- The last day to register online to vote in the Nov. 8 election is Oct. 24. Registration can be completed through the Michigan Voter Information Center of the Michigan Secretary of State website. Voters can still register to vote in person at a clerk’s office until 8 p.m. of Election Day.
- The second gubernatorial debate is this Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. on the Oakland University campus between Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Republican candidate Tudor Dixon. Representatives from WXYZ Channel 7 Detroit, WXMI FOX 17 Grand Rapids and WSYM FOX 47 Lansing will moderate.
- Early in person voting by absentee ballot at a clerk’s office remains available. Absentee ballots can be dropped off at a designated drop box or local clerk’s office between now and 8 p.m. Nov. 8.
- Complimentary MI Vote Matters informational posters and the 2022 Candidate Guide are still available for MHA members. An online order form is available to request the guide and/or various sizes of laminated posters. In addition, the MI Vote Matters webpage contains up-to-date election information and social media conversations using the hashtag #MIVoteMatters afford additional insight and opportunities to discuss how the 2022 election affects healthcare. Questions regarding the election should be directed to Laura Appel at the MHA.
Tag: Tudor Dixon
MHA Race of the Week – Michigan Governor
MHA RACE OF THE WEEK
The MHA’s Race of the Week series highlights the most pivotal statewide races and ballot questions for Election 2022. The series will provide hospitals and healthcare advocates with the resources they need to make informed decisions on Election Day, including candidates’ views and background.
THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE
The governor’s race is a critical decision for Michigan voters. Candidates for this election cycle are incumbent Democrat Gretchen Whitmer and Republican Tudor Dixon. The MHA worked extensively with Gov. Whitmer throughout her first term and during her previous work in and around the Michigan Legislature, while Dixon is a newcomer to Michigan politics. The two are scheduled to debate Oct. 13 from 7 to 8 p.m. in Grand Rapids. WOOD TV8 will air the debate and political reporter Rick Albin will moderate.
THE CANDIDATES:
Incumbent Gretchen Whitmer is an attorney and formerly served as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate. The MHA maintains a strong, positive working relationship with Whitmer as it did throughout her years as an elected official. During her time in the Senate, Whitmer established herself as a healthcare champion through her work as Senate Minority Leader to expand healthcare coverage through the Healthy Michigan Plan, an effort that the MHA and its member hospitals advocated for and continue to support. Governor Whitmer continued that trajectory in her executive role, leading the state through a very difficult time in healthcare with the COVID-19 pandemic and on-going behavioral health crisis. Whitmer’s running mate for lieutenant governor remains Garlin Gilchrist II, Detroit’s first-ever director of innovation and emerging technology and a former software engineer at Microsoft. For more information, visit gretchenwhitmer.com.
Tudor Dixon is a former steel industry employee and conservative media activist. Dixon’s early career focused on industrial sales for heavy equipment in the agriculture, automotive and energy sectors, among others. After beating a breast cancer diagnosis, Tudor left the steel industry to begin her media career. Dixon worked with Lumen News, where she developed pro-America, pro-constitution morning news programs for grade school students. Dixon’s running mate is Shane Hernandez, a former architectural designer and state representative from Port Huron. Hernandez served as the Appropriations Chair for the Michigan House of Representatives from 2019-2020. For more information, visit tudordixon.com.
WHY IT MATTERS
The outcome of the gubernatorial race will determine Michigan’s healthcare future for the next four years, if not longer. The Governor of Michigan plays a critical role in the state’s healthcare policy. In addition to appointing key positions in state government, including department leaders and the state’s Medicaid Director, the governor bears the responsibility of laying out the state budget each year, as well as ultimately deciding which bills become law. The governor also serves as an advocate for the state during healthcare deliberations in Washington, D.C., particularly when it comes to the future of the Healthy Michigan Plan. Given that the ultimate mission of Michigan community hospitals is to provide high-quality healthcare to all patients who walk through their doors, regardless of ability to pay, the MHA encourages members to learn as much as possible about where each candidate stands on healthcare issues when determining which candidate will be a true healthcare champion.
For more election information and updates or to request Election 2022 informational materials, visit the MHA Election webpage or email election@mha.org. Join the MHA in talking about Election 2022 on social media using #MIVoteMatters.
Primary Election Sets Field for November
Michigan’s primary election was held Tuesday, Aug. 2, finalizing the November general election ballot. The 2022 midterm election is critical to Michigan’s healthcare future given the number of key elected positions up for election this year. Based on the primary results, the top of the ticket will include Democratic incumbent Gov. Gretchen Whitmer against Republican nominee Tudor Dixon in the gubernatorial race, followed by attorney general, secretary of state, all 13 U.S. House of Representative seats, all seats in both the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives, two Supreme Court seats and local races.
Due to redistricting, several incumbent lawmakers in both Congress and the state legislature faced competitive primaries. Two congressional race outcomes of note include Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Waterford Township) defeating Rep. Andy Levin (D-Bloomfield Township) in the 11th district; and incumbent Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Grand Rapids) losing to John Gibbs (R-Grand Rapids) in the 3rd district. Two districts that will not feature incumbents in November are the 10th district where John James (R-Farmington Hills) will run against Carl Marlinga (D-Sterling Heights) and the 13th district where state representative Shri Thander’s (D-Detroit) victory in the primary has him positioned as the presumed favorite in a heavily Democratic leaning district.
A handful of state legislative incumbents also lost in the primary. Redistricting had Rep. Andrew Beeler (R-Port Huron) facing Rep. Gary Eisen (R-St. Clair) in the 83rd district, with Rep. Beeler winning the Republication nomination. The same situation occurred in the Senate with Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) defeating Sen. Marshall Bullock (D-Detroit). Other incumbents who lost were Rep. Rodney Wakeman (R-Frankenmuth), Rep. Terrence Mekoski (R-Shelby Township), Rep. Richard Steenland (D-Roseville) and Sen. Kim LaSata (R-Niles).
One race that remains to be officially decided is the 34th House District Republican primary. Sen. Dale Zorn (R-Ida) received 4,774 votes, seven more than the second place candidate Ryan Rank. However, Rank has requested a recount.
A candidate listing is currently available on the MHA’s 2022 Election page online.
The MHA will also be preparing and distributing nonpartisan election resources and tools for members following the conclusion of the nominating conventions. These materials are designed to encourage voter education and participation at the local level and will be available on the MHA 2022 Election webpage. The MHA will also feature regular election updates on its Facebook and Twitter feeds using #MIVoteMatters.
For more information about the 2022 primary and general election, visit the Michigan Voter Information Center or contact Sean Sorenson-Abbott at the MHA.