Puri Concerned Low Pay Discourages Candidates

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 11/06/2026) House Minority Leader Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton), who is slated to become speaker next term, told MIRS that the pay cut many prospective candidates would face, coupled with the current political climate, makes it difficult for too many people to run for office.

There’s “absolutely a need,” he said, to examine ways to ease those barriers and encourage more people to enter public service.

His comments came after MIRS asked about the pending State Officers Compensation Commission (SOCC) recommendation amid rumors that legislative leaders could bring a pay raise resolution up for a vote before year’s end.

Lawmakers have received an annual base salary of $71,685 since a 10% reduction took effect in 2011 following a 2009 vote. They also receive a $10,800 annual expense allowance.

“I think there are serious equity issues in the current framework of the sacrifice that's required to run for public office,” Puri said during the sit-down interview. “So if there are ways to make sure that more people, especially those that have young families or might be a single mom or a single parent, can explore public service, I think that would be good for the state of Michigan and our democracy.”

The SOCC recommendation would increase salaries for Michigan’s governor, lieutenant governor, Supreme Court justices, legislators, attorney general and Secretary of State by 25% beginning in 2027.

Legislative salaries have remained unchanged since the 2011 reduction. A controversial 38% legislative pay increase recommended in 2000 prompted a backlash that led voters to amend the state Constitution in 2002.

Under the previous system, SOCC recommendations took effect unless rejected by lawmakers. The current system requires approval by both legislative chambers, putting legislative leaders in a position to determine whether a recommendation receives a vote.

Although a 25% increase may appear substantial, it would not restore lawmakers’ purchasing power to its level more than two decades ago.

Asked about unionizing legislative staff, Puri said that is another discussion House Democrats will have. He wants the caucus’s 26 new members to help shape its approach.

“My approach to leadership is a little bit more decentralized. I don't necessarily try to kind of dictate everything the way that I think it needs to be done,” Puri said. “I really do try to uplift the perspectives of the diversity that makes the House Democrats so great. So we've shied away from making any kind of bold declarations about what's going to happen in the 104th (Legislature) because of that same reason of wanting to make sure that these 26 new members can get a fair say in dictating what the 104th looks like.”

More from the interview can be heard Monday on the MIRS Monday Podcast.