By Mary Pollock
At Michigan’s Capitol, May always features a mid-month Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference and the decampment of legislators, staff, and lobbyists to the annual Detroit Chamber of Commerce Mackinac Policy Conference at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island the week following Memorial Day; 2026 was no different.
BUDGET
The May Revenue Estimating Conference is always the last prediction of the State’s income in light of economic indicators before final legislative budget decisions for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 must be made.
Gongwer News Service reported that members of the Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference on Friday, May 15, revised the projected fiscal year 2026 revenue upward by $307.3 million for combined General Fund and School Aid Fund collections compared to the last estimate in January 2026 or by about 1.2 percent. This was made up of an increase in General Fund of $227.9 million and for School Aid Fund the increase was $79.4 million.
For fiscal year 2027, combined General Fund and School Aid Fund revenues were revised upward by about $173.8 million. The increase for General Fund was $94.2 million, and the increase for School Aid Fund was $79.6 million.
Treasurer Rachael Eubanks told reporters following the revenue conference her key takeaway was that revenues were stable, and the State needs to proceed carefully in budgeting with the slowed rate of revenue growth.
Budget Director Jen Flood told reporters tough decisions are still necessary due to federal tax and policy changes that are projected to cause a multi-billion dollar hit to the State’s revenue over the next several years.
House Appropriations Committee Chair State Representative Ann Bollin (R-Brighton) said data from economists showed that the State has not seen a major fiscal impact from federal policy changes. She said that the State should avoid proposals to grow government and focus on core government responsibilities and addressing long-term needs.
Education groups in statements urged the Legislature to quickly finalize a budget, stressing the need for prioritizing education spending and completing a budget before July 1. Last year the budget was passed in early October, shortly after the State’s new fiscal year began, but three months after the fiscal year began July 1 for schools and local governments who depend on State revenues.
Nothing for State Retirees – Even with the good news about State revenues and the economy, there is nowhere in the current or future budget any allotment of funds for Michigan SERA’s request to “Scrap the Cap” on defined benefit retirees’ annual cost-of-living adjustment in place since 1987 and never increased one dime. The value of that $300 cap erodes the value of our pension each year by the rate of inflation since 1987. But there are plenty of other new projects and expenditures in the 2027 budget sponsored by the Governor or legislators. Even Lansing’s own State Senators Sam Singh and Sarah Anthony who have many State employee retirees and active State employee constituents are not yet willing to sponsor a bill to change the statute in some way to remove the $300 cap for the future, saying in essence they want to see support from the House and the Governor’s office first. Maybe they haven’t heard from enough State retirees and employees. Have you written or called them?
MICHIGAN PRIMARY AUGUST 4
Governor’s Race Surprises – Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has ended his independent campaign for Michigan governor after polling showed declining support and growing Democratic momentum, he said. Duggan, also a former Democrat, said the race had become focused on opposition to President Donald Trump, gas prices, and the war in Iran instead of his message about fixing Lansing. He also referenced difficulty in finding national donors to back an independent race for Governor. His campaign finance report of April 21 stated that he had raised $5.2 million and spent $2.7 million on his campaign.
Duggan was seen by many as a spoiler in the race, attracting some traditional Democratic votes in southeast Michigan where he is well known, moderate non-MAGA Republicans as well as independent voters looking for alternatives to the major party duopoly. Duggan’s candidacy held out a potential prospect of electing a plurality Governor rather than one chosen by more than 50 percent of the electorate.
Board of State Canvassers – The Board of State Canvassers on May 28 approved gubernatorial candidates’ nominating petitions for the ballot: Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson for the Democratic ballot and U.S. Representative John James, businessman Perry Johnson, State Senator Aric Nesbitt, and former Attorney General Mike Cox for the Republican ballot. Republican candidate Ralph Rebandt and Democratic candidate Kimberly Thomas were disqualified for lack of sufficient valid voter signatures on their nominating petitions. Former House Speaker Tom Leonard withdrew from the Governor’s race earlier. Minor parties will nominate their candidates this summer in conventions. They must file no later than one day after their party’s nominating convention.
Michigan is one of 36 gubernatorial elections taking place in 2026. It is the only executive office elected in all 50 states. There are currently 26 Republican governors and 24 Democratic governors according to Ballotpedia.
