Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer is facing backlash for delaying the scheduling of a special election to fill a vacant state legislature seat, leaving hundreds of thousands of residents without representation and ensuring her party’s slim control over the legislature. The seat, previously held by Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet, was left vacant when she was elected to the U.S. House in November. Republicans accuse Whitmer of deliberately delaying the election to prevent them from gaining a seat in the state Senate.
Republican Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt criticized Whitmer’s delay, calling it a political move to keep Republicans from winning the seat. He argued that the delay has left 270,000 people without representation for almost four months. Whitmer has not provided a specific date for the special election, only stating that it will be called at some point in the future.
Republicans believe that Whitmer’s delay is driven by political calculations as she nears the end of her term. They are confident that they can win the 35th District, citing momentum gained from President Donald Trump’s success in the region in 2024. Republican state Rep. Bill Schuette criticized Whitmer for prioritizing other activities, such as book tours and potential presidential aspirations, over calling the special election promptly.
Critics argue that the delay is unfair to the residents of the region who are currently underrepresented in the legislature. Whitmer’s office has not responded to questions about the timing of the special election, leaving uncertainty about when residents can expect to have their voices heard through representation in the state Senate.
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