MI-AG, MI-SOS: Bipartisan group wants to change elections for university boards and 2 top state offices

A bipartisan group of lawmakers and two former governors has called for a sweeping overhaul of how Democratic and Republican nominees for Michigan attorney general and secretary of state are selected, as well as removing the selection of candidates for the boards in charge of Michigan’s three largest public universities from party conventions.

A resolution introduced this week in the state House of Representatives would amend the Michigan Constitution would give the governor the power to name members of the boards of Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University, subject to state Senate approval. That is the system used already for Michigan’s 12 other public universities. The amendment would also switch from party convention nominations to primary elections for attorney general and secretary of state.

Democratic and Republican gubernatorial candidates are already chosen in party primaries and supporters of the resolution to expand that to two more state offices say that the result would be stronger candidates.

Two former governors of both parties quickly endorsed extending to future governors the power to appoint members of public university boards.



https://www.michiganpublic.org/politics-government/2026-05-23/bipartisan-group-wants-to-change-elections-for-university-boards-and-2-top-state-offices