August 18th-September 4th, 2026

This week, both the Michigan and U.S. Supreme Courts rejected separate legal challenges that sought to put a proposed constitutional amendment addressing citizenship verification and voter identification on the November election ballot, ending the initiative’s chances this year.

The group behind the initiative, Americans for Citizens Voting Michigan, submitted nearly 710,000 signatures, well above the 446,198 required to be considered. However, upon review of a random sample of the signatures, the Bureau of Elections determined the campaign fell three valid signatures short for validity. The Board of State Canvassers then deadlocked over whether additional voter affidavits should be counted.

The group subsequently asked both courts to intervene and place the proposal on the ballot. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene and did not state why. The Michigan Supreme Court declined to order the Board of State Canvassers to certify the proposal, and suggested that the Legislature review state law governing the timing and process for petition signature reviews.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services recently sent out a Michigan Medicaid Policy bulletin reminding Medicaid providers of the upcoming policy changes. In compliance with Section 71109 of H.R. 1, commonly referred to as “The One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, beginning October 1 only legal permanent residents, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and Compacts of Free Association (COFA) migrants will be able to receive full Medicaid coverage. Certain individuals will still need to meet the five-year waiting period for full coverage. Anyone who falls under a different immigration status will qualify for emergency services only (ESO).

Due to Michigan providing coverage under section 214 of the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIRPA), pregnant individuals and children under the age of 21 who are legal residents will not have their coverage affected by H.R. 1.

A new study from the Citizens Research Council of Michigan shows that the recent federal changes made to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) have contributed to an 8% decline in the number of Michigan residents receiving benefits.

During fiscal year 2025, approximately 1.5 million Michigan residents received SNAP benefits. A total of $3.1 billion was distributed, with an average benefit of $175 per month. By April 2026, roughly 1.37 million Michiganders were receiving SNAP benefits.

The federal changes, which include new eligibility restrictions and further work requirements for certain groups, are the primary reasons for the decrease. The changes included applying work requirements to adults ages 55 and older and removing exemptions for certain individuals experiencing homelessness, veterans, and young adults who previously aged out of foster care.

Michigan’s 8% decline was smaller than the national average decline of 12% during the same period. The Citizens Research Council estimates that the changes have reduced SNAP benefits in Michigan by approximately $300 million annually. The study noted that declining enrollment could increase state healthcare spending while also negatively affecting educational outcomes due to increased food insecurity. State officials are expected to consider how to address the funding gap created by federal cuts.

House Democrats recently introduced a bill package that aims to reform Michigan’s primary care. The eight-bill package is being led by Rep. Matt Longjohn (D-Portage). The series of bills aims to increase the share of state-contracted health plans spending dedicated to primary care from 6% to 12%.

Also included are bills creating a state commission and office focused on primary care access, workforce needs, and monitoring investments. The package would codify the MiDOCS recruitment program and create a MiNURSES program that would offer loan repayment and scholarships for nurses who work in underserved areas.

The package also comprises a proposal to create a program for state-backed loans to help students who are pursuing a career in primary care but have already reached the federal student loan cap. Lastly, a bill in the package is included to create tax credits for clinicians who train providers and grants for medical schools to introduce students to health careers.

The introduction of the package comes as primary care, and healthcare in general, see access shortages across the state.

Both the Michigan Democratic and Republican nominating conventions went off with little or no drama. Both parties confirmed the candidates that were backed at the endorsement conventions earlier this year, and the candidates who had won their respective races in the August primary. Below is a full list of the nominees for the statewide races:

Gubernatorial (Governor / Lieutenant Governor)

Democrat — Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson / Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks

Republican — Congressman John James / State Representative Jay DeBoyer

U.S. Senate

Democrat — Former Public Health Official Abdul El-Sayed

Republican — Former Congressman Mike Rogers

Secretary of State

Democrat — Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist III

Republican — Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini

Attorney General

Democrat — Washtenaw County Prosecuting Attorney Eli Savit

Republican — Eaton County Prosecuting Attorney Doug Lloyd

Michigan State Board of Education

Democrat — Incumbent Judith Pritchett

Democrat — Incumbent Tiffany Tilley

Republican — Grosse Pointe school board member Terence Collins

Republican — Child care provider Bree Moeggenberg

Michigan Supreme Court

Democrat — Incumbent Justice Megan Cavanagh

Democrat — Incumbent Justice Noah Hood

Republican — Oscoda County District Court Judge Casandra Morse-Bills

Republican — Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Michael Warren

Michigan State University Board of Trustees

Democrat — Incumbent Brianna Scott

Democrat — Incumbent Kelly Tebay

Republican — State Sen. Roger Victory

Republican — Former Novi City Councilor Julie Maday

University of Michigan Board of Regents

Democrat — Incumbent Paul Brown

Democrat — Civil rights attorney Amir Makled

Republican — Oil executive Lena Epstein

Republican — Bloomfield Township Treasurer Michael Schostak

Wayne State University Board of Governors

Democrat — Civil rights attorney Shereef Akeel

Democrat — Attorney Richard Mack

Republican — Businesswoman Christa Murphy

Republican — Educator Andy Anuzis

The general election is Tuesday, November 3.

Former State Representative Pamela Hornberger has been appointed to run as the Republican nominee in the 63rd House District. The incumbent, Jay DeBoyer, vacated the ticket when he was selected as John James’ choice for lieutenant governor.

Hornbeger received six of the ten votes from the Republican Party executive committee members representing Macomb and St. Clair counties. The other four votes went to contractor, and friend of DeBoyer, Mike Grover.

The selection followed a legal dispute over who was eligible to participate in the nomination process. Earlier Wednesday, St. Clair County Circuit Judge Cynthia Lane rejected a request from the Michigan Republican Party to allow the full Macomb and St. Clair county executive committees to vote. The decision limited participation to executive committee members who reside within the 63rd District.

Hornberger previously served in the Michigan House from 2017 through 2022 and was speaker pro tempore during the 2021-2022 legislative session.

Recently, The Senate Fiscal Agency (SFA) released the Monthly Revenue Report for July 2026. Total tax collections totalled $3.1 billion, $174 million above what was expected and 6.9% higher than July 2025.

The revenue for both the net income tax and the combined sales and use tax came in at $1.2 billion. The combined sales and use tax number beat expectations by $106.9 million, whereas net income tax was slightly behind beating expectations by $93.3 million.

The repealed Single Business Tax, Michigan Business Tax (MBT), and Corporate Income Tax (CIT) generated $140.0 million in net revenue. The combined collections were $39.6 million below the predicted number. Revenue from CIT collections caused most of the drag, as it lagged behind the predicted number by $43.1 million.

General Fund (GF) collections were $75.3 million above the forecasted number, and the School Aid Fund exceeded expectations by $82.2 million. So far, the year-to-date collections for the GF sits at $459.3 million, and for the School Aid Fund, $194.5 million.