Michigan’s 13th District House Race: Who Will Win?

Michigan's Proposal 1 asks voters this November whether to convene a constitutional convention, a question that appears automatically every 16 years and has been rejected three times since the current 1963 Constitution took effect. Recent polling commissioned by The Detroit News and WDIV-TV found a plurality of voters, 47% to 31%, favoring the proposal, a notably higher level of support than at the same point before the measure's 2010 defeat, when it lost decisively.

A broad "no" coalition spanning business groups, labor unions, the ACLU, the Michigan Catholic Conference and abortion-rights and anti-abortion organizations argues a convention would create costly uncertainty and risk sweeping, unpredictable changes. Supporters, including GOP strategist Dennis Lennox and state Sens. Jonathan Lindsey and Ed McBroom, contend the document needs updating to remove outdated language and address taxation, local control and utility regulation. If approved, 148 delegates would be elected within months, convene by October 2027, and any new constitution would still require statewide voter ratification.

Michigan voters head to the polls Nov. 3, with early voting running through Nov. 1. Top of the ballot: an open U.S. Senate seat pitting Democrat Abdul El-Sayed against Republican Mike Rogers, and a governor's race to succeed term-limited Gretchen Whitmer, featuring Democrat Jocelyn Benson against Republican John James. Down-ballot contests include attorney general (Eli Savit vs. Doug Lloyd) and secretary of state (Garlin Gilchrist II vs. Anthony Forlini), plus two statewide proposals — one on calling a constitutional convention, another limiting corporate political contributions.

Detroit voters also pick five school board members, and Wayne and Oakland counties weigh a museum funding millage.

A coalition of Michigan rabbis and Jewish leaders has launched a petition urging Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate nominee, to change his positions and rhetoric on Israel or risk losing Jewish voter support. The letter, signed by the president of the Michigan Board of Rabbis and 14 colleagues, does not name El-Sayed but is directed at him. It lists five "nonnegotiable" demands, including support for Jewish sovereignty in Israel, a two-state solution, and full participation of Jews in American political life.

El-Sayed, a vocal Israel critic who opposes its existence as a Jewish state, won a contentious primary against Rep. Haley Stevens after AIPAC's super PAC spent heavily against him. He has since apologized for past remarks and met with some rabbis, but reception remains mixed. His ties to streamer Hasan Piker have also drawn criticism. Michigan's Senate race, pitting El-Sayed against Republican Mike Rogers, is a key battleground that could determine Senate control as Sen. Gary Peters retires.

In Michigan's closely watched US Senate race, Republicans are canvassing for candidate Mike Rogers using a strategy that paints Democratic rival Abdul El-Sayed and his party as having veered toward socialism, while trying to mobilize infrequent voters ahead of November's midterms. Reuters observed Americans for Prosperity Action canvassers in Livonia finding mixed results: some Trump-aligned voters embraced the message, while others rejected the "extremist" framing or expressed uncertainty due to dissatisfaction with President Trump himself.

El-Sayed rejects the socialist label, calling himself a capitalist, and his campaign cites a large volunteer base. Republicans face an enthusiasm gap nationally, with polling showing Democrats more energized for the midterms, even as GOP-aligned groups outspend Democrats and plan a massive door-knocking operation. Michigan Democrats counter with their own expanded canvassing effort. The race, which Rogers narrowly lost in 2024, is seen as a bellwether for broader Republican turnout strategy and control of the Senate.

The Michigan Democratic Party held its nominating convention in Lansing, drawing roughly 2,000 delegates — far fewer than the nearly 8,000 who attended the spring endorsement convention in Detroit. With the primary already decided, the gathering focused on unifying the party behind Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for the state's open U.S. Senate seat, a position Democrats have held for more than 45 years.

Party Chairman Curtis Hertel Jr. said Democrats have coalesced after primary infighting. El-Sayed worked to reassure Jewish Democrats still wary of his candidacy while sharply criticizing Republican opponent Mike Rogers, linking him to President Trump and his trade policies toward Canada. Delegates also approved the party's nominees for attorney general (Eli Savit), secretary of state (Gralin Gilchrist), and lieutenant governor (Sen. Winnie Brinks, running alongside gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson).

