Clean Water, Clean Energy, and the 2026 Race to Lead Michigan

Introduction to the 2026 Michigan Environmental Landscape

The policy landscape in Michigan represents a complex intersection of environmental stewardship, scientific innovation, and public health infrastructure. Under the current administration, the state has enacted sweeping legislative packages aimed at decarbonizing the energy grid, mitigating legacy industrial contaminants, and addressing deeply entrenched disparities in healthcare outcomes. However, the impending 2026 gubernatorial and legislative elections present a critical juncture. The policy paradigms established in recent years—ranging from centralized renewable energy siting to stringent water quality standards and expanded Medicaid access—face intense scrutiny.

The contrasting platforms of leading gubernatorial candidates, notably Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Republican Representative John James, highlight fundamentally divergent visions for the state's regulatory future, as do the intense battles for legislative control¹. This comprehensive report provides an exhaustive analysis of Michigan's current environmental, science, and health policies, detailing the underlying scientific mechanisms, regulatory frameworks, and the potential trajectory of these domains post-2026.

Environmental and Energy Policy: The Clean Energy Transition

Michigan’s energy policy has undergone a profound transformation over the last legislative cycle, characterized by aggressive statutory mandates for renewable energy integration and highly controversial alterations to local zoning authorities.

The Clean Energy Future Act and Grid Reliability

In late 2023, the state enacted the Clean Energy Future Act, a landmark legislative package anchored by Senate Bill 271. This legislation establishes a strict mandate for Michigan utility companies to produce 100 percent of their energy from clean sources by 2040³. The framework establishes aggressive interim benchmarks, requiring utilities to achieve 50 percent renewable energy sales by 2030 and 60 percent by 2035⁶. This statutory commitment fundamentally alters the operational planning, capital expenditure, and generation portfolios of the state's major investor-owned utilities.

To manage this accelerated transition while maintaining grid stability, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) relies heavily on Integrated Resource Planning (IRP). An IRP is a comprehensive regulatory roadmap where utilities outline their long-term strategies for meeting projected electricity demand over a 15- to 20-year horizon⁸. Within these proceedings, reliability is quantified using specific probabilistic metrics, most notably the Loss of Load Expectation (LOLE)¹⁰. LOLE is a statistical measure that represents the expected number of days per year that the available generation capacity will be insufficient to meet demand. To maintain an acceptable LOLE—traditionally targeting one day of outage every ten years—the MPSC enforces a Planning Reserve Margin¹². This margin dictates the excess capacity utilities must maintain above their forecasted peak demand to buffer against extreme weather events or sudden generation plant failures.

As intermittent renewable sources like wind and solar replace baseload fossil fuel plants, accurately calculating the capacity value of these renewables within the LOLE framework has become a critical, highly contested aspect of MPSC regulatory proceedings¹¹. Planners must utilize complex stochastic modeling to ensure that the retirement of coal and natural gas does not outpace the deployment of wind, solar, and battery storage.

Public Act 233: Siting Authority and Local Preemption

The most contentious element of the clean energy transition is Public Act 233 of 2023, which fundamentally shifts the authority to site utility-scale renewable energy projects from local municipalities to the MPSC¹⁵. Historically, local governments utilized the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act to regulate, delay, or block the development of large wind and solar farms. Public Act 233 circumvents this local bottleneck by establishing a state-level certification process for solar facilities of 50 megawatts or more, wind facilities of 100 megawatts or more, and large-scale energy storage systems of 50 megawatts with a discharge capability of 200 megawatt-hours¹⁸.

Under this law, if a local unit of government lacks a Compatible Renewable Energy Ordinance—an ordinance that restricts local regulations strictly to state-approved limits regarding setbacks, height, and noise—the MPSC assumes direct permitting authority¹⁹. Even if a local ordinance exists, developers can bypass local boards if those boards deny a permit that otherwise meets state standards.

This preemption sparked immediate and fierce legal challenges. In the 2026 appellate case Almer Charter Township et al. v. Michigan Public Service Commission, over 70 local governments sued the state agency¹⁹. The Michigan Court of Appeals largely upheld the MPSC’s authority and the strict limitations on local ordinances, ruling that local governments cannot impose restrictions beyond those explicitly enumerated in Public Act 233¹⁹. The court also upheld the MPSC's jurisdiction over "hybrid facilities" that combine multiple technologies, such as wind and battery storage. As this case proceeds to the Michigan Supreme Court, the outcome will dictate the pace of renewable deployment across the state's rural landscapes²¹.

Election Implications for Energy Policy

The 2026 election will directly determine the fate of these energy policies. The leading gubernatorial candidates offer diametrically opposed approaches to the state's energy future and the balance of local versus state authority.

Policy Area	Jocelyn Benson (D) Platform	John James (R) Platform
Clean Energy Mandates	Defends the 100 percent by 2040 clean energy standard as an essential economic driver and an environmental necessity to combat climate change22.	Vows to repeal the 2023 mandates on day one; favors an "all-of-the-above" approach heavily reliant on natural gas, nuclear, and biofuels22.
Project Siting (PA 233)	Supports streamlined state permitting to bypass local obstruction, viewing it as critical to ensuring statewide climate and grid goals are met22.	Promises to repeal Public Act 233 immediately, framing it as a state overreach, and pledges to return zoning authority to local communities to protect agricultural lands22.
Utility Oversight	Proposes bans on utility spending to influence political campaigns; emphasizes transparency and insulating the MPSC from corporate influence24.	Pledges to replace current MPSC commissioners, accusing them of enabling utility monopolies and approving excessive rate hikes22.

Science and Technology Policy: Economic Development vs. Ecological Strain

Michigan’s strategy to position itself as a global hub for advanced manufacturing and next-generation technology has yielded substantial economic investments. However, it has also exposed significant vulnerabilities in corporate subsidy frameworks and generated new strains on natural resources.

The SOAR Fund and Battery Manufacturing

To attract advanced manufacturing, the state utilized the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) fund, a multi-billion-dollar incentive program designed to secure electric vehicle and battery component factories²⁵. This initiative initially brought major announcements from companies like Ford, General Motors, and LG Energy Solution, totaling billions in capital investment and thousands of projected jobs²⁷.

Despite early successes, the efficacy of the SOAR fund has faced intense political and economic backlash. A prominent example is the Gotion Inc. battery plant proposed for Mecosta County. Originally awarded 175 million dollars in state incentives, the project became mired in local opposition, environmental concerns, and geopolitical controversies²⁹. By late 2025, the state declared Gotion in default of its incentive agreement and initiated proceedings, led by Attorney General Dana Nessel, to claw back 24 million dollars of taxpayer money³¹.

This high-profile failure has prompted calls from across the political spectrum to overhaul corporate subsidy strategies. Critics demand that future incentives be strictly tied to realized job creation, prevailing wage standards, and long-term capital investments, rather than functioning as upfront cash grants²².

Battery Chemistries: Navigating Grid and Vehicle Demands

The push for battery manufacturing in Michigan heavily involves two distinct lithium-ion chemical architectures: Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) and Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC). The scientific distinction between these chemistries dictates their utility in both state energy planning and industrial development³⁴.

NMC batteries possess a high energy density, allowing them to store a significant amount of power in a relatively small mass³⁶. This makes them highly desirable for electric vehicles, where weight and spatial footprint are premium constraints. However, NMC chemistries are more susceptible to thermal runaway (uncontrolled overheating) and degrade faster under continuous, deep cycling³⁷.

Conversely, LFP batteries substitute the expensive and supply-chain-constrained metals (nickel and cobalt) with abundant iron and phosphate³⁹. While LFP batteries have a lower volumetric energy density, they offer superior thermal stability, significantly longer cycle lives—frequently exceeding 2,000 cycles without major degradation—and lower overall production costs⁴⁰. As Michigan builds out its utility-scale energy storage facilities to comply with the 2040 clean energy mandate, the industry is overwhelmingly pivoting toward LFP chemistries for stationary grid storage, optimizing for safety and generational longevity over spatial efficiency⁴¹.

The Data Center Dilemma

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and cloud computing has triggered a surge in proposed hyperscale data centers across Michigan, including a proposed OpenAI/Stargate gigawatt campus in Saline Township, which would represent the largest economic development project in the state's history⁴³. While promising tax revenue and construction jobs, these facilities present staggering demands on the state's electrical grid and freshwater resources⁴⁵. The liquid cooling systems required for massive server farms can consume millions of gallons of potable water daily, while their immense electricity requirements threaten to overwhelm the grid, potentially forcing utilities to keep legacy fossil-fuel plants operational longer than planned⁴⁵.

In response, the Michigan legislature introduced a package of bills (Senate Bills 1046 through 1051) aimed at strictly regulating the industry⁴⁸. The proposed regulations are highly specific:

• Water Consumption Caps: Senate Bill 1046 caps a hyperscale data center’s water usage at 2 million gallons per day and establishes a rigorous permitting process for any facility utilizing more than 550,000 gallons daily⁵⁰.

• Renewable Energy Mandates: Senate Bill 1047 requires facilities consuming over 20 megawatts of electricity to sign 20-year contracts ensuring that 90 percent of their power is derived from renewable sources⁴⁸.

• Labor and Community Standards: The legislation mandates the use of apprentices and prevailing wages for construction, and requires binding community benefit agreements before any building permits are issued⁵⁰.

The regulatory approach to data centers is a prominent electoral issue. Democratic candidates generally support these strict legislative guardrails, arguing that without them, tech companies will drain local aquifers and drive up electricity rates for residential customers²². Republican platforms also express skepticism regarding blank checks for tech giants, demanding that companies utilize non-potable or recycled wastewater for cooling and independently fund any necessary infrastructure upgrades rather than passing the costs onto the public²².

Environmental Health Policy: Contamination and Remediation

Michigan’s legacy of heavy manufacturing has necessitated some of the nation's most stringent environmental health regulations. The state has pioneered regulatory frameworks targeting persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals in drinking water, and agricultural nutrient runoff.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

Michigan operates at the national forefront of regulating Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), a class of synthetic chemicals characterized by highly stable carbon-fluorine bonds. These chemical bonds render the substances virtually indestructible in the environment, earning them the moniker "forever chemicals."

The state's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has established enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for seven specific PFAS compounds in public drinking water systems under the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act⁵¹. These state-level limits provide a regulatory buffer, allowing Michigan to maintain strict oversight regardless of fluctuations in federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rulemaking.

PFAS Compound	Michigan Drinking Water MCL (parts per trillion)
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)	8
Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)	16
Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)	6
Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS)	51
HFPO-DA (GenX)	370
Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS)	420
Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)	400,000

Data Source: Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy⁵¹

The severe toxicity and bioaccumulative nature of PFAS are rooted deeply in their toxicokinetics. Unlike many classical lipophilic (fat-soluble) persistent organic pollutants that accumulate inertly in adipose tissue, PFAS molecules primarily bind to circulating proteins in the blood and liver⁵². Specifically, their structural similarity to endogenous fatty acids allows them to competitively bind to Human Serum Albumin and specific fatty acid-binding proteins⁵².

Because they are tightly bound to these circulatory proteins, PFAS molecules effectively evade renal excretion, resulting in extraordinarily long biological half-lives in humans—often ranging from three to eight years depending on the specific carbon chain length⁵⁶. Once accumulated, PFAS exert toxicity primarily by activating the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Alpha, a nuclear receptor that regulates lipid metabolism, leading to hepatotoxicity, immune suppression, and metabolic disruption⁵⁹.

Beyond drinking water, EGLE aggressively regulates PFAS in surface waters and municipal biosolids (sewage sludge) applied to agricultural lands. Because standard wastewater treatment plants cannot destroy the carbon-fluorine bond, PFAS partition heavily into the solid sludge. Under EGLE’s interim strategy, biosolids are categorized by risk using specific thresholds⁶². If the concentration of PFOS or PFOA in the sludge equals or exceeds 100 micrograms per kilogram, the biosolids are deemed "industrially impacted" and are strictly banned from land application⁶⁴. Concentrations between 20 and 100 micrograms per kilogram trigger reduced application rates and mandatory source-tracking investigations. Only biosolids with combined concentrations below 20 micrograms per kilogram are permitted for standard, unrestricted agricultural use as "Exceptional Quality" material⁶⁴.

The Lead and Copper Rule and Corrosion Control

Following the catastrophic Flint water crisis, Michigan revised its Lead and Copper Rule to become the most stringent in the nation. The state mandates that municipal water systems inventory and completely replace all lead and galvanized service lines by 2041⁶⁵. Furthermore, as of January 1, 2025, the state lowered its actionable lead level from 15 parts per billion to a stricter 12 parts per billion⁶⁷.

A critical scientific update within this regulatory framework is the implementation of "5th-liter sampling." Historically, utilities tested only the first liter of water drawn from a tap, which primarily reflects lead leaching from interior household plumbing fixtures⁶⁸. Collecting the 5th liter captures water that has been stagnating directly within the exterior lead service line buried underground, providing a much more accurate assessment of the true lead exposure risk originating from the utility-owned infrastructure⁶⁸.

To prevent lead from leaching while physical pipe replacements occur, the state mandates optimized corrosion control treatment, primarily through the addition of orthophosphate to the municipal water supply⁷⁰. The chemistry of this process is highly specific. When orthophosphate is introduced into the distribution system, it reacts with the oxidized lead ions on the interior walls of the pipes⁷². This reaction precipitates highly insoluble lead phosphate minerals, most notably hydroxypyromorphite⁷⁴. Over time, these minerals form a passivating scale—a microscopic, protective mineral film that physically coats the interior of the pipe⁷⁵. Because hydroxypyromorphite exhibits remarkably low solubility across a wide range of pH and alkalinity conditions, it effectively seals the lead into the pipe wall, preventing it from dissolving into the passing drinking water⁷⁷.

Harmful Algal Blooms in the Western Lake Erie Basin

The Western Lake Erie Basin continues to suffer from severe cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms. These blooms produce potent cyanotoxins that threaten drinking water intakes, recreational economies, and aquatic ecosystems⁷⁹. The primary driver of these blooms is non-point source nutrient pollution—specifically, dissolved reactive phosphorus originating from agricultural fertilizers and livestock manure runoff⁸¹.

Michigan’s policy response is formalized in its Domestic Action Plan, developed jointly by EGLE, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Department of Natural Resources⁸³. The plan commits the state to a sustained 40 percent reduction in phosphorus loading into the basin relative to baseline measurements⁸⁴. Achieving this metric requires extensive collaboration with the agricultural sector to implement advanced nutrient management strategies, cover crops, and modified drainage practices. However, progress relies heavily on voluntary compliance and targeted grant funding rather than strict statutory enforcement, creating an ongoing debate over whether voluntary measures alone are sufficient to achieve the 40 percent reduction target⁸⁶.

Public Health Policy: Disparities, Access, and Interventions

Michigan’s public health policy is currently focused on addressing glaring disparities in maternal and infant mortality, defending reproductive rights, and grappling with the systemic erosion of healthcare access in rural municipalities.

Maternal and Infant Mortality Disparities

Maternal mortality remains a persistent public health crisis in Michigan. According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the state's maternal mortality rate sits at 19.1 deaths per 100,000 live births, and approximately 80 women die each year during pregnancy or within one year postpartum⁸⁷. The infant mortality rate mirrors this crisis at 6.4 deaths per 1,000 live births⁸⁹.

The epidemiological data reveals profound racial disparities. The maternal mortality rate for Black women in Michigan is drastically higher than that of white women, with Black mothers dying at a rate between 2.2 and 3 times higher than their white counterparts⁸⁸. Similarly, the infant mortality rate for babies born to Black mothers is 2.1 times the overall state rate⁹².

Extensive reviews by the Michigan Maternal Mortality Surveillance program indicate a tragic reality: roughly 60 to 80 percent of these maternal deaths are preventable⁹³. The leading clinical causes of these fatalities include postpartum hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders (such as preeclampsia), cardiovascular conditions, and untreated perinatal mental health issues⁹⁵. In response, the state has rolled out the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies initiative and mandated strict patient safety bundles—standardized clinical protocols for emergency interventions—in birthing hospitals statewide to immediately recognize and treat hemorrhage and hypertension⁹⁷.

Medicaid Expansion and Reproductive Rights

The implementation of these public health interventions is inextricably linked to Medicaid access, as Medicaid covers nearly 50 percent of all births in the state⁹⁹. The current administration has staunchly defended the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, known locally as the Healthy Michigan Plan, utilizing executive orders and legislative mechanisms to block proposed federal cuts that would disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of low-income residents¹⁰².

Furthermore, reproductive health policy was fundamentally reshaped by the passage of Proposal 3 in 2022, a ballot initiative that codified reproductive freedom into the state constitution¹⁰⁵. Despite this constitutional protection, right-to-life organizations have launched ongoing lawsuits attempting to dismantle these protections, targeting in vitro fertilization, prenatal care, and abortion access¹⁰⁶. The defense of these policies relies heavily on the ideological composition of the state's executive branch and the Attorney General's office.

Rural Healthcare Access and Maternity Deserts

Simultaneously, the state is combating the rapid emergence of "maternity deserts." Currently, over 22 percent of Michigan counties lack adequate maternity care, driven by the closure of at least 11 rural labor and delivery units over the last decade¹⁰⁷. Rural hospitals operate on razor-thin financial margins and suffer from acute workforce shortages, forcing them to shutter specialized departments.

To mitigate this, the Department of Health and Human Services launched the Rural Health Transformation Program, which coordinates targeted funding to stabilize rural health infrastructure, expand telehealth capacities, and incentivize medical professionals to practice in underserved regions¹⁰⁸. However, the success of these programs relies entirely on sustained state funding appropriations.

Electoral Stakes for Health Policy

Public health policy is a defining issue in the 2026 elections, which will determine control of both the Governor's office and the state legislature. Democratic candidates center their platforms on protecting reproductive health rights, securing robust Medicaid funding, and warning that conservative policies could strip healthcare from upwards of 750,000 vulnerable residents¹⁰⁰. Republican platforms emphasize lowering healthcare costs through market competition, deregulation, and pushing back against government mandates. The outcome of the election will likely dictate whether the state continues its robust state-level subsidization of maternal health programs and rural hospital operations, or pivots toward a more decentralized, market-driven healthcare model with potential reductions in Medicaid eligibility.

Conclusion

Michigan stands at a critical policy crossroads. Over the past several years, the state has firmly entrenched itself in a highly regulated, centralized approach to environmental and health management. The statutory mandate for 100 percent clean energy by 2040, the aggressive preemption of local zoning to facilitate that transition, the rigorous scientific standards applied to PFAS contamination and lead remediation, and the comprehensive initiatives to curb maternal mortality are all hallmarks of an administration utilizing robust statutory authority to force systemic change.

The 2026 elections represent a fundamental referendum on this governance model. A continuation of the current political alignment would likely see the entrenchment of centralized renewable siting, the enforcement of stringent data center regulations to protect water and grid resources, and the continued reliance on Medicaid expansion to drive public health improvements. Conversely, a shift toward a conservative executive and legislative majority promises a rapid dismantling of state-level energy mandates, a return of zoning authority to local townships, a reliance on diverse energy portfolios including natural gas, and an emphasis on reducing corporate regulatory burdens to spur economic development. Ultimately, the resolution of these diverging paradigms will irreversibly shape Michigan’s ecological resilience, economic trajectory, and the health outcomes of its population for decades to come.

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62. PFAS in biosolids - State of Michigan, https://www.michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/water-resources/biosolids/pfas-related

63. Evolving State Regulation of Biosolids Recycling in the PFAS Era, https://www.bdlaw.com/publications/evolving-state-regulation-of-biosolids-recycling-in-the-pfas-era/

64. https://www.michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/water-resources/biosolids/pfas-related/interim-strategy

65. Shareable Information | Graham Sustainability Institute, https://graham.umich.edu/project/revised-lead-and-copper-rule/resources

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67. https://www.michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/drinking-water-and-environmental-health/community-water-supply/lead-and-copper-rule

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69. lead and copper rule revision summary, https://www.michigan.gov/egle/-/media/Project/Websites/egle/Documents/Programs/DWEHD/Community-Water-Supply/Lead-Copper/lead-copper-rule-summary.pdf?rev=2ea0ddae1e7547baada55503b71e75b8&hash=10E5C0BF8E4114D61159966634DFF01B

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73. Impacts of Phosphate and Residual Free Chlorine on the, https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2179&context=eng_etds

74. Effects of ortho- and polyphosphates on lead speciation in drinking, https://pubs.rsc.org/ew/article/4/4/505/566232/Effects-of-ortho-and-polyphosphates-on-lead

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76. Orthophosphate in Water: A Treatment for Drinking Water - Frizzlife, https://www.frizzlife.com/blogs/guide/orthophosphate-in-water-a-treatment-for-drinking-water

77. CHAPTER 5 Effect of Phosphate Inhibitors on Lead Release From, https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/2a67260a-a08a-47cc-9ca7-f4f28f1c7db9/content

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79. Michigan Harmful Algal Blooms - ArcGIS StoryMaps, https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/5fccdbf3a18145c69c2b2eaf41d2f0c1

80. Headed to the lake or river this weekend? Before going in any water, https://www.facebook.com/MichiganEGLE/posts/headed-to-the-lake-or-river-this-weekend-before-going-in-any-water-remember-to-a/178960014647322/

81. Answering the Challenge of Harmful Algal Blooms in the Western, https://www.limno.com/harmful-algal-blooms-western-lake-erie-basin/

82. Michigan steps up fight against harmful algal blooms in western, https://www.michigan.gov/egle/newsroom/mi-environment/2025/07/03/habs

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84. MDARD, EGLE and DNR Update Plan to Combat Harmful Algal, https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/about/media/pressreleases/2025/05/20/mdard-egle-and-dnr-update-plan-to-combat-harmful-algal-blooms-in-the-western-lake-erie-basin

85. MDARD, EGLE and DNR Release Annual Report of the Domestic, https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIDARD/bulletins/416c7e3

86. Resources - Western Lake Erie Basin: Agriculture & Water Quality, https://www.canr.msu.edu/western_lake_erie_basin/resources

87. Michigan Maternal Mortality Surveillance (MMMS) Program, https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/adult-child-serv/childrenfamilies/mmms/public/michigan-maternal-mortality-surveillance-mmms-program-information-for-the-public

88. Maternal Mortality in Michigan, https://chrt.org/publication/maternal-mortality-in-michigan/

89. MDHHS Shares 2022 Maternal and Infant Health Statistics, https://www.mha.org/newsroom/mdhhs-shares-2022-maternal-and-infant-health-statistics/

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91. Serious disparities persist in maternal death rates in the U.S., https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab-podcast/serious-disparities-persist-maternal-death-rates-us

92. 2025 March Of Dimes Report Card For Michigan | PeriStats, https://www.marchofdimes.org/peristats/reports/michigan/report-card

93. RELEASE: Gov. Whitmer's Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Initiative, https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MIEOG/bulletins/3428c1b

94. In Michigan, 8 out of 10 maternal deaths are preventable. If you are, https://www.facebook.com/michiganhhs/videos/in-michigan-8-out-of-10-maternal-deaths-are-preventable-if-you-are-pregnant-or-h/1967030693864591/

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96. Michigan rises to prevent pregnancy related deaths with Hear Her, https://www.abc57.com/news/michigan-rises-to-prevent-pregnancy-related-deaths-with-hear-her-michigan

97. Michigan Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (MI AIM, https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/-/media/Project/Websites/mdhhs/Maternal-and-Infant-Health/MI-AIM-Booklet-2025_8_19_25.pdf?rev=14af665596f842679e95fc1f52e30df0&hash=A9686EDE8210956A1E5C2C3E134F47ED

98. Every mom deserves a healthy pregnancy and postpartum. We're, https://www.facebook.com/GovGretchenWhitmer/posts/every-mom-deserves-a-healthy-pregnancy-and-postpartum-were-working-hard-to-expan/1480388860103700/

99. State report outlines dire consequences of federal Medicaid cuts, https://www.sooleader.com/local-news/state-report-outlines-dire-consequences-of-federal-medicaid-cuts-10637420

100. Gov. Whitmer Releases Data on How Pregnant Women and, https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/news/press-releases/2025/05/09/whitmer-releases-data-pregnant-women-and-michiganders-with-disabilities-impacted-by-medicaid-cuts

101. Medicaid covers nearly four in ten births in our state ... - Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/protectmicare/posts/medicaid-covers-nearly-four-in-ten-births-in-our-state-nearly-four-in-ten-michig/1039479798484354/

102. Michigan - Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center, https://pn3policy.org/pn-3-state-policy-roadmap-2023/mi/

103. Legislation on Maternal Healthcare Access and Preserving Healthy, https://www.mha.org/newsroom/legislation-on-maternal-healthcare-access-and-preserving-healthy-michigan-plan-coverage-becomes-law/

104. Whitmer signs executive order regarding Medicaid - YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgRIryPSz7U

105. Michigan Proposal 3, Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative (2022), https://ballotpedia.org/Michigan_Proposal_3,_Right_to_Reproductive_Freedom_Initiative_(2022)

106. Governor Whitmer Statement on Latest Legal Action to Protect, https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/news/press-releases/2024/03/19/governor-whitmer-statement-on-latest-legal-action-to-protect-reproductive-rights-in-michigan

107. Opinion | Michigan's rural health care crisis is being ignored, https://bridgemi.com/guest-commentary/opinion-michigans-rural-health-care-crisis-is-being-ignored/

108. Michigan Rural Health Transformation Program - MHA, https://www.mha.org/mha-center-of-rural-excellence/rural-health-transformation-program/

109. Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) - State of Michigan, https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/assistance-programs/medicaid/rural-health-transformation-program

110. Transforming the system - The Mining Gazette, https://www.mininggazette.com/news/2026/07/transforming-the-system/

111. Jocelyn Benson says John James voted to raise Michigan health costs, https://www.facebook.com/BridgeMichigan/posts/during-a-campaign-speech-in-august-secretary-of-state-jocelyn-benson-told-a-crow/1536513311823439/