Craig Mauger
@craigmauger.bsky.social
A reporter who covers Michigan politics and government for The Detroit News. www.detroitnews.com
Pinned
Craig Mauger
@craigmauger.bsky.social
· Dec 5
Examining hundreds of pages of documents, we've uncovered 87 secret fundraising accounts that have been accepting political contributions in Michigan over the last 2 years.
That's despite a wave of criminal investigations + calls for transparency reforms: www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
That's despite a wave of criminal investigations + calls for transparency reforms: www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
Michigan police group apologizes for 'woke scum' post about Minneapolis www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
Michigan police group apologizes for 'woke scum' post about Minneapolis
A controversial Facebook post from a group that represents thousands of Michigan police officers rankled Democrats in the Michigan Legislature.
www.detroitnews.com
January 27, 2026 at 10:37 PM
Michigan police group apologizes for 'woke scum' post about Minneapolis www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor blasted federal immigration authorities in a 22-mintue speech during a city council meeting Tuesday:
"The current regime does not care about the Constitution. The current regime does not care about the laws." www.detroitnews.com/story/news/l...
"The current regime does not care about the Constitution. The current regime does not care about the laws." www.detroitnews.com/story/news/l...
Michigan mayor says federal immigration authorities are 'terrorizing' people
Sterling Heights Mayor Michael C. Taylor blasted President Donald Trump's national deportation efforts during a speech Tuesday.
www.detroitnews.com
January 21, 2026 at 11:50 PM
Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor blasted federal immigration authorities in a 22-mintue speech during a city council meeting Tuesday:
"The current regime does not care about the Constitution. The current regime does not care about the laws." www.detroitnews.com/story/news/l...
"The current regime does not care about the Constitution. The current regime does not care about the laws." www.detroitnews.com/story/news/l...
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer tells @steveinskeep.bsky.social that she believes the country is ready for a woman president: www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says U.S. is 'ready for a woman president'
Gov. Whitmer, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, was asked about Michelle Obama's contention America is not ready for a female president.
www.detroitnews.com
January 20, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer tells @steveinskeep.bsky.social that she believes the country is ready for a woman president: www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
Michigan Democrats apply to vote early in 2028 presidential primary: www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
January 16, 2026 at 10:44 PM
Michigan Democrats apply to vote early in 2028 presidential primary: www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
Reposted by Craig Mauger
NEW: Michigan race for governor starts the year deadlocked, new Detroit News-WDIV poll finds
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
via @craigmauger.bsky.social & @detroitnews.com
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
via @craigmauger.bsky.social & @detroitnews.com
Michigan race for governor starts the year deadlocked, new poll finds
"This is clearly going to be a close race," pollster Richard Czuba said of the campaign to lead Michigan.
www.detroitnews.com
January 13, 2026 at 10:34 PM
NEW: Michigan race for governor starts the year deadlocked, new Detroit News-WDIV poll finds
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
via @craigmauger.bsky.social & @detroitnews.com
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
via @craigmauger.bsky.social & @detroitnews.com
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II is dropping his bid for governor to run for secretary of state.
"My time may come to run for and earn the chance to serve as governor of Michigan, but now is not that time," he said in an interview. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
"My time may come to run for and earn the chance to serve as governor of Michigan, but now is not that time," he said in an interview. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist ends bid for governor to run for secretary of state
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II is likely to become the biggest name either party has in the race to be Michigan's top election official.
www.detroitnews.com
January 12, 2026 at 12:07 PM
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II is dropping his bid for governor to run for secretary of state.
"My time may come to run for and earn the chance to serve as governor of Michigan, but now is not that time," he said in an interview. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
"My time may come to run for and earn the chance to serve as governor of Michigan, but now is not that time," he said in an interview. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
The 10 Michigan political races to watch in 2026
(there were a lot to choose from) www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
(there were a lot to choose from) www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
10 Michigan political races to watch at the start of 2026
The 2026 election is poised to reshape the cast of politicians who lead Michigan. The level of January jockeying might portend the high stakes ahead.
www.detroitnews.com
January 9, 2026 at 4:57 PM
The 10 Michigan political races to watch in 2026
(there were a lot to choose from) www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
(there were a lot to choose from) www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
The anti-war demonstrator who was arrested in Grand Rapids after a TV interview is a preschool teacher who had recently traveled to Venezuela.
"As soon as the lights for the (TV) camera turned off, two police officers came up behind me," she said. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/l...
"As soon as the lights for the (TV) camera turned off, two police officers came up behind me," she said. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/l...
Preschool teacher arrested after anti-war protest in Grand Rapids
"As soon as the lights for the (TV) camera turned off, two police officers came up behind me," 22-year-old Jessica Plichta said.
www.detroitnews.com
January 8, 2026 at 4:01 PM
The anti-war demonstrator who was arrested in Grand Rapids after a TV interview is a preschool teacher who had recently traveled to Venezuela.
"As soon as the lights for the (TV) camera turned off, two police officers came up behind me," she said. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/l...