Boyle Heights and Arts District residents are uniting to push Los Angeles officials to designate an anti-camping zone around Sixth Street PARC, the park under construction beneath the 6th Street Bridge that is slated to open next year. The Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council voted 13-1 to back a petition started by Arts District residents, joining the Arts District Little Tokyo Neighborhood Council and the downtown LA Residents Association in urging Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, Mayor Karen Bass, and city staff to establish the zone and a security plan.

Anti-camping zones, created under Los Angeles Municipal Code 41.18, prohibit sitting, lying, or sleeping in designated public areas and require council approval. Supporters note the city already approved a 41.18 zone for the bridge itself in 2024 and want it extended to the park below. Jurado said her office is reviewing the boundaries and called for broader dialogue on homelessness and safety. The push contrasts with recent moves elsewhere in LA, including Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez's repeal of 12 anti-camping zones in his district over concerns the ordinance hampers housing efforts.

Multiple Madison Common Council members say they will back a resolution from District 2 Alder Will Ochowicz to terminate the appointment of Interim Independent Police Monitor Aeiramique Glass. District 13 Alder Tag Evers confirmed support, and another alder who spoke anonymously said the move was overdue.

The resolution cites city memoranda raising concerns about Glass's failure to complete core duties, chiefly hiring a permanent independent monitor, and argues this constitutes a breach of contract. Glass was hired in late 2025, with her term originally set to end by mid-to-late 2026; the council extended her appointment in June. City Attorney Michael Haas says the council has authority to end the provisional appointment, a view disputed by the Police Civilian Oversight Board, whose vice chair argues only the board can hire or fire the monitor. Common Council VP Carmella Glenn and Alder Julia Matthews were the only two to oppose introducing the resolution. If passed, the Common Council Chief of Staff would oversee the monitor's office until a permanent hire is made.

The Madison Common Council voted 14-6 to remove interim independent police monitor Meeka Glass after a marathon meeting that began Tuesday evening and ran past 7 a.m. Wednesday, with public comment lasting over seven hours and about 140 people registered to speak. The removal resolution, introduced by Alder Ochowicz, cited concerns over Glass's handling of her duties, including hiring for the permanent monitor role. Glass disputed the allegations and accused the mayor, city attorney, and HR director of misconduct, while the Police Civilian Oversight Board had recently rated her performance highly. The vote follows months of conflict involving a police altercation, a restraining order, and ongoing litigation over a fatal police shooting.

Detroit officials are pushing to maximize attendance ahead of the state's Oct. 7 Count Day, when one day's enrollment determines the bulk of school funding for the year. Mayor Mary Sheffield joined Detroit Public Schools Community District Superintendent Nikolai Vitti and charter leader Ralph Bland to promote the effort, noting that roughly 90% of district funding is tied to that day's attendance, with each counted student worth $10,300 this year.

To address chronic absenteeism, the city launched a pilot ride-share program using $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds, giving 150 students with the highest absentee rates free rides via LIFT to and from school. The program covers four high schools: Denby, East English Village Preparatory Academy, Osborn and Pershing. Families say the flexible transportation has helped students arrive on time and stay involved in after-school activities.

Statewide attendance rose slightly to 91.5% for 2025-26, while chronic absenteeism fell for a fourth straight year to 27.2%, though DPSCD's rate remains high at 60%, down from prior years.

Jalal Abdallah, a Dearborn attorney and Democratic candidate for Michigan's 15th House District, testified at an Attorney Discipline Board hearing that he failed to fully pay settlement funds owed to clients, including one case where a client was shorted $127,000 of a $147,000 payout. Abdallah said the money instead sat in his business account, blaming his brother, a former office manager, for mishandling distributions, while acknowledging ultimate responsibility. Clients were repaid only after the Attorney Grievance Commission subpoenaed records involving roughly 30 affected clients. A discipline hearing could follow if misconduct is found. Abdallah faces Republican Hassan Nehme in the Nov. 2 general election for the seat covering Dearborn Heights and west Dearborn.