MichMash Politics

<div class="x_elementToProof" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">As we near the 2026 midterm elections, MichMash will sit down with some of the major candidates that will be on the ballot. This week we have US Democratic Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed.</div> <div class="x_elementToProof" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">&nbsp;</div> <div class="x_elementToProof" data-ogsc="rgb(0, 0, 0)" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben discuss El-Sayed's campaign and the overall race.&nbsp;</div>

<p><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Ballot proposals drama, the significance of a report on the Flint water crisis and mixed feelings about funding for a copper mine...there was a lot to cover this week. This week on MichMash...WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben break down all the major headlines with The Detroit News' Beth LeBlanc.</span></p>

<p><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Governor Whitmer as well as governors across the country have a decision to make regarding a federal program in connection with the Reconciliation Program. This week on MichMash...WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow unpack the details of this program. They are joined by Prof Josh Cowen of Michigan State University and Peter Spadafore who leads the Michigan Alliance for Student Opportunity.</span></p>

<p><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">The progressive wing of the Democratic party made some noise in the recent primaries. What has been the key to their success so far? This week on MichMash, WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow chat with Chris Gilmer-Hill...one of the progressives who won his race. </span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Gilmer-Hill shares why he feels like he was able to win.</span></p>

<p><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">The 2026 Michigan primaries not only affected the state but may have national implications as well. This week on MichMash, WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben break down the results and what they may forecast for the midterm elections. They are joined by Associate Press reporter, Joey Cappelletti.</span></p>

<p><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">This year's primaries feature some competitive races that will mark battle lines come November and may even point to national trends. This week on MichMash, WDET'S Cheyna Roth, Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben discuss some of the key things to look out for in Tuesday's elections.<br>They are joined by Gongwer reporters Nick Smith and Lily Guiney.</span></p>

<p><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">With Former Michigan Attorney General, Mike Cox, dropping out of the gubernatorial race, how does that shape the Republican primary? This week on MichMash...WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben discuss the remaining candidates and they hear from a prominent Republican leader on their thoughts on the race.<br><br>Then later on Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall stops by to talk about the race and some recent spending proposals.</span></p>

<p><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Tensions are high in Lansing among the Democrats with Governor Whitmer vetoing a series a bills from her own party. This week, on MichMash, WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Services' Zach Gorchow unpack the 18 months of legal battles that led to this moment. Then later on, David Meninga, senior vice president for Community Development Programs &amp; Execution at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation stops by. He talks about reviving the transformational brownfield program, a state incentive that ended a few years ago but will soon come back once Governor Whitmer signs bills that passed the Legislature on July 3.</span></p>

<p>Both the Democratic US Senate debate and the Republican gubernatorial debate showed the divides among the party's candidates. This week on MichMash, WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben and Zach Gorchow break down the major components of the race.&nbsp;<br><br>Spoiler alert: MichMash may have been indirectly mentioned in one of the debates.</p>

<p><span data-teams="true">This 4th of July weekend, some Michiganders are celebrating by going to their favorite parks to go swimming, hiking, camping and fishing. This week on MichMash, WDET's Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow discuss the recent investments&nbsp; put into parks. They are joined by Kristen Kosick. She is the Chief of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation division.</span></p> <p><strong><span data-teams="true">Mentioned in the episode:&nbsp;</span></strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.mlive.com/life/2026/06/monumental-upgrades-at-michigan-state-parks-are-nearly-complete-heres-where-273m-went.html">'Monumental' upgrades at Michigan state parks are nearly complete&mdash;here's where $273M went by Lindsay Moore</a></p>

<p><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">The Republican gubernatorial race just had a major shake up with President Donald Trump making an endorsement. This week on MichMash, WDET'S Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service's Alethia Kasben discuss how surprising the endorsement was and what this means for the upcoming primaries.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Also, with Cheyna being back, we thought we would catch her up on the major political stories from the past couple of months and look ahead to see what the rest of 2026 has in store.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p>Over the past month, the Michigan US Senate race has proven to be one of the most competitive races in the country. This week on WDET's MichMash, Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow and Altheia Kasben breakdown the major events that have shaped the race.<br><br>Then later on, State Senator Sam Singh stops by to share what's been going on in the State capitol.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<div class="x_elementToProof" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">Michigan is one of three states that nominates candidates for secretary of state and attorney general at party conventions. There is currently a push to put those nominations to the statewide primary ballot instead.&nbsp;</div> <div class="x_elementToProof" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">&nbsp;</div> <div class="x_elementToProof" data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">This week on WDET's MichMash, Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben discuss the factors being weighed with this decision. Then Lon Johnson, former chairperson of the Michigan Democratic Party, stops by and explains why he supports this proposal.</div>

