Now that the election is over, we are in lame duck session. This week on MichMash, Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow sits down with Detroit News reporter Beth LeBlanc. They discuss how Democrats will move forward after losing the majority in the Michigan House. 

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In this episode:

• Defining a lame duck session and how this one will compare to others
• Democrats’ lame duck priorities
• Mike Duggan’s announcement that he will not seek reelection

The Michigan Legislature returned to the Capitol this week to set their agenda for their “lame duck” session.

The term refers to an outgoing politician or, in this case, the period of time between Election Day and the end of a legislative session, which is at the end of December. Michigan Democrats will have a short window of time to cross items off their to-do list before the 2023-24 session wraps up and Republicans take control of the Michigan House in January.

LeBlanc compared this lame duck session to 2018, saying that there are similarities.

“When Gov. [Rick] Snyder was leaving office and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was coming into office, there were some late night sessions that year and a lot of legislation that got through,” LeBlanc said. “I think people are kind of preparing for something similar, but it depends on if Democrats are able to find some consensus within their caucus.”  

LeBlanc and Gorchow also discussed the 2026 Michigan gubernatorial election and the rumors of a potential run for the office by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who announced this week he would not seek reelection for mayor next year.

Although there hasn’t been any official announcement, LeBlanc says his chances to run are great.

“I think Duggan has built a name for himself, within Detroit. A lot of the state has looked at what he’s done in Detroit, so I think he has a good chance to get through the primary,” she said. “That has a lot to do with who else is in the primary at that point.

-MPRN’s Rick Pluta contributed to this report.

More from WDET:

• Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announces he will not seek reelection
• View Michigan’s 2024 general election results
• Two term-limited GOP lawmakers have very different takes on lame duck