Michigan Senate Democrats on Thursday chose Sen. Darrin Camilleri of Trenton as their next majority leader. He will lead a 23-15 majority as the party prepares to govern with a new Democratic trifecta.
The full Senate still has to vote him into the post in January, but the caucus nomination makes that step a formality.
Camilleri told reporters he wants the coming session to be the most productive in lawmakers' lifetimes, judged by the number of meaningful bills signed into law. He said voters gave his caucus a mandate to lower the cost of living and fix problems the state has left unaddressed for two years.
He declined to name specific priorities. Instead, he argued that the strongest majorities Democrats have had give them room to accomplish far more.
The new margin marks a sharp shift. For most of the last session, Democrats held the Senate by a single seat and did not control the House. In the session before that, they had a trifecta but only a two-seat Senate edge.
Much of the incoming caucus is new to the Senate, and many members are new to the Legislature altogether. Camilleri said Sen. Kevin Hertel of St. Clair Shores, whom Democrats picked as majority floor leader, will help bring them up to speed.
Outgoing Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, now lieutenant governor-elect, said wide margins in both chambers will help the incoming administration advance its agenda. Governor-elect Jocelyn Benson backed Camilleri, saying she asked lawmakers to be bold and that she intends to work collaboratively with them.
Republicans chose Sen. Roger Hauck of Mt. Pleasant as their leader. Despite speculation about a contested minority race, Hauck said his election was unanimous, and he promised to work with Camilleri and Hertel.
Obviously, we start out in a bad situation. We only have 15 members, right, and they have 23, so they’re not going to need us as much,
Roger Hauck, Michigan Senate Republican leader
The rest of the GOP team includes Sen. Thomas Albert as floor leader, Sen.-elect John Wetzel as whip, Sen.-elect Gina Johnsen as caucus chair and Sen. Michele Hoitenga as assistant leader. Sen.-elect Mike Murphy, Sen.-elect Donni Steele and Sen. Jonathan Lindsey fill the assistant floor leader, whip and caucus chair posts.
