As lawmakers in Michigan’s legislature and congress wrap up a year that saw contentious election races, major debates over abortion access, and a plethora of other big decisions, the traditional lame duck sessions that typically round out the year will look a little different than past sessions.

That’s because, for the first time in nearly 40 years, Democrats have taken control of the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives following the 2022 midterm election. In a year where Republicans had expected to maintain the state’s representative majority, and even possibly flip the governor’s seat, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was re-elected and Democrats narrowly won the advantage with a 56-54 majority in the house and a 20-18 advantage in the senate.

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With the state’s political power leaning blue, One Detroit contributors Nolan Finley, the editorial page editor for the Detroit News, and Stephen Henderson, host of “American Black Journal,” sit down together on Dec. 7, as Michigan’s lame duck was still in session, to share their thoughts on the practice and process of lame duck, as well as the state issues they think Michigan lawmakers should focus on. Plus, Finley and Henderson look at what’s ahead for national politics and discuss what they’d like to see from lawmakers as they return to work in 2023.

This story was updated on Dec. 12, 2022. 

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