Source: Politics<\/p>\n
Democrats are heading into the 2024 election with a rare opportunity \u2014 the chance to set the political agenda in a Midwestern state that\u2019s hosted some of the nation\u2019s closest recent elections.<\/p>\n
The party will have complete control of the Michigan state government for the first time in decades next year, after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer\u2019s commanding reelection win helped flip both state legislative chambers. Democrats haven\u2019t been able to enact legislation on party-line votes in Michigan since the 1980s.<\/p>\n
It comes at a big moment, with consequences that could reach far beyond the state\u2019s borders. Michigan will once again be a key presidential battleground state in two years, and Democrats now have the chance to highlight their priorities and show how they govern \u2014 and how voters respond to it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important to show that, yeah, we are serious about solving problems,\u201d Whitmer told POLITICO on the sidelines of Democratic Governor Association\u2019s winter meeting earlier this month. \u201cIt is the first time in 40 years this opportunity has happened. And we’re mindful of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the brief interview, Whitmer said she wanted to \u201cstay focused on the fundamentals\u201d over the next two years and build off her first term in office. She ticked off broad principles like focusing on economic development and public education.<\/p>\n
State Sen. Mallory McMorrow said Michigan Democrats can \u201csignal to the rest of the country that in a state as important as Michigan \u2014 for the next two years, as we head into 2024 \u2014 this is what it looks like when Democrats are in charge.\u201d McMorrow, who rose to national prominence after a viral floor speech<\/a>, added that her party could \u201cmake the case not only here, but to the rest of country, that this is why we need to take back Congress and reelect a Democratic president.\u201d<\/p>\n But Whitmer also sounded a note of caution. \u201cI\u2019m also very sober about the fact that it’s a two-seat majority of both chambers,\u201d she noted, adding that the agenda must be \u201cdisciplined.\u201d<\/p>\n At a roundtable with a handful of reporters in Washington earlier this month, incoming state Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks and new state House Speaker Joe Tate laid out a slew of policy areas where Democrats would focus. Tate mentioned expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit. Brinks wants to pass new laws to curb gun violence and to \u201caffirm LGBTQ rights.\u201d They also want to enact legislation implementing the recent voter-approved constitutional amendment codifying abortion access in Michigan.<\/p>\n Another major focus will be on labor<\/a>, from raising the minimum wage to expanding unemployment benefits. (When asked about repealing \u201cright-to-work\u201d laws, which allow workers to opt out of joining unions, Brinks said \u201cit is all on the table.\u201d)<\/p>\n Democrats are also expected to overhaul the state\u2019s elections and ethics laws, which coincides with another voter-approved ballot proposition that codified early voting. The proposition also says that the state canvassing board had a ministerial duty to certify election results \u2014 after significant drama surrounding the process<\/a> after the 2020 election.<\/p>\n \u201cAs we approach 2024, nothing could be more important than making sure everyone who shows up to work our elections, between now and then up through the general election, knows they\u2019re protected,\u201d Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said in an interview. Benson said she is preparing to push legislation protecting election workers from threats and overhauling other state voting and ethics laws.<\/p>\n Democrats face a number of obstacles despite enjoying one-party control. Their legislative wish list is long and their majorities are slim, and there will be pressure to keep the party together.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re like a family, we\u2019re going to have our disagreements,\u201d said Tate. \u201cBut at the end of the day, I think we\u2019re all going to be able to understand that this is a great opportunity to improve Michigan residents\u2019 lives, and just start chipping away at things as we go along.\u201d<\/p>\n Plus, this is uncharted terrain for the party: It\u2019s been more than a decade since Democrats held the state House and 40 years since they controlled the state Senate.<\/p>\n State term limits have also led to churn among lawmakers (though voters approved a ballot measure loosening those limits this fall). No lawmaker in either state legislative chamber was serving the last time Democrats had control of that body.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are so many new members,\u201d Whitmer said. \u201cI think that there\u2019s going to be a lot of important organizational work that\u2019s got to happen, to get the caucuses ready to start driving the agenda, and chairing committees and just even process things.\u201d<\/p>\n Democratic leaders are cautious about trying to take on too much out of the gate, given that both caucuses need to build up the staffing and infrastructure needed to actually run a majority.<\/p>\n There is \u201c40 years of pent-up policy, people are really eager to move,\u201d Brinks said. \u201cAnd some of what I have to find myself saying all the time is, \u2018Yes, but let\u2019s do this right. Let\u2019s be thoughtful, let\u2019s be thorough, let\u2019s do the work ahead of time.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n