program and limiting transgender athletes.
Bridge Listens Lunch Break: What issues matter most to Michiganders
Join members of Bridge Michigan’s politics team as they talk about the issues readers want the candidates focused on during this 2026 election cycle.
Michigan governor hopefuls clash on free student meals, ICE at schools
Democrat Jocelyn Benson said she’d use ‘every tool’ to keep ICE out of Michigan schools. That debate is a ‘sideshow’ that won’t fix education woes, argued Republican Mike Cox.
Grow Michigan’s economy? Many pledges, few plans at gubernatorial forum
Top candidates for governor offered a handful of ideas to jumpstart Michigan’s economy. Among them: Expand a ‘transformation brownfield’ tax capture program for developers, and ‘take a blowtorch to bureaucracy.’