Media Contact: Domenica Ghanem, [email protected]

Michigan Voters Flip Both Chambers, Fully Rejecting MAGA Extremism

Black-led grassroots organizers and young voters made the difference in turnout

(Michigan) – Yesterday, Michigan voters chose freedom, democracy, and economic security – fully rejecting MAGA extremism and flipping both their chambers for the first time since the 1980’s. This is the best night for Democrats in the state since the New Deal. Rocket-fueled by the incredible organizing of Black-led grassroots organizations, Michigan voters re-elected Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist, Secretary of State Benson, Attorney General Nessel and Reps. Scholten, Slotkin, and Kildee. And we are still optimistically waiting on results in MI-10. And they passed Proposals 2 and 3, ballot initiatives to protect their voting and reproductive rights. Young voters in Michigan waited several hours past poll closing times to vote, including at Michigan State University and the University of Michigan where students told us they were waiting to protect their rights.

Together by Election Day, Michigan People’s Campaign, Michigan Liberation, and MOSES Action reached nearly 400,000 voters this cycle through 2,406,388 door knocks, texts, calls, and conversations with friends and family, including 1,252,196 attempts of Black, Latino, and low-income voters; and 393,912 attempts to young voters. They have engaged voters through door knocking, phonebanking, and organizing creative events like Tasty Tuesdays, Drag Out the Vote, a rally and canvass with Rep. Bowman, and more.

Grecia Lima, Community Change Action National Political Director said:

“The voters in Michigan very clearly chose bodily freedom and safety, democracy, and an economy that works for everyone over MAGA Republican extremism and attempts to trample on our freedoms. We are celebrating the wins of candidates who fiercely defended our freedom to vote during the height of covid and again in 2022 and stood up proudly for women and people who can get pregnant to have the right to choose. This win is owed to the deep organizing and voter outreach programs our partners Michigan People’s Campaign, Michigan Liberation, and MOSES Action run beyond election cycles. Our partners turned out higher numbers of Black voters compared to the statewide averages, even as they canvassed more infrequent voters who are often left out of the political process: Returning citizens and their families and poor and working class folks across the state. They stayed through the night at polling places where young voters waited hours in line to vote. In the face of great threats to our democracy, they have proved over and over again that being in these communities year-round, talking about the issues that matter, make the difference in these elections.”

Ken Whittaker, Michigan People’s Campaign  Executive Director said:

“Make no mistake, elections aren’t won on Election Day; they’re won by organizing people to get involved year-round. Now, the results of that work are clear. The people of Michigan have decided that women should be in control of their reproductive decisions, everyone should be able to breathe clean air and drink clean water, but most importantly, our democracy works best when everyone gets to participate in it. That’s what we’re all about: getting people engaged in elections and keeping them engaged in the policies that result from them. While other campaigns close down the day after the election, the Michigan People’s Campaign is going to be in the room with the representatives we got elected holding them accountable. It’s not enough to fight against what you don’t want. Now we get to fight for the things we do want. This is what real people power looks like.”

Rai Lanier, Michigan Liberation’s Executive Director said:

“We are proud to celebrate these hard fought wins. Our communities deserve deep, intentional engagement in elections, and our organizations were able to provide that through the consistent day to day work of listening to voters across Detroit and Macomb county and offering them a choice on issues like women’s rights, voting rights and candidates that will fight to end mass incarceration. When we organize, we win, and over the past many months we have been continually engaging our friends, family, and neighbors.  We will continue to be present in our communities to offer on-ramps into our organizing and to hold our elected officials accountable to ensuring the safety and dignity of all of Michigan’s residents.”

Ponsella Hardaway,  MOSES Action said:

“This 2022 election victory is the extension of our victories in 2020. The people are not moved to vote by inflammatory untruths, but by our values and desire to protect our rights. MOSES Action held community meetings and voter education sessions, talked to people at their doors and in their neighborhoods, called and texted voters, and used our online platforms to promote civic engagement and voter participation. We worked for months to ensure that people facing barriers to voting were able to access the ballot and vote safely and successfully.

With these elections, Michigan voters have made their priorities known. We have turned out to preserve and protect our voting rights, defending Democracy from those who seek to disenfranchise their fellow citizens. We have shown our commitment to free and fair elections, and to the kind of inclusive electoral process that our increasingly diverse communities deserve.

Every election is a chance to either strengthen our Democracy through robust voter participation, or to take it for granted and allow it to erode. MOSES Action chooses the former, and we are proud to have played a key role in defending our rights here in Michigan this year. But we know that the fight will continue, and that we cannot let our guards down – those who seek to disenfranchise us will not stop here. Therefore, we urge our communities to stay involved in our work, because voter engagement doesn’t start and end with elections. It is something we must do year-round, every year, to build a society where everyone votes consistently, without fear.”

###