Mackinac Policy Conference To Hold Dem Senate Debate, Discuss Data Centers

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 05/07/2026) The 2026 Detroit Regional Chamber Mackinac Policy Conference will host a debate between the three Democrats running for U.S. Senate and will play host to the policy discussion over data centers.

Detroit Regional Chamber CEO Sandy Baruah said the chamber set up a debate between U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham), state Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak), and Abdul El-Sayed. Republican Mike Rogers would also be given stage time with a journalist.

“There will be no gubernatorial debate. The debate task force was unable to secure the participation from many of the key candidates running for governor, and so we’re just not going to do that,” Baruah said.

He said Mike Duggan would be given time on the main stage at the start of the conference Tuesday afternoon.

There would also be a panel featuring Senate Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids), Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton), House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Township), and House Minority Leader Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton).

Baruah said that this year’s conference would have a different format than previous conferences.

“We’re going to change up our traditional conference format,” he said.

He said all the main stage theater sessions would be held between 9:30 a.m. to about 1 p.m. for keynotes, which will include former Vice President M, actor Gary Sinise, former U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, and former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu.

Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, would also have time on the main stage.

Baruah said Whitmer and U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Oakland County) would be given special honors as their last conference in their respective positions.

2026 Mackinac Policy Conference Chair Bob Riney said the topics of policy discussion for the conference would be around housing, education, talent, population growth, and the hot topic of data centers.

Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang will talk about data centers along with former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

Baruah said the chamber was also hoping to release a research paper regarding data centers and artificial intelligence by the time of the conference.

A political poll and a policy poll conducted by Glengariff Group will also be released for the start of the conference.

“We as a state are slipping. We’re actually slipping fairly dramatically,” Baruah said.

He said many people believe the state is average with education, population growth, and income, but the state was in the 40s.

“Pairing with the ‘House is on fire’ message, we have another message and that is ‘What’s the Fix’ or shorthand WTF,” he said. “And yes, we’re being a little cheeky with that because we want to get people’s attention.”