Control of the Michigan House of Representatives is at stake in two special elections taking place on April 16.
Democrats won a 56-54 majority in the Michigan House – and a state government trifecta – in the 2022 elections. Control of the chamber split 54-54 when Lori M. Stone (D) and Kevin Coleman (D) resigned after winning mayoral elections in 2023. If Democrats gain a majority or if control of the chamber remains split, Democrats will maintain their trifecta. If Republicans gain a majority, Democrats will lose their trifecta.
Mai Xiong (D) and Ronald Singer (R) are running in District 13. Xiong is a member of the Macomb County Board of Commissioners who is running on her experience in elected office. Xiong says her focus will be on “bringing people together to get things done for working families.” Singer is an engineer who was the Republican nominee in the district in 2022. Singer says he is running because “right now it seems like we need some adult supervision in Lansing,” mentioning energy policy as an area of focus.
Peter Herzberg (D) and Josh Powell (R) are running in District 25. Herzberg is a member of the Westland City Council who is running on his experience in office. Herzberg says he has “spent my entire adult life focusing on public service, volunteering and helping my community.” Powell is an IT worker and veteran of the U.S. Army. Powell says his “platform can be summed up in six simple words. Less Government; Less Regulation; Lower Taxes.”
In 2022, Democrats won the District 13 election 67%-33% and the District 25 election 63%-37%. More Democrats voted in both districts’ special primaries than Republicans. In District 13, 4,983 Democrats voted in the primary compared to 1,713 Republicans, while in District 25, 5,702 Democrats and 2,117 Republicans voted in the primary.
The April 16 Michigan elections are not the only state legislative special elections taking place this year where control of a chamber is at stake. A Feb. 13 special election to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives will break the chamber’s 101-101 split. Like in Michigan, the Pennsylvania special election is taking place after a Democratic legislator resigned. Unlike in Michigan, Pennsylvania Republicans control the state senate, meaning trifecta control of the state is not at stake.
The winners of the special elections will serve until Jan. 1, 2025, when the winners of the November general elections will take office. Candidates running in the special elections may also run in the general elections.