<p><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">A ballot measure that would prevent political spending by Michigan&rsquo;s regulated utilities and large state contractors might be on the November ballet. As part of WDET's weekly series...MichMash...Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben discuss what is in the proposal and how opponents and supporters of the measure are reacting.&nbsp;</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">The co-chairs of Michiganders for Money out of Politics, Sean McBrearty and Christy McGillivray, stop by to talk about their proposal.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p>The Mackinac Policy Conference had a couple of surprising moments from lawmakers, leaders, and political candidates. This week on WDET's MichMash, Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben give a glimpse of some of the news happening on the island. Gongwer reporter Liz Nass joins the conversation from the conference to share her coverage of the annual meeting.&nbsp;</p>

<p><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">We have less than 6 months until the midterm elections... and independent candidate Mike Duggan has dropped out of the race. This week on WDET's weekly series, MichMash, Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben discuss what elements led the former Detroit Mayor to making his decision and reactions it drew from both Democrats and Republicans.<br><br>And then later on in the episode we talk about earmarks. Earmarks are ways to get projects approved for local governments. Due to a decision from the Michigan&rsquo;s Court of Claims, what lawmakers consider an earmark may change. Gorchow and Kasben also discuss how the evolution of this type of funding led to current criticisms. Patrick Wright, Vice President for Legal Affairs at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, joins to help explain the decision.</span></p>

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW235395870 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW235395870 BCX0" lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW235395870 BCX0" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW235395870 BCX0">The Democrat gubernatorial race hit some turbulence this week after a key endorser, The Michigan Education Association,&nbsp;</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW235395870 BCX0">didn't</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW235395870 BCX0">&nbsp;decide on who they are going to support. This week on WDET's MichMash, Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben discuss why the association has&nbsp;</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW235395870 BCX0">withheld</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW235395870 BCX0">&nbsp;their endorsement for now.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW235395870 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240}">&nbsp;</span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW235395870 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW235395870 BCX0" lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW235395870 BCX0" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW235395870 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW235395870 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240}">&nbsp;</span></p> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW235395870 BCX0"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW235395870 BCX0" lang="EN-US"><span class="TextRun SCXW235395870 BCX0" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW235395870 BCX0">Later on</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW235395870 BCX0"> in the episode, the director of the Michigan Bureau of Elections, Jonathan Brater, explains how the government office works in </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW235395870 BCX0">conjunction</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW235395870 BCX0">&nbsp;with the Secretary of State, how they approve signatures and more.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW235395870 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233117":false,"134233118":false,"335551550":0,"335551620":0,"335559738":240,"335559739":240}">&nbsp;</span></p> </div>

<p><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">An important state senate race for Michigan's 35th Senate District was decided Tuesday, and it could have huge implications for the November midterm elections. This week on WDET's weekly series, <em>MichMash</em>, Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben discuss what how the race was decided. They are joined by Alvin "AJ" Jones from WCMU Public Radio to break it all down.</span></p>

<p>Both the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate have completed their 2026-27 fiscal year budgets and advanced them out of their respective chambers.</p> <p>This week on WDET's MichMash...Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben discuss what's different this year. They also break down some of the major points of the budgets.&nbsp;</p> <p>Then later in the show, Public Service Commission Chair Dan Scripps stops by to discuss energy costs in Michigan and data centers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Candidates looking to get on the ballot hit a major milestone this week. This week on WDET's weekly series MichMash...Gongwer News Service's Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben discuss this milestone with Bridge Michigan's deputy editor Jonathan Oosting. They also talk about the 13<sup data-ogsc="">th</sup>&nbsp;U.S. House District in Detroit.&nbsp;</p>