In an era when national politics often feel like a contact sport without helmets, some legislators in Michigan are quietly showing a better way. On May 13, Republican and Democratic lawmakers will step onto the field together — not in the Capitol, but at the fourth annual Legislative Softball Game for Charity.
Organized by Rep. Alabas Farhat, D-Dearborn, and Rep. Tom Kunse, R-Clare, the event turns partisan rivals into friendly opponents for a few hours of good-natured competition. The goal is simple: raise money for a worthy Michigan charity while reminding the public that elected officials can disagree without being disagreeable.
The game will be at Secchia Stadium on the campus of Michigan State University, with the first pitch at 6 p.m. All are invited to cheer, tailgate and support the cause. Past games have drawn crowds and raised tens of thousands of dollars for charities such as City Rescue Mission, Ele’s Place and Leader Dogs for the Blind. This year’s beneficiary is the Boys and Girls Club, and it continues the tradition of backing organizations that strengthen Michigan families.
Come out, root for your favorite lawmakers (or against them) and watch democracy at its most approachable.
The softball diamond is more than a photo op. It is living proof that civility is not a weakness. On the field, you will see the same lawmakers who spar over budgets and policy sharing a laugh, high-fiving after plays and roasting each other after strikeouts. Republicans and Democrats will compete, but afterward they will shake hands, take a picture and head back to the Capitol knowing they can work together the next day. That spirit is exactly what Michigan needs right now.
The game may grab headlines, but a quieter, equally important effort is underway inside the Michigan Legislature to embed civility into how we govern. These are under-the-radar initiatives that rarely make news but are laying out the foundation for more productive lawmaking.
Earlier this year, Michigan’s four living former governors — Democrats Jim Blanchard and Jennifer Granholm alongside Republicans John Engler and Rick Snyder — stood together in Lansing to launch the Michigan Civility Coalition. Their message was blunt and bipartisan: lower the temperature and remember that policy disagreements do not have to become personal attacks.
The coalition has already begun influencing the culture in the Capitol.
Lawmakers are responding in practical ways. In a divided House and Senate, the 2025 session set a record low for new laws passed — yet it also produced meaningful bipartisan progress on kitchen-table issues such as school literacy, road funding and government transparency.
Bills to protect taxpayer dollars and reduce opportunities for political grandstanding moved forward with support from both sides of the aisle. Quiet conversations in committee rooms and hallways are replacing performative outrage. No single “civility bill” carries a flashy title, but the cumulative effect is real: fewer subsidies for special interests, more attention to shared priorities like literacy and mental health and a deliberate effort to model respectful debate for the next generation of leaders.
This matters beyond Lansing. Michigan faces high-stakes elections in 2026, including open seats for governor and U.S. Senate. If we want citizens to trust results and stay engaged, we must first show that our institutions can function without constant venom. The softball game and the coalition’s work are two sides of the same coin: visible camaraderie paired with sustained, unglamorous effort to restore decency to public life.
Critics may dismiss the game as a gimmick or the coalition as feel-good talk, but they are missing the point. In a state that once led the nation in forging tough bipartisan compromises — such as Proposal A school funding reform — civility is not nostalgia; it is a competitive advantage. When lawmakers treat one another as opponents rather than enemies, policy improves, trust rebuilds and Michigan wins.
So, please mark your calendar for the fourth annual Legislative Softball Game. Bring the kids. Donate if you can. Cheer loudly. Then hold your legislators accountable to carry that same spirit back to the Capitol. Michigan does not need more division. It needs more days like this ― where Republicans and Democrats prove common ground is not only possible, but worth celebrating, one inning at a time.
Rep. Tom Kunse, R, Clare, represents Michigan’s 100th House District.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Michigan lawmakers bring civility to the softball field | Opinion
Reporting by Rep. Tom Kunse, The Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