Primary Voting Information – The constitutionally mandated early voting period for the Tuesday, August 4, primary is July 24, 2026, to August 2, 2026. Voter registration or change of voting address in person at your jurisdiction’s clerk’s office is available through primary election day. Voter registration or change of address online is available by July 20, 2026. Absentee ballots become available 40 days before an election. That’s June 25 for the August 4 primary. Information for individual voters can be found at the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.michigan.gov/vote.
Although you can apply for an absentee ballot for each election cycle, Michigan voters can decide to be placed on a permanent absentee ballot list. Many voters like to get their ballots early to study them, especially the ballot issues and lesser advertised races such as those for judicial and local government candidates. Local governments like to put funding issues on the May and August ballots to the surprise of many voters who do not get an absentee ballot and vote in person. If you are on the permanent absentee ballot list with your local clerk, you will then automatically be mailed your absentee ballot for all local, state, and federal elections on or about 40 days before the election. Mailing back your absentee ballot is free. Senior power and influence depend on your participation in all elections.
Debates – WOOD TV8 has announced it will host two primary election debates in July featuring candidates for U.S. Senate and governor. These may be available on other channels, on the WOOD TV8 website, or by streaming in your area.
Democratic U.S. Senate candidates Abdul El-Sayed, Mallory McMorrow, and Haley Stevens will debate on July 7 as they compete to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Gary Peters. Republican gubernatorial candidates Mike Cox, John James, Aric Nesbitt, and Perry Johnson will debate on July 9 as they seek their party’s nomination for the November general election.
MONEY OUT OF POLITICS FILES FOR BALLOT
Michigan Money Out of Politics (MMOP) Ballot Committee on May 27 turned in more than 562,000 voter signatures to the Bureau of Elections for review.
The proposed voter-initiated statute would ban State political contributions from government-regulated utilities and corporations with State or local government contracts exceeding $250,000. It would also require the disclosure of corporate campaign money, often called “dark money,” that pays for TV and other advertisements during campaigns, making it more transparent who is paying for candidates’ campaign expenses.
The initiative would expand disclosure requirements for advertisements that name a candidate also. Executive Director of Voters Not Politicians Christine McGillivray, one of the MMOP leaders, said elected officials have had the opportunity to fix the issue through passing legislation but have not done so because both the Democratic and Republican parties benefit from corporate money.
If the Board of State Canvassers certifies that MMOP has the required 356,958 valid voter signatures to qualify for the ballot, the Legislature has 40 session days to approve it to make it State law, offer an additional alternative proposal for the ballot, or do nothing and let the measure go on the November ballot for the voters to decide.
A vigorous legal challenge is expected to the validity of signatures or other flaws in the petition process from those who oppose the measure.
Gongwer News Service reported that DTE Energy issued a statement saying the company is committed to being a responsible corporate citizen and complies with the law in its political contributions. The statement claimed that the political contributions the company makes are supported by the DTE voluntary employee Political Action Committee or DTE shareholders – not from customer revenue.
Consumers Energy issued a statement saying the MMOP approach won’t eliminate money in politics – it will simply shift influence away from Michigan companies and toward wealthy national donors and special interests. Meanwhile, local employers and their employees risk being sidelined. Consumers Energy said it will also “push back against any attempt to curtail the free speech rights of our co-workers.”
The conservative group Michigan Forward said the proposal is an effort to rewrite elections to favor Democrats and their allies.
The MMOP initiated statute ballot proposal joins the Americans for Citizen Voting constitutional amendment ballot proposal in waiting for Bureau of Elections staff review and then decisions from the Board of State Canvassers. Bureau of Elections staff are expected to issue soon the random voter signature sample for each proposal that will be reviewed in detail as one of the early steps in the ballot access process.
LEGISLATION UPDATE
Conservatorship Bills Move – Bills modifying conservatorship laws passed the House unanimously on June 3 and await Senate action. House Bills (HBs) 5739 and 5740 strengthen probate court oversight on individuals under guardianships or conservatorships with large financial assets, creating more safeguards when assets reach $25,000 or more. Many seniors are affected by these laws. The Michigan Guardianship Association, County Mental Health Association of Michigan, Probate Support Specialists, and Michigan County Social Services Association indicated support for the bills in committee. AARP of Michigan indicated support for HB 5740. Michigan Judicial Probate Integrity Project testified in opposition to the bills.
Other bills we are watching have not moved since our last report.
Mary Pollock is the Lansing SERA Chapter and SERA Coordinating Council’s Legislative Representative. She may be contacted at michigansera@comcast.net.