It’s been more than 100 days since Michigan’s 35th district has had representation. When will there be a special election to fill the seat? This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Alethia Kasben sat down with Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks. She discusses the significance of that seat, the current status of the state legislature, road funding and her plans for the future. 

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode:

• The status of the open Senate seat in Michigan’s 35th district
• Brinks on how well the legislature has been working with each other
• Brinks’ plans after the end of her term

Brinks shared that the 2025 legislature has shown potential for bipartisanship despite the unprecedented occurrences these last couple of months.

“In terms of the entire legislature being able to work together across the aisle — I think we’ve proven it’s possible,” she said. “Still some potential for improvement there.”

The Senate majority leader also acknowledged that things are a bit “antagonistic” in the state House. 

The 35th Senate district seat is still vacant, and despite Senate Democrats handling constituent work in that area, Brinks believes when the time comes the state Democrats will produce a candidate to cover the seat.  

“It’s going to be critical that we maintain that seat so that we can maintain the majority,” she said. “We stand in an incredibly positive position when it comes to our chances of maintaining it.”

Brinks shared examples like in Pennsylvania, where a state Democrat won in a race that went for Trump by nearly 15 points. It is up to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to call for a special election.  

More from WDET:

• MichMash: The road ahead with incoming Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks
• Republicans urge road funding revision as Legislature resumes lame duck session this week
• MichMash: Michigan AG discusses legal challenges to Trump, open US Senate seat

This week on MichMash, gubernatorial candidate and Genesee County Sheriff Christopher Swanson sat down with Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow and Alethia Kasben to share why he’s running and what he believes the Democratic Party needs moving forward.

Plus, Gorchow and Kasben analyze the recent collaboration — and conflicts — between Michigan’s Democratic-led Senate and Republican-led House.

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode:

• Quick update on Michigan’s 2025 legislative session
• How Michigan’s gubernatorial race is heating up
• Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson on what motivated him to run

Gorchow and Kasben quickly recapped the first few months of the 2025 legislative session and what issues have garnered bipartisan support and which have led Democratic and Republican lawmakers to butt heads.

“We are currently living through a time where the Senate is suing the House for not presenting bills to the governor for signature,” Kasben noted. “These are nine bills left over from last term, when Democrats did control the House, and the Republicans in the House are sending Senate Democrats items that are mostly just nonstarters, or at the very least, not really being negotiated with the Democrats.”

Sheriff Swanson — who was elected sheriff of Michigan’s fifth-largest county in 2020 — announced his bid for governor in February, joining a growing field of several other prominent candidates, including fellow Democrat and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan — who is running for governor as an independent. More recently, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist launched his Democratic bid, while on the Republican side, State Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt also announced his candidacy, with U.S. Rep. John James also considered a possible contender.

Swanson says he considers the other candidates as simply alternative options, rather than his opponents.

“When I was working with the Biden administration and then I worked with the DNC and the Kamala Harris campaign, I saw the need of what Democrats are looking for…this community of Democrats, these voters, are looking for something completely different. I bring a completely different option. I bring a unique energy,” he said.

The race to succeed Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who is term limited, is expected to spark competitive primaries.

More from WDET:

• Garlin Gilchrist announces bid for governor, saying he’s a ‘problem solver’
• MichMash: Looking back on the state’s top political stories of 2024
• MichMash: State lawmakers return to Michigan Capitol for first day of new session

Medicaid funding has been in the headlines recently as the Trump administration has said they aim to cut “waste, fraud and abuse” from the program. This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Zach Gorchow spoke with Michigan Health and Hospital Association CEO Brian Peters about how vital Medicaid is in the state.

Also, another Democratic candidate has entered Michigan’s 2026 gubernatorial race. Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist has thrown his hat in the ring as a contender for the seat. Roth and Gorchow discuss how Gilchrist fares against his competition. 

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode:

• How Congress’ decision on Medicaid could affect Michigan
• Michigan’s two Medicaid programs
• Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist entering 2026 race for governor

Earlier this month, U.S. House Republicans adopted a budget plan instructing the House Energy and Commerce Committee — which oversees Medicare and Medicaid funding — to cut spending under its jurisdiction by $880 billion.

Roth pointed out the confusion around what exactly could be cut, as the latest budget resolution calls for cuts so significant there is no way Medicaid could not be severely impacted.

Peters says Medicaid has become a critical component of the health care ecosystem, both in Michigan — where roughly a quarter of residents are covered by Medicaid — and nationally.

