House Democrats made history during Thursday afternoon's leadership elections when they elected Rep. Joe Tate (D-Detroit) as the first-ever Black House Speaker, and Rep. Abraham Aiyash (D-Hamtramck) as the first Muslim Majority Floor Leader.
The Detroit Free Press made this its lead headline on Thursday, Nov. 9, 1950, after unofficial election results had former Republican Gov. Harry F. Kelly making then-Democratic Gov. G. Mennen Williams a one-term governor.
In the last 22 Michigan elections for governor, the winning candidate was the same party as the sitting president only four times, the last being John Engler's surprise win over then-Gov. Jim BLANCHARD in 1990 when George H.W. Bush was president.
Anyone speculating who Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will appoint to replace outgoing Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget McCormack should look to the appellate bench and look for someone of color, experts say.
