Despite data center protests on the mainland, business leaders at a Mackinac Island conference urged elected officials and candidates to back proposed projects — even as policymaker misgivings grow.
Simon D. Schuster
Simon D. Schuster is a Capitol Reporter for Bridge Michigan. Simon joined Bridge Michigan in 2024 after working as MLive's senior political reporter and later covering politics on their investigative team. He spent three years tracking the influence of political money in Michigan as executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, a nonpartisan nonprofit. A Michigan native, Simon received a bachelor's and a master of public policy from Michigan State University, where he was a policy fellow at the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research. Outside of work you'll find him in Detroit, backpacking northern Michigan or visiting his fiancée in Scandinavia. He lives in Lansing.
Posted inMichigan Government
Governor hopefuls pitch economic plans, from tax cuts to arts and culture
Republicans centered their pitches on tax cuts, while Democrats Jocelyn Benson and Chris Swanson shared plans to restructure Michigan’s economy.
Posted inMichigan Government
What Mike Duggan’s exit means for Michigan governor’s race
Mike Duggan’s departure resets Michigan governor’s race in political climate he — and experts — say increasingly favors Democrats.
Posted inMichigan Government
Mike Duggan drops governor bid in Michigan election shocker
In a stunning announcement, former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan ends his bid for Michigan governor, citing a shifting political landscape.
Posted inHousing, Jobs & Economic Development
Detroit fuels Michigan population gain. See new Census numbers for your town
Detroit added more than 5,000 residents for the second year in a row, but some other communities lost ground, according to new US Census estimates. Use our searchable database to look up your town.
Posted inMichigan Government
Bridge Listens: How Michigan’s next governor will try to fix K-12 schools
Candidates are making bold promises to address dismal reading scores and fix schools across the state. Are they realistic?
Posted inBusiness, Michigan Government
Jocelyn Benson pitches housing plan with homebuyer tax credits, Airbnb tax
Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Jocelyn Benson wants more tax credits for homebuyers, but also new taxes on Airbnbs and limits on home sales to private equity firms.
Posted inMichigan Government
Jocelyn Benson wants to bring high-speed rail to Michigan. What would it take?
In her bid for governor, Democrat Jocelyn Benson says she wants to build a high-speed rail network between Michigan’s largest cities.
Posted inMichigan Government
Fact check: How Gretchen Whitmer delivered — and didn’t — on her promises
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer made 14 promises during her 2025 State of the State address. Here’s how she did.
Posted inJobs & Economic Development, Michigan Government
Gretchen Whitmer: Raise $800M for Medicaid by taxing nicotine, gambling, ads
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pitches $800M in new taxes as a way to ensure the ‘sustainability’ of Medicaid in Michigan.