"As soon as the lights for the (TV) camera turned off, two police officers came up behind me," she said. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/l...
A potential major Michigan politics story in the works:
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II is considering ending his campaign to be Michigan's next governor and instead joining the race for secretary of state in the coming days, according to three sources. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II is considering ending his campaign to be Michigan's next governor and instead joining the race for secretary of state in the coming days, according to three sources. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
Gilchrist weighs dropping bid for governor, to run for secretary of state
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II is considering ending his campaign to be Michigan's next governor in the coming days, sources told The Detroit News.
www.detroitnews.com
January 7, 2026 at 9:43 PM
A potential major Michigan politics story in the works:
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II is considering ending his campaign to be Michigan's next governor and instead joining the race for secretary of state in the coming days, according to three sources. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II is considering ending his campaign to be Michigan's next governor and instead joining the race for secretary of state in the coming days, according to three sources. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
Reposted by Craig Mauger
The announcement came amid an increasing national spotlight on fraud schemes and allegations involving daycare initiatives in Minnesota.
Michigan GOP Senate leader seeks audit of state childcare program
The announcement came amid an increasing national spotlight on fraud schemes and allegations involving daycare initiatives in Minnesota.
bit.ly
January 5, 2026 at 5:30 PM
The announcement came amid an increasing national spotlight on fraud schemes and allegations involving daycare initiatives in Minnesota.
Michigan’s electricity rates have jumped over the last two decades, outpacing the wide majority of other states and potentially becoming a key issue in the 2026 campaign: www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
Electricity rates climb, powering calls for change in Michigan
Michigan's residential electricity rates have more than doubled over the last 20 years, outpacing 46 other states and stoking political discontent.
www.detroitnews.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Michigan’s electricity rates have jumped over the last two decades, outpacing the wide majority of other states and potentially becoming a key issue in the 2026 campaign: www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
Reposted by Craig Mauger
Venezuelan restaurant in Detroit throws party celebrating Maduro's removal from power
Nice reporting from @carol-thompson.bsky.social tonight from Detroit's west side:
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/l...
Nice reporting from @carol-thompson.bsky.social tonight from Detroit's west side:
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/l...
Venezuelan restaurant in Detroit throws party celebrating Maduro's removal from power
"I feel cautiously hopeful," said Lismar Berro of Dearborn Heights. "I will only be truly relieved when the entire regime is down."
www.detroitnews.com
January 5, 2026 at 3:05 AM
Venezuelan restaurant in Detroit throws party celebrating Maduro's removal from power
Nice reporting from @carol-thompson.bsky.social tonight from Detroit's west side:
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/l...
Nice reporting from @carol-thompson.bsky.social tonight from Detroit's west side:
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/l...
Reposted by Craig Mauger
A prominent Upper Peninsula real estate developer netted a combined $10.5 million in assistance from Michigan taxpayers through the state budget in 2022 for three projects in Marquette
New reporting in today’s Detroit News
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
@craigmauger.bsky.social
New reporting in today’s Detroit News
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
@craigmauger.bsky.social
3 projects involving same U.P. developer netted help from state lawmakers
The $10.5 million total for three different Marquette projects would be enough to give each resident of the Upper Peninsula city over $450.
www.detroitnews.com
December 9, 2025 at 11:56 AM
A prominent Upper Peninsula real estate developer netted a combined $10.5 million in assistance from Michigan taxpayers through the state budget in 2022 for three projects in Marquette
New reporting in today’s Detroit News
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
@craigmauger.bsky.social
New reporting in today’s Detroit News
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
@craigmauger.bsky.social
A group of 22 Michigan Republican lawmakers asked President Donald Trump's U.S. Department of Justice to deploy monitors to vote-counting facilities and to provide general oversight for the state's upcoming elections in 2026. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
GOP lawmakers ask U.S. Department of Justice to oversee Michigan's 2026 elections
The unusual request for federal supervision came ahead of what will be a pivotal election in the battleground state next year.
www.detroitnews.com
November 15, 2025 at 3:47 PM
A group of 22 Michigan Republican lawmakers asked President Donald Trump's U.S. Department of Justice to deploy monitors to vote-counting facilities and to provide general oversight for the state's upcoming elections in 2026. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
Matt DePerno, former Michigan attorney general nominee, is fighting the release of text messages that prosecutors say are important evidence in the criminal case against DePerno: www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
Matt DePerno fights release of text messages in 2020 Michigan election tabulator case
Text messages, involving the push to explore 2020 voter fraud theories in Michigan, are now center stage in the court case against Matt DePerno.
www.detroitnews.com
October 10, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Matt DePerno, former Michigan attorney general nominee, is fighting the release of text messages that prosecutors say are important evidence in the criminal case against DePerno: www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
Reposted by Craig Mauger
“We determined that they had been tampered with so we would not allow them to go back into service," an executive with a voting company testified.
