Michigan elections are relatively unique when it comes to certain offices — while voters will get to nominate candidates for a new governor and U.S. Senator during the August statewide primary, the two major political parties already made their favored picks for attorney general, secretary of state and university board positions at endorsement conventions this spring.
But some lawmakers want to change up the process. Joint resolutions introduced Thursday, May 21, in the Michigan House and Senate would see voters decide on attorney general and secretary of state picks during the statewide primary and give the governor power to appoint members to boards at the state’s three public research institutions; the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University.
Reps. Greg Markkanen, R-Hancock, and Joe Tate, D-Detroit, introduced a joint resolution in the House that would allow voters to decide if Michigan should move secretary of state and attorney general nominations to the primary, rather that allow party delegates to decide at nominating conventions. A similar resolution was offered in the Senate by Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Waucedah Township.
Currently, Michigan is one of three states that holds nominating conventions in lieu of primaries for certain offices, along with South Dakota and Indiana. Republicans and Democrats held endorsement conventions this spring to decide which candidates will face off in November, and will officially nominate them at fall conventions.
“I feel, and I think a lot of other people feel, that we’re missing out on a lot of good possible candidates because they just don’t want to step forward under this system,” Markkanen said May 22.
In order to get on the ballot, the resolution would need two-thirds approval from the Legislature. Under state law, joint resolutions to amend the Michigan Constitution do not need approval from the governor if they receive the required legislative support.
Timing, however, could prove to be an issue, at least for August. State law gives the Legislature a deadline of Friday, June 5, to get a constitutional amendment on the August primary ballot. Lawmakers won’t be in session due to the Detroit Regional Chamber’s annual conference on Mackinac Island next week, leaving just one session week before the June 5 deadline to muster two-thirds support in each chamber.
House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, said during a Wednesday, May 20, press conference he hadn’t taken a position on moving nominations for attorney general and secretary of state to the August primary.
Markkanen said conversations are ongoing with other House members to drum up support for the resolution. He acknowledged the August target may be too soon, but said he is fine with working on placing language on the November ballot if the resolution isn’t approved before June 5.
“You have to be flexible,” he said.
In Michigan, terms for attorney general and secretary of state are four years long, meaning any effort to open up the nominating process to voters won’t come to fruition until 2030 at the earliest.
Another committee, Voters Not Insiders, has formed with a similar goal of placing a question on opening the nominating process for the offices to primaries on the November ballot. Lawmakers have a deadline of Friday, Sept. 4, to place a question on the November ballot.
Discussion around doing away with the endorsement convention process has grown in recent weeks, particularly after the Michigan Democratic Party’s April gathering. Some candidates expressed concern with the accuracy of the voting system used at the convention, where registered delegates cast ballots for attorney general, secretary of state, university boards and Michigan Supreme Court nominations.
On the higher education side, the proposal to allow the governor to appoint board members at U-M, MSU and Wayne State would move the three boards in line with all of Michigan’s other public universities. Additionally, the boards would expand from eight members to nine members each serving eight-year terms.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who is in her final year of office and cannot run again due to term limits, would get to appoint three members to each board, and the newly elected governor sworn in Jan. 1, 2027 would get to appoint five. The final member would be appointed based on the university alumni association’s recommendation, under the proposal.
You can reach Arpan Lobo at alobo@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lawmakers propose primary process for AG, SOS in Michigan
Reporting by Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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