Michigan
On the surface, Michigan may appear to be a reliably "blue state" - Democrats have won the last four presidential and last two gubernatorial elections. But one doesn't have to look very deep - just to the state legislature and local offices - to see "purple" Michigan.
Michigan's unemployment leads the nation; the state's population is shrinking and aging at an alarming rate; and the domestic auto industry is in shambles. As a result, the state budget has been decimated. The national economic turmoil has only made it worse for Michigan.
Despite legislative districts being drawn by a GOP dominated state government in 2001, Democrats managed to take majority in the state house, but not without compromising core progressive values. Republicans have controlled the state senate for more than a generation. In order to elect and sustain future leaders who will advance bold progressive policy change, the next few years are critical.
Term limits have created an environment where all the statewide offices, 30 of the 38 state senators and more than 35 of the 100 state house seats are open. Conservatives are in a dangerously close position to reclaim the majority in the state House. Because redistricting will occur next year, those elected this year will have political influence that stretches a decade.
Progressive Majority is working in Michigan to help support and build a farm team of progressive leaders committed to advancing progressive social and economic policy. Progressives have an opportunity to build long-term sustainable change in Michigan, but we need to work hard now to elect a new wave of progressive champions.
We are up and running in Michigan! Updates on our operations will be up soon, so keep checking back.