As seen in The Detroit News
May 26, 2026
Michigan’s future is being decided in moments most people never see.
Every day, a parent questions if their kids will have the best shot at success. A small business owner asks why they need a lawyer and a lobbyist just to open their doors and serve a customer. A growing business weighs creating jobs in Michigan or Ohio — searching for the state that makes it easier to grow and worth the risk.
Moment by moment, decision by decision, across every corner of this state, Michigan grows or falls behind. And the answers to those questions — whether families stay, businesses invest or workers see opportunity — are shaped by the policies, systems and leadership choices Michigan makes.
The urgency to get this right is real. Michiganians feel the pressure every day. Concerns about rising costs, jobs and economic opportunity top every public survey in this state. The numbers show why. While high-wage professional jobs grew 35% across America, they were flat here. Fourth-grade reading scores collapsed from 16th to 44th. Michigan ranks 50th in household income growth over the last 25 years — dead last. This didn’t happen overnight, and changing our trajectory will take more than just easy solutions.