The Michigan Senate election of 2022 occurred on November 8, 2022, to elect all 38 members to the Michigan Senate. The election coincided with elections for all of Michigan's constitutional offices; governor, attorney general, secretary of state and all 110 seats in the Michigan House of Representatives. Seats in the Michigan Senate were last elected in 2018.
Democrats gained four seats, giving them a majority of 20 out of 38 seats and winning control of the chamber for the first time since 1984.[1] Simultaneously with Democrats gains in the state house, winning control of that chamber for the first time since 2008, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer winning re-election. Democrats won a trifecta in the state for the first time in 40 years.[2]
Background
This was the first election to take place after redistricting based on the 2020 United States census. Following a voter-passed constitutional amendment in 2018, the state legislature no longer creates legislative and congressional districts and was replaced by Michigan's Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, a 13-member bipartisan committee.[3]
Term-limited members
Under the Michigan Constitution, state representatives and senators are limited to twelve years combined in either chamber of the legislature, after voters approved on November 8 a constitutional amendment that revised term limits.[4] Until this election, members of the state Senate were able to serve only two four-year terms, and members of the House of Representatives were limited to three two-year terms. Michigan has what are considered the toughest term limits in the country.[5] The following members are prevented by previous term limits from seeking re-election to the Senate in 2022. This list does not include members that are eligible for re-election, but chose instead to seek other office or voluntarily retire.
^Perkins, Tom (November 17, 2022). "How Michigan Democrats took control for the first time in decades". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
^"Michigan Democrats take state legislative trifecta for first time in nearly four decades". The State News. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
^Beth LeBlanc (October 20, 2020). "Redistricting commission to select new member after second resignation". The Detroit News. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
^DesOrmeau, Taylor (November 9, 2022). "Proposal 1: Voters pass plan to shorten term limits, require politicians to disclose finances". mlive. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
^Bill Ballenger (October 11, 2016). "Michigan's Term Limits Are Toughest in Nation". The Ballenger Report. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
^Jacobson, Louis (May 19, 2022). "The Battle for State Legislatures". Retrieved May 19, 2022.
^"2022 Michigan Election Results - General". Michigan Secretary of State. November 28, 2022. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2022.