This week on MichMash, Executive Director of The Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA) Kimberly Bezy sat down with host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow to discuss the intricacies of auto insurance in the state and the organization’s unique relationship to state government.

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In this episode:

• State Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt entering the 2026 Michigan gubernatorial race
• The MCCA’s relationship with the government
• Why the MCCA is in a shortfall

As of June 2024, the MCCA had $22.5 billion in assets and about $24.5 billion in liabilities. Bezy explained the shortfall was due to the recent change in the no fault reform.

“That changed it a little bit about our forecast for how much we would be paying those injured claimants and some investment options, those obviously change which is what resulted in us being in deficit position,” she said.

Roth and Gorchow also spoke about the slowly evolving 2026 race for governor in Michigan.

State Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbit was the first Republican candidate to announce his bid for governor. His announcement followed Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s surprise announcement in December that he plans to run for governor as an independent.

Both Roth and Gorchow noted how Nesbitt’s campaign announcement video echoed much of the Republican talking points that brought the party success in the last election, with Gorchow adding that Nesbitt could be a formidable candidate.

“A democrat who shall remain nameless said something about Nesbitt that sums him up pretty well. This democrat said on the one hand Nesbitt is a really good legislator who is good to work with on policy, but on the other hand Nesbitt is such a good political tactician that they feared having to go up against him during campaign battles.” 

The Michigan gubernatorial election is taking place Nov. 3, 2026.

More from WDET:

• MichMash: Sen. Nesbitt on trying to find ‘common ground’ with Michigan Democrats
• MichMash: Efforts to improve auto no-fault insurance stall in Michigan Legislature
• State House Holds First Hearing on Duggan, Leonard Auto No Fault Overhaul