Lansing — State Sen. Sam Singh, the majority floor leader in the upper chamber and a chief negotiator on legislation, will not seek re-election to the Senate, he announced on social media Monday.
The East Lansing Democrat did not give a reason for leaving the Legislature after roughly 10 years, but said he didn’t plan to stop “my engagement in making Michigan a better place.”
“Whether it’s going back to work in philanthropy, supporting the next governor or strengthening Michigan’s workforce and economic development, I am excited about finding a new opportunity to support our great state,” Singh wrote.
Singh served three, two-year terms in the House, where he served as House Democratic Leader for his last term, from 2017-2018, when Republicans held the majority under former House Speaker Tom Leonard. Singh was elected to the state Senate in 2022, becoming the first Indian American to serve in the upper chamber.
His current Senate district covers parts of Clinton, Ingham and Shiawassee counties.
Singh, 54, said Monday that his decision to forego a re-election campaign was made in part to explore new opportunities as state leadership transitions at the end of the year and federal leadership two years from now. Michigan voters will elect a new governor in November because Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer can’t seek reelection due to term limits.
Singh previously served on the East Lansing City Council, including a stint as the city’s mayor, and also worked in nonprofits and consulting.
“I’ve always wanted to serve in different capacities that I’ve not had the opportunity to,” Singh told The Detroit News. “I felt like this was the right time to keep all those options open.”
House Speaker Matt Hall last month claimed Singh plans to work as a lobbyist after departing the Legislature. The Richland Township Republican, in a push to pass a law requiring a cooling off period between when a lawmaker leaves office and when he or she becomes a lobbyist, said he would name the bill the “Sam Singh Retention Bill.”
“Let’s stop these politicians that are cozy with the lobbyists from leaving office and immediately becoming lobbyists, people like Sam Singh,” Hall told reporters. “So we’re calling it the Sam Singh Retention Bill.”
Singh, at the time, fired back by suggesting the House speaker focus on more pressing issues.
“Instead of obsessing about my future, Matt Hall should pass the bills that open the Legislature to the Freedom of Information Act that he has been personally blocking for the past year,” Singh said.
Democratic Ingham County Commissioner Mark Polsdofer of Okemos filed paperwork last month to run in the 28th Senate District.
eleblanc@detroitnews.com
Staff Writer Craig Mauger contributed.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan Senate floor leader Sam Singh won’t seek re-election
Reporting by Beth LeBlanc, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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