Question 1): Should Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, now running for governor in 2026 as an Independent, once again shock Michigan’s political world by appearing on Mackinac Island in the midst of next week-end’s state GOP’ biennial leadership conference? Answer 1): It would be a bold move, but probably not. First, it would provide the Michigan Democratic […] The post SHOULD DUGGAN CRASH MICHIGAN GOP’S MACKINAC CONCLAVE? appeared first on The Ballenger Report.| The Ballenger Report
And now for something completely different — not about Michigan politics but about the current campaign for Mayor of New York City. The voters’ verdict in the November general election may reverberate far beyond Gotham, and that includes Michigan. The following article by two women journalists is worth the read … How Zohran Mamdani Achieved […] The post CAN FAR LEFT GOVERN? NEW YORK WILL TELL US SOON appeared first on The Ballenger Report.| The Ballenger Report
Mike Duggan is riding high right now. The Detroit mayor has picked up a lot of momentum since he rocked the Michigan political world by announcing early this year that he would run for governor in 2026 not as a Democrat (which he always was) but as an Independent. Just last week, his appearance on […]| The Ballenger Report
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation, or MEDC, has been in the news for an alleged scandal. A probe by the Attorney General focuses on Fay Beydoun, a Metro Detroit businesswoman active in Democratic politics, for allegedly misusing a $20 million state grant, administered by the MEDC. And the real question is: Why didn’t this happen […] The post IS MICHIGAN’S MEDC A COLOSSAL BOONDOGGLE? appeared first on The Ballenger Report.| The Ballenger Report
Question 1): Lansing has been abuzz about the $20 million Michigan Economic Development Corporation grant awarded to former MEDC board member Fay Beydoun in 2022. Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office has been investigating Beydoun, a Governor Gretchen Whitmer donor, for embezzlement, to the point of raiding the MEDC for records. Yipes! Is this the end of the […]| The Ballenger Report
Why the Almanac of American Politics remains the most important read amid today’s fractured political climate. Despite a polarized nation, the 2026 edition continues to offer trusted, comprehensive data and profiles, from local districts to Washington insiders, including an essential Michigan chapter. For more than five decades, the Almanac of American Politics has set the […]| The Ballenger Report
SEE BELOW FOR LIST OF ‘SECRET’ DONORS’ WHO SUPPORTED EFFORT TO THWART GOV. GRETCHEN WHITMER DURING PANDEMIC “NO ONE WILL KNOW” EMAILS DISCLOSE ‘DARK MONEY’ FUNDING BEHIND ‘UNLOCK MICHIGAN’ The COVID cacophony of 2020-2021 may have ended, but the discordant melody lingers on. Republican state lawmakers opposed to the way Gov. Gretchen Whitmer unilaterally assumed […]| The Ballenger Report
Question 1): Right now, groups backing half a dozen statewide ballot initiatives are preparing to collect petition signatures to qualify for the 2026 general election. The six proposals are 1) Invest In MI Kids aka “Tax the Rich,” which would sock those earning $500,000 or more annually with an additional 5% income tax; 2) Demanding […]| The Ballenger Report
WHY CAN’T CONGRESS OPERATE LIKE THE MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE? It’s difficult to give the Michigan Legislature credit for mastering the art of lawmaking. After all, the six public acts Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed into law so far this year is the fewest number of signed bills at this point in any year since 1940, the […]| The Ballenger Report
Question 1): Now that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has been signed into law, has the messaging for the two major parties changed? And what are the implications for the Republican Party and its candidates, since they “own” this legislation? Could Medicaid cuts be a voter turnout driver for Michigan Democrats in 2026? […]| The Ballenger Report