(The Center Square) – Here is a round-up of the top 10 political, economic and cultural stories that made the headlines in Michigan in 2025.
Lansing Watch
Following months of failed negotiations, Michigan’s state government faced a shutdown in early October. The legislature eventually passed a one-week fiscal extension and, just hours before it was set to end, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer officially signed off on the 2025-2026 budget.
The K-12 education budget totaled $24.1 billion, while the general omnibus budget was an additional $52 billion.
This wasn’t the only controversy in Michigan in 2025. Republicans and Democrats in the state legislature have been embroiled in an ongoing dispute over nine bills that were never sent to Whitmer for signature.
The bills passed the state legislature at the end of the 2024 legislative session. Since then, Republicans have refused to send them on to the governor.
Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, has been leading the legal effort by the Democrat-controlled Senate against the Republican-controlled House to complete the bills’ passage.
Republicans are currently requesting the state Supreme Court take up the case: Michigan Senate v. Michigan House of Representatives. They argue that it was the responsibility of the previous House’s leadership, who were Democrats prior to January, to send the bills to the governor’s desk.
Opposition to Trump
Throughout 2025, Attorney General Dana Nessel regularly joined other attorneys general in taking numerous legal actions against the Trump administration and its policies.
Since President Donald Trump took office in January, Nessel has joined or filed 41 different lawsuits.
In a number of those lawsuits, either preliminary injunctions or temporary restraining orders have been issued, coming as a win for Nessel and the other states joined on the lawsuits.
State Scandals
Impeachment efforts, corruption scandals, and renewed calls for reform shaped much of the political landscape in Michigan in 2025.
In June, State Rep. James DeSana, R-Carleton, filed articles of impeachment against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.
DeSana alleged Benson engaged in “corrupt conduct, constitutional violations, and a repeated abuse of power.” This was the culmination of a dramatic face off between Benson, a Democrat, and Michigan House Republicans over election materials.
That impeachment did not result in Benson’s removal from office.
Multiple state agencies also faced scandals throughout the year, with both the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources being the subjects of calls for reform or even abolishment from state Republicans.
These initiatives, though unsuccessful, were part of a broader call from Republicans for the state government to undergo DOGE efforts similar to those happening in the federal government.
“It’s time to DOGE it and END the non stop waste, fraud, and abuse,” said Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt, R-Lawton, in July.
These efforts came as a report also found that the Michigan state government had $39.21 billion in debt—ranking it 16th highest nationally.
University of Michigan Football Coach Fired
In December, University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore was unexpectedly fired following reports of an “inappropriate relationship” with a staffer.
Moore was also arrested on a number of charges involving the staffer, including breaking and entering, home invasion, and stalking. At the time of his firing, he was the second-highest paid public employee in the state of Michigan.
Moore served as the university’s acting head coach in four games during its national championship-winning 2023 season.
Line 5 Controversy
Native American tribal nations, environmental groups, and Democrats are continuing in their opposition to the Great Lakes Tunnel Project, which is slowly making its way out of regulatory and legal limbo.
The project is facing numerous legal challenges, including one in the state Supreme Court and another that might eventually make it to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The proposed changes would move a section of the Line 5 pipeline into a tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac, which is the 4-mile wide waterway connecting Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, dividing Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The pipeline currently lies on the bottom of the Straits.
The transmission line is owned by Canadian company Enbridge and goes 645 miles from Superior, Wis., through the Straits of Mackinac in Michigan to Sarnia, Ontario. The 72-year-old pipeline currently moves more than 500,000 barrels of oil and natural gas liquids daily.
Enbridge told The Center Square in a statement that the upgrades will make Line 5 more reliable, while protecting the integrity of the gas supply chain to Michigan. Opponents of the project hope to see Line 5 closed entirely.
Energy Rate Hikes
Throughout 2025, Michigan’s two largest energy companies requested multiple rate hikes. These came as Michigan families already face some of the highest electricity prices nationally.
Just this month, Consumers Energy filed for a $240 million increase in its gas rates. That would come out to approximately an 8% increase for residential customers, just months after the Michigan Public Service Commission approved its last request.
In response to these constant increases, a number of Michigan Democrats joined a coalition of advocacy groups pushing Michigan’s first-ever Ratepayer Bill of Rights.
The coalition, which has labeled itself “Our Bills Are Too Damn High,” is part of an effort to bring down energy prices. It has accused utility companies in the state of “pocketing profits” instead of making the necessary investments to improve Michigan’s power grid.
Consumers Energy argues the rate hikes are needed to keep up with inflation and improve the reliability of the energy system in Michigan.
High Unemployment
Michigan consistently saw high unemployment in 2025, consistently higher than the national unemployment average.
Though it dropped in September to the fifth-highest nationally, it still was 5.1%, or significantly higher than the national unemployment rate of 4.4%.
Opinions have been divided on what is causing Michigan’s high unemployment compared to other states. Democrats point to issues like tariffs, while Republicans lay the blame on economic policies pushed by Whitmer.
Elections 2025
While there were no statewide elections in Michigan, thousands of Michiganders still headed to the polls on Election Day in November to vote in consequential local elections.
Notably, Detroit elected its first female mayor and the controversial Dearborn mayor overwhelmingly won reelection.
Voters also decided on billions of dollars in bonds or tax increases—voting on more than 150 measures across 43 counties.
In September, Whitmer also called for a special election for Michigan’s 35th Senate District, after it sat empty for nearly eight months, or 238 days. The special election won’t take place until May 5, meaning the seat will sit empty for a total of 474 days.
This prolonged vacancy became a rallying cry for Republicans, who labeled the situation “taxation without representation” for the residents of the district.
Church Attack
In September, a gunman attacked the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township. According to local authorities, Thomas Jacob Sanford rammed the building during a Sunday morning service with his pickup truck, began shooting, and then set the building on fire.
As a result, five died, including the gunman. Another eight were injured.
The Michigan office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the attack as an “act of targeted violence” against Mormons.
Sanford was a 40-year-old veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, who spent time deployed in Iraq. He received multiple military awards and recognitions for his service.
Economic Wins, Tariffs, and Data Centers
While companies like Stallantis and JR Automation announced millions of dollars in investments in Michigan, not all economic news was good for the state in 2025.
Concerns were constant about the impacts of tariffs, with reports from several State of Michigan departments stating they are causing “higher prices and costly delays” in shipments.
Throughout the year, Whitmer has met with Trump multiple times to discuss tariff policy.
Data Centers have also become a hot topic in the state. Currently, more than a dozen data centers are in the works throughout Michigan. While the push for data centers is a national phenomenon, advocates for the facilities argue that Michigan’s climate and resources make it an ideal location.
Opponents have labeled themselves “Michigan’s Data Center Resistance” and argue that environmental and taxpayer concerns should lead Michigan communities to say no data centers.
So far, the centers have largely received support from state entities like the Michigan Public Service Commission.