Prosecutors begin laying out evidence in high-profile tabulator cases
“We determined that they had been tampered with so we would not allow them to go back into service," an executive with a voting company testified.
bit.ly
October 9, 2025 at 8:26 PM
“We determined that they had been tampered with so we would not allow them to go back into service," an executive with a voting company testified.
Reposted by Craig Mauger
Prosecutors begin laying out evidence in high-profile tabulator tampering cases against former Attorney General candidate Matt DePerno and ex-Rep. Daire Rendon
New reporting from @craigmauger.bsky.social in Royal Oak:
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
New reporting from @craigmauger.bsky.social in Royal Oak:
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
Prosecutors begin laying out evidence in high-profile tabulator cases
“We determined that they had been tampered with so we would not allow them to go back into service," an executive with a voting company testified.
www.detroitnews.com
October 9, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Prosecutors begin laying out evidence in high-profile tabulator tampering cases against former Attorney General candidate Matt DePerno and ex-Rep. Daire Rendon
New reporting from @craigmauger.bsky.social in Royal Oak:
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
New reporting from @craigmauger.bsky.social in Royal Oak:
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
In Royal Oak this morning for the preliminary exams of Matt DePerno and Daire Rendon.
These exams focus on charges DePerno, former AG nominee, and Rendon, former state rep, were involved in a scheme to improperly access voting machines after the 2020 election.
These exams focus on charges DePerno, former AG nominee, and Rendon, former state rep, were involved in a scheme to improperly access voting machines after the 2020 election.
October 9, 2025 at 2:02 PM
In Royal Oak this morning for the preliminary exams of Matt DePerno and Daire Rendon.
These exams focus on charges DePerno, former AG nominee, and Rendon, former state rep, were involved in a scheme to improperly access voting machines after the 2020 election.
These exams focus on charges DePerno, former AG nominee, and Rendon, former state rep, were involved in a scheme to improperly access voting machines after the 2020 election.
Reposted by Craig Mauger
Hat tip (again) to Beth LeBlanc and @craigmauger.bsky.social with @detroitnews.com for unraveling every last thread in this story. Just outstanding.
Whitmer chief of staff privately apologized over $20M Beydoun grant, records reveal
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is calling on Attorney General Dana Nessel to sue her past campaign donor, Fay Beydoun, to recoup $8.2 million in grant funds.
www.detroitnews.com
October 9, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Hat tip (again) to Beth LeBlanc and @craigmauger.bsky.social with @detroitnews.com for unraveling every last thread in this story. Just outstanding.
Reposted by Craig Mauger
NEW: JPMorgan executive helping lead nonprofit backing Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s governor bid
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
via @craigmauger.bsky.social
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
via @craigmauger.bsky.social
JPMorgan executive helping lead nonprofit backing Duggan's governor bid
It's unclear how much Put Progress First has spent promoting Mayor Mike Duggan, but the group has bankrolled billboards and paid for social media ads.
www.detroitnews.com
July 30, 2025 at 11:47 AM
NEW: JPMorgan executive helping lead nonprofit backing Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s governor bid
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
via @craigmauger.bsky.social
www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
via @craigmauger.bsky.social
Major news for Michigan this morning:
Semiconductor manufacturing project near Flint, sought by Gov. Whitmer, falls through
Michigan Democrats are blaming President Trump www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
Semiconductor manufacturing project near Flint, sought by Gov. Whitmer, falls through
Michigan Democrats are blaming President Trump www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
Semiconductor manufacturing project near Flint, sought by Gov. Whitmer, falls through
A semiconductor manufacturing project that state officials hoped would bring thousands of jobs to Genesee County is now off the table.
www.detroitnews.com
July 16, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Major news for Michigan this morning:
Semiconductor manufacturing project near Flint, sought by Gov. Whitmer, falls through
Michigan Democrats are blaming President Trump www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
Semiconductor manufacturing project near Flint, sought by Gov. Whitmer, falls through
Michigan Democrats are blaming President Trump www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
An email, obtained by The Detroit News, shows that Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer included a $15 million grant program in her budget proposal for 2023 that was sought by one of her donors. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proposed $15M for grant program championed by donor Fay Beydoun
The origins of a lucrative taxpayer grant for a Metro Detroit businesswoman trace back to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's administration, state records show.
www.detroitnews.com
July 9, 2025 at 1:15 PM
An email, obtained by The Detroit News, shows that Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer included a $15 million grant program in her budget proposal for 2023 that was sought by one of her donors. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
NEWS: A coalition of groups in Michigan, where lawmakers have resisted ethics reforms, will seek a ballot proposal in 2026 to ban political giving by the state’s dominant utilities and major contractors. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
Michigan campaign will seek to ban political giving by utilities, state contractors
The effort could test the Michigan public's desire to rein in energy and health care companies that have become major forces in state politics.
www.detroitnews.com
June 30, 2025 at 12:26 PM
NEWS: A coalition of groups in Michigan, where lawmakers have resisted ethics reforms, will seek a ballot proposal in 2026 to ban political giving by