All Non-Term Limited Dem Senators Support Camilleri For Next Leader Of Chamber

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 05/13/2026) All Democratic state senators who can return next year are supporting Sen. Darrin Camilleri (D-Trenton)'s leadership bid in the caucus and are co-hosting a "Leadership Lunch" for him on June 4.

Wednesday afternoon, MIRS received a flier for a "Leadership Lunch" hosted by Camilleri's Senate candidate account, co-hosted by Sens. Dayna Polehanki (D-Livonia), Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing), Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores), Mary Cavanagh (D-Redford Twp.), Veronica Klinefelt (D-Eastpointe), Sue Shink (D-Dexter), John Cherry (D-Flint) and the recently-elected Chedrick Greene, who's waiting on the Board of State Canvassers to certify his special election victory in the 35th Senate district.

Other co-hosts are Reps. Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth) and Julie Rogers (D-Kalamazoo). Koleszar is running in the "cold soup" 5th Senate district created in 2024 by the state's independent redistricting commission following a federal court order, containing a roughly 60% Democratic base in Canton, Westland, Garden City, Inkster and Plymouth and Plymouth Township.

Meanwhile, Rogers is running unopposed in a primary to replace term-limited Sen. Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo), as the Senate district containing Kalamazoo has become substantially more Democratic in the last decade.

Anthony – the Senate Appropriations chair seen as a charismatic, rising Democratic star – and Cherry, the Senate labor chair whose father served as lieutenant governor, were also said to be looking into leadership bids earlier this year.

Now both are co-hosting Camilleri's leadership lunch, a clear sign they are not seeking to succeed Sen. Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) as caucus leader.

"I'm honored to earn the trust and support of my colleagues, and we will continue our focus on retaining and expanding the Democratic majority in the Senate and making Michigan more affordable for everyone," Camilleri said when asked about the event by MIRS. "All of us are moving in the same direction, and we are focused on one goal, which is majority."