Sen. Winnie Brinks (D-29, Grand Rapids) will serve as the first female Senate Majority Leader in Michigan’s history. A statement issued by her office read in part, “I am honored to be elected by my peers to lead the first Democratic Majority in the Michigan Senate since 1983. Along with Democratic leadership in the House and governor’s office, we are ready to lead a legislature that prioritizes people over politics.

With 12 women and eight men, the Senate Democrats make up a dynamic, diverse caucus that is ready to work with Governor Whitmer to make the Great Lakes State a place where people can thrive and I’m excited to lead this talented team of legislators…”

Rep. Joe Tate (D-2, Detroit) was elected Michigan’s first Black Speaker of the House of Representatives. “It’s a tremendous honor to be chosen to serve as the next Speaker of the House. The people of Michigan chose Democratic leadership for the future of Michigan, and we have a terrific caucus that will be legislating from the majority in the 102nd Legislature,” Tate said. “This is a historic opportunity to do true work for the people — to forge a future for Michigan that supports the needs of all Michiganders.”

Reproductive Freedom For All Ballot Initiative - Passed

Establishes a new individual right to reproductive freedom, including the right to make and carry out decisions on prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, contraception, sterilization, abortion, miscarriage management and infertility.

Promote the Vote 2022 Ballot Initiative - Passed

• Increases voter access with nine days of early voting
• Subsidizes absentee ballots and a tracking system
• Allows registered voters to sign an affidavit attesting to their identity without a state ID
• Allows disclosed public sources and charities to fund elections
• Allows voters to register for absentee ballots for all future elections
• Requires ballot drop boxes for every 15,000 voters in municipalities
• Establishes post-election audits only by state and local officials
• Certifies election results based on the official vote counts of canvas boards.

HB 5751 Emotional Support Animal Act

• Creates barriers and omits members of the disability community with mental or psychological disabilities who require animals for therapeutic emotional support.
• Confuses the types of animals covered by HUD, and is inconsistent with HUD guidance.
• Places a time requirement on patient/provider relationships and requires intrusive medical history information contrary to HUD guidance.

• Emotional Support Animal Act
• Download the poster

SB 460 & HB 5097 Education and Critical Race Theory

• SB 460 bans “Critical Race Theory” and the 1619 curriculum.
• HB 5097 “stereotype” bill bans several race and gender variables in public schools.
• SB 460 Education and Critical Race Theory: Reported in Senate Education and Career Readiness
• HB 5097 Education and Curriculum: Pending in Senate Committee of the Whole

HB 4416 Prohibits Restrictive Covenants

• Prohibits certain restrictive covenants in deeds.
• Provides an efficient and effective way to record the illegality of restrictive covenants in the chain of title recorded in the Register of Deeds Office.
• Reported favorably by Senate Local Government Committee and referred to the Committee of the Whole.

Were Minority Votes Diluted in Michigan Elections Due to MICRC Maps?

Michigan election districts may have been drawn in a less partisan way at the expense of Black voter representation. Demographic data indicates that Michigan’s majority-minority election districts were mainly of racial and ethnic minorities before the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission’s (MICRC) maps. These minorities are all protected classes under the Voting Rights Act and the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act and had less chance of electing candidates of their choice under the MICRC final Chestnut, Linden, and Hickory maps.

Chestnut MICRC Congressional Map 

Hickory MICRC House of Representatives Map

Linden MICRC State Senate Map

Majority-minority districts were not drawn to prevent vote dilution in Saginaw, Southfield, Flint, Pontiac, Taylor, Inkster, Redford, Hamtramck, and Detroit. Each of these communities of interest may have been denied the opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice.

Both of Michigan’s majority-minority congressional seats (that Detroit has had since 1980), experienced minority vote dilution - the Chestnut map has only one compared to the two that existed before the MICRC map. Under the Linden map, there is only one majority-minority State Senate district in Detroit instead of five. MICRC’s Chestnut map does not have any Michigan House of Representatives districts with more than 50 percent minority population.

At a meeting in November 2021, the Michigan Civil Rights Commission passed a resolution calling on the MICRC to ensure that the electoral maps they approve are fair and will not result in the dilution of the minority vote.

The Michigan Civil Rights Commission met in Traverse City on Monday, October 24th, at 10:00 AM. Among the items on the agenda were the swearing-in of new Commissioner Luke R. Londo and establishing the 2023 meeting schedule and priorities. The event was also the last session for Commissioner Regina Gasco-Bentley, who received a service award. 

Introducing Commissioner

Luke R. Londo

Luke R. Londo is a member of the Hazel Park City Council, appointed to the office in 2021 and subsequently elected to a full term. He is also a communications professional, servicing two philanthropic organizations in Detroit that are dedicated to improving housing stability, expanding arts and culture, increasing access to public spaces, bridging the digital divide, and building economic mobility for Detroit residents.

Londo is the first openly LGBTQ+ member of the Commission. After his swearing-in, Londo briefly addressed the Commission and acknowledged the honor of representing the LGBTQ+ community. In closing, he said, "To the youth of this state and 16-year-old Luke: It can and it does get better."

Mr. Londo previously served as the Director of Constituent Services for the late Congressman Dan Benishek, M.D., and as a Constituent Relations Representative for the Michigan Department of Attorney General under Attorney General Bill Schuette. He is a graduate of Northern Michigan University in Marquette, where he grew up, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. He is also currently pursuing his Master of Public Administration from his alma mater.

Thank You, Commissioner

Gasco-Bentley!

The October 24th Commission meeting was the last for Commissioner Regina Gasco-Bentley, whose term expires on Dec. 31, 2022. Commissioners thanked her for her years of service, tireless work, and unparalleled insight on issues such as migrant and seasonal farmworkers and Indigenous boarding schools. Commissioner Gasco-Bentley also serves as chair of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians.