Michigan could decide presidency. These are the facts that shape our state.
Once again, Michigan is one of a few swing states that could decide the 2020 presidential election.
And once again, The Center for Michigan and Bridge Magazine are dedicated to fact-based, nonpartisan coverage of the elections for president, the 110 House of Representatives seats as well as what’s likely to be a handful of ballot measures.
Related: Michigan primary 2020: What you need to know, where to vote, absentee rules
Too often, campaigns are framed by rhetoric and emotion, rather than facts. To be sure, Michigan is an easy state to mischaracterize, since it’s so richly diverse, regionally, economically and politically.
Michigan has great health care, but poor health outcomes. It’s the bedrock of the union movement, but is rapidly losing union members. Paychecks that once led the United States are growing again, but lag national averages. And after favoring Democrats in every presidential election since 1992, Michigan helped put Donald Trump in the White House in 2016.
Since the best electorate is an informed one, we’re pleased to present the 2020 Fact Guide, a 13-chapter primer on Michigan’s most important issues and the facts that frame them.
Each chapter is devoted to one topic and designed to be a quick read. The report is available online. Hard copies will be printed and distributed throughout the year at Center for Michigan events and to candidates seeking to represent Michigan in November elections.
To request a printed copy, send us an email and include your mailing address.
Click here to download a PDF of the Fact Guide.
As always, thanks for your support.
2020 Michigan Fact & Issue Guide
- 50 facts that frame Michigan, from health care and poverty to crime
- Michigan K-12 test scores slowly improving, but remain mediocre at best
- Early childhood education is key to success. Michigan still has work to do.
- Michigan college tuition hikes leave average graduate with $35K in debt
- Jobs up, poverty declines as Michigan emerges from Great Recession hangover
- Incomes climb in Michigan, but state still struggles with loss of manufacturing
- Michigan has great access to health care. Health outcomes are another story
- Michigan’s cherished Great Lakes, clean waters face threats from all sides
- Michigan roads are infamously bad. But sewers and dams are in rough shape too
- Michigan doles out more in business tax breaks than it spends on schools
- Michigan employs 48K people. A quarter of them work in prisons.
- Nearly 200 Michigan communities are financially distressed, despite economy
- Michigan is a toss-up state again after favoring Democrats for a generation
- Michigan voters may weigh ballot issues on abortion, LGBTQ, lobbying reforms
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