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Research Service Inc.


James Turns To Public Financing For GOP Primary
Republican gubernatorial candidate John James has made at least two requests for public funding worth a combined $387,000, according to Bureau of Elections filings released this week.
Jul 232 min read


40% Of Likely Primary Voters Estimated To Have Voted
With two weeks left before the Aug. 4 primary, nearly 40% of expected voters have already filled out a ballot, including some still in the mail or received but not processed yet by local clerks, projected Mark Grebner of Practical Political Data Tuesday afternoon.
Jul 222 min read


Michigan's U.S. Senate Primary Reaching Record-Breaking Territory
Michigan's contentious U.S. Senate primary is, as of today, the second-most expensive Democratic senatorial race in U.S. history and is now $6 million away from being No. 1 with two weeks to go before the Aug. 4 primary, according to research conducted by AdImpact.
Jul 213 min read


Nine Candidates Running As Independent For November In Michigan
The Secretary of State is showing that nine people filed petitions to get on the ballot to run as independents before the 4 p.m. deadline Thursday, including some established political names.
Jul 202 min read


Sara Cambensy Files Signatures As Independent For 38th Senate District
Former State Rep. Sara Cambensy turned in 2,349 signatures to the Richard H. Austin building Thursday in Lansing to be able to appear on the Nov. 3 ballot as an independent in the Michigan 38th Senate District.
Jul 171 min read


Senate District 33 Candidate Files FBI Report Alleging Voter Intimidation
The former Michigan Conservative Union president, running for term-limited Sen. Rick Outman (R-Six Lakes)'s seat, claims a state police secretary tried to intimidate homeowners into removing his campaign signs.
Jul 143 min read


El-Sayed, Stevens Avoid Democratic In-Fighting Questions, As They Shred Each Other
U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham) and Abdul El-Sayed debated at the WOOD TV 8 studio where it turned into a verbal brawl, but both U.S. Senate candidates refused to address the schism in the party.
Jul 85 min read


Judge Warren Makes History With Endorsements From 2 Parties
Oakland County Judge Michael Warren perhaps made political history Tuesday, earning both the Libertarian and Republican parties’ nomination for the Michigan Supreme Court (MSC).
Jul 12 min read


Third Parties Once Mattered In Michigan's Governor Races
As Anthony Hudson enters the gubernatorial race this week as the Libertarian Party nominee, MIRS reviewed every Michigan governor's race since statehood to see what impact third-party candidates have had.
Jun 303 min read


Aiyash, Onwenu Break Out In Parking Lot Argument Following Forum
A fiery exchange broke out between Democratic SD-1 candidates Justin Onwenu and Abraham Aiyash following a candidate forum for their race. Onwenu accused Aiyash of telling him that there was a "silver lining" to the war in the Middle East in that it benefited his campaign.
Jun 233 min read


U.S. Senate Debate: Antisemitism, Billionaire Taxes & Stevens' AIPAC Donors
During the Democrats' U.S. Senate debate, Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) said there is an antisemitism problem in the Democratic Party, noting that a state convention attendee yelled an "antisemitic slur" at her Jewish husband in April.
May 293 min read


Second Attempt At Mackinac Island Debate Crashes
A second attempt at a Mackinac Island Policy Conference gubernatorial debate was put down after the campaign for Democratic frontrunner Jocelyn Benson declined to participate after independent Mike Duggan dropped out of the race yesterday.
May 261 min read


How Did We Get Here With The Duggan Drop?
A small group of folks close to former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan received a 48-hour notice that he would publicly end his independent campaign for governor. One source told MIRS that when he no longer saw a path toward winning, he wouldn't wait and pretend that he did.
May 264 min read


Duggan Ends Independent Campaign For Governor
Independent gubernatorial candidate Mike Duggan ended his campaign Thursday, 56 days before the filing deadline and days after polls showed the former Detroit mayor losing momentum despite $14 million in third-party ad spending on his behalf.
May 223 min read


Duggan, Benson Take Swings Over Corporate, Utility Campaign Donations
Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson took debate swings at each other over corporate and utility campaign contributions. Duggan accused Benson of pocketing a $1.5 million check from the —Babe Ruth of data centers,— and Benson called him the lying "corporate candidate."
May 194 min read


Pundit Monday: Mackinac Policy In National Politics Shadow
Lansing will empty out next week for the annual week-long migration to Mackinac Island, prompting pundit questions about the theme and feel expected at the 2026 policy conference in the long shadow of national politics, as well as the chatter of changing who is — or isn't — elected in state politics.
May 197 min read


Ex-Detroit Judge Sues To Get Name On Ballot
A former Detroit judge who has been prohibited from serving on the bench for six years has not given up her fight to get on the 2026 ballot.
May 121 min read


Pundit Monday: Echoes In Michigan Of the Supreme Court Voting Rights Act Decision
The recent Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais has sent some states across the nation racing to redistrict their maps. With the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC), though, Michigan can’t do so without another constitutional amendment. MIRS asked several people questions regarding the recent decision to get their opinion.
May 125 min read


Dems Cancel CD-10 Debate Amid Party 'Metamorphosis,'
The three Democrats seeking to succeed U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township) in MI-10 – one of the country's most competitive battlegrounds – were set to debate next Tuesday until organizers canceled it.
May 114 min read


'I'm Deceiving Voters? What About That $4,747 Check, Perry?'
U.S. Rep. John James (R-Shelby Township) fired back at gubernatorial candidate Perry Johnson’s claims he violated election law for implying he’s the incumbent governor and not a candidate on his campaign material.
May 112 min read
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