Michigan Democrats Regain State Government Trifecta

Unofficial election results show Democrat Jocelyn Benson winning Michigan’s governorship and Democrats flipping the state House, restoring control of the governor’s office and both legislative chambers. The outcome gives Democrats a governing trifecta in Lansing, though final vote totals and some legislative races remained subject to counting and certification on Wednesday, November 4. Benson defeated Republican John James in the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, according to unofficial results. Democrats also retained their state Senate majority and expanded it, while gaining control of the 110-seat House, which Republicans had held before Election Day. The results reverse the loss of the party’s legislative trifecta after Republicans won the House in 2024. Unofficial House returns showed Democrats with at least 60 seats, with several races still outstanding. In the Senate, Democrats were likely to hold 23 of 38 seats, according to unofficial results, while one district remained uncalled. Those figures are not final seat counts. The results also indicated that Abdul ElSayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat, which is being...