When Michigan expanded Medicaid to residents with an annual income at or below 138% of the federal poverty level — known as the Healthy Michigan Plan — many Michiganders got access to health care they may have not been able to afford otherwise.

“[Medicaid] allows people to access care in such a way that they can potentially nip health care problems in the bud, in other words, seek primary care, preventive care, prenatal care….so that we don’t have health care issues that continue to worsen,” Peters said.

Peters noted that while both the House and Senate are considering how to approach the suggested cuts, he doesn’t see Congress coming to an agreement yet based on what has been put forth in either chamber.

“We are in the second inning of a nine inning baseball game here; this process is very early, but at the end of the day, we are ensuring that [our] voice is heard,” said Peters. “That voice is saying very loudly: We cannot slash and burn the Medicaid program.”

–WDET Digital Editor Jenny Sherman contributed to this report.

More from WDET:

• Detroit Evening Report: State program aims to improve mental health services for Medicaid, Medicare patients
• Detroit Evening Report: State waives Medicaid waiting period for green card holders
• Detroit Evening Report: Gilchrist declares candidacy for governor; panel to highlight women in hip-hop, design + more

Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivered her second-to-last State of the State address and she urged Michiganders toward unity and togetherness. This week on MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Alethia Kasben discuss the major elements of her speech and what stood out the most. Plus, Denise Donohue from the Michigan County Road Association joins the show to discuss potential road funding measures.

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode:

• Gov. Whitmer’s penultimate State of the State Address
• How critical is road funding?

Whitmer’s speech was filled with calls for unity and bipartisanship. Will these calls be answered by the Democratic-controlled Senate and the Republican-controlled House in Lansing?

“We saw the Legislature strike a deal last week — a significant deal on minimum wage and paid sick time,” said Kasben. “So at this point, I would say anything is possible.”  

Other elements of Whitmer’s State of the State dealt with lowering costs, especially when it comes to housing, getting more men to sign up for post-high school education, and more.

In regard to road funding, Donohue told MichMash that this is the year that road funding should be substantially planned because there is a lot of focus on it.

“We talk about a rising tide of funding lifts all boats; [for] municipalities, counties and the state department of transportation. So for us, it’s been critical that we find new road funding for a while,” she said.

Donohue added that according to Senate Fiscal Agency figures, fewer gallons of gas were sold in Michigan than any time in the last 25 years (with an exception for COVID periods). With a portion of taxes from gas being given to road funding, that decrease hurts road funding as well.  

More from WDET:

• Whitmer asks for bipartisan cooperation, positivity in State of the State speech
• Federal money coming to three Michigan cities for safer, greener roads
• MichMash: Breaking down Governor Whitmer’s $83.5 billion budget proposal

After some compromise, the Michigan Legislature passes a revised version of the minimum wage/sick leave laws late Thursday. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the bills into law early Friday afternoon. As part of the weekly series MichMash, host Cheyna Roth and Gongwer News Service’s Alethia Kasben discuss the reactions. 

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode:

• Whitmer signs minimum wage/sick leave bills
• Fallout from the compromised bills
• House Oversight Committee lays out policy plans

Roth shared how even though these compromised bills were the result of bipartisan efforts, some Democratic supporters aren’t too happy with the result. 

“Union and advocacy groups are traditionally democratic allies, and they are not happy with the outcome,” she said. “So there could be some fallout with democratic lawmakers who pushed for these changes and voted for them.”

We also covered how the Republican-led Michigan House is focused on its Oversight Committee and creating policy priorities. Kasben spoke with state Rep. Jay DeBoyer, the Republican chair of the Michigan House Oversight Committee, who laid out his plans for creating more transparency in the legislature.

DeBoyer said that this new structure of oversight is one that he believes should continue as is because it allows residents to become more comfortable with government. When asked whether Democrats claim that this is an attempt on the Republican-led House to play “gotcha” politics, he said:

“Only the guilty need to feel guilty, right? Only the guilty need to worry. I’m going to put this message out there right now. If anybody listens to this, if you’re behaving in a manner that you shouldn’t be behaving and you work in state government, you need to consider changing your ways.” 

More from WDET:

• New rules give Michigan House Oversight Committee greater subpoena power
• Detroit Evening Report: Gov. Whitmer signs new minimum wage, sick leave policies
• Michigan House passes minimum wage bill