Michigan Senate
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The information in this article reflects the current composition of the Michigan Senate which remains in session until the end of 2006. The next session begins in January 2007 and the results of the November 2006 elections will not be in effect until then. |
The Michigan Senate is the upper body of the Michigan Legislature. It consists of 38 members who are elected from districts having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents.
Senators are elected at the same time as the governor and serve 4-year terms concurrent with the governor's term of office. Senate and gubernatorial elections are offset by two years from U.S. Presidential elections (e.g., Presidential elections were in 1996 and 2000, gubernatorial elections were in 1998 and 2002). Terms for senators begin on January 1, following the November general election. Senators who have not served more than half of someone else's Senate term are eligible for two full terms.
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[edit] Make-up of Michigan Senate
When the 2007 term begins, there will be 21 Republicans and 17 Democrats in the Michigan Senate.
| Affiliation | Members |
|
| Republican Party | 21 | |
| Democratic Party | 17 | |
| Total |
38 | |
| Government Majority |
4 | |
[edit] Leadership Information
[edit] Michigan State Senate Officers
- President: John D. Cherry
- President Pro Tempore: Patricia Birkholz
- Assistant President Pro Tempore: Alan Sanborn
- Associate President Pro Tempore: James A. Barcia
[edit] Senate Majority Leadership
The Republican Caucus, with 22 members, currently holds the majority.
- Majority Leader: Ken Sikkema
- Assistant Majority Leader: Michael D. Bishop
- Majority Floor Leader: Beverly S. Hammerstrom
- Assistant Majority Floor Leader: Alan Cropsey
- Majority Caucus Chairperson: Wayne Kuipers
- Assistant Majority Caucus Chairperson: Ron Jelinek
- Majority Whip: Jason Allen
- Assistant Majority Whip: Laura Toy
[edit] Senate Minority Leadership
The Democratic Caucus, with 16 members, is currently in the minority.
- Minority Leader: Bob Emerson
- Assistant Minority Leader: Liz Brater
- Minority Floor Leader: Mark Schauer
- Assistant Minority Floor Leader: Gilda Z. Jacobs
- Minority Caucus Chair: Ray Basham
- Assistant Minority Caucus Chair: Hansen Clarke
- Minority Whip: James A. Barcia
- Assistant Minority Whip: Dennis Olshove
[edit] Members of the Michigan State Senate
| District | Senator | Party | Residence | Eligible for re-election in 2006? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hansen Clarke | Democrat | Detroit | Yes |
| 2 | Martha G. Scott | Democrat | Highland Park | Yes |
| 3 | Irma Clark-Coleman | Democrat | Detroit | Yes |
| 4 | Samuel Buzz Thomas III | Democrat | Detroit | Yes |
| 5 | Burton Leland | Democrat | Detroit | No |
| 6 | Laura M. Toy | Republican | Livonia | Yes |
| 7 | Bruce Patterson | Republican | Canton | Yes |
| 8 | Raymond E. Basham | Democrat | Taylor | Yes |
| 9 | Dennis Olshove | Democrat | Warren | Yes |
| 10 | Michael Switalski | Democrat | Roseville | Yes |
| 11 | Alan Sanborn | Republican | Roseville | Yes |
| 12 | Michael Bishop | Republican | Rochester | Yes |
| 13 | Shirley Johnson | Republican | Royal Oak | No |
| 14 | Gilda Z. Jacobs | Democrat | Huntington Woods | Yes |
| 15 | Nancy Cassis | Republican | Novi | Yes |
| 16 | Cameron Brown | Republican | Fawn River Township | Yes |
| 17 | Beverly S. Hammerstrom | Republican | Temperance | No |
| 18 | Liz Brater | Democrat | Ann Arbor | Yes |
| 19 | Mark Schauer | Democrat | Battle Creek | Yes |
| 20 | Thomas M. George | Republican | Kalamazoo | Yes |
| 21 | Ron Jelinek | Republican | Three Oaks | Yes |
| 22 | Valde Garcia | Republican | Howell | Yes |
| 23 | Gretchen Whitmer | Democrat | East Lansing | Yes |
| 24 | Patricia L. Birkholz | Republican | Saugatuck Township | Yes |
| 25 | Judson Gilbert II | Republican | Algonac | Yes |
| 26 | Deborah Cherry | Democrat | Burton | Yes |
| 27 | Robert L. Emerson | Democrat | Flint | No |
| 28 | Kenneth R. Sikkema | Republican | Wyoming | No |
| 29 | Bill Hardiman | Republican | Kentwood | Yes |
| 30 | Wayne Kuipers | Republican | Holland | Yes |
| 31 | Jim Barcia | Democrat | Bay City | Yes |
| 32 | Mike Goschka | Republican | Brant | No |
| 33 | Alan L. Cropsey | Republican | DeWitt | Yes |
| 34 | Gerald VanWoerkom | Republican | Muskegon | Yes |
| 35 | Michelle McManus | Republican | Leland | Yes |
| 36 | Tony Stamas | Republican | Midland | Yes |
| 37 | Jason Allen | Republican | Traverse City | Yes |
| 38 | Mike Prusi | Democrat | Ishpeming | Yes |
[edit] Unicameral Michigan
A grass-roots movement has started up in Michigan to abolish the Senate. The group 'Unicameral Michigan' advocates "firing the Senate" in order to reduce state operation costs, and is hoping to have the question put to a referendum on the 2006 ballot.[1] The sponsors of the initiative effort failed to meet the July 10, 2006 filing deadline in order to have the proposal submitted to Michigan's voters at the November 7, 2006 election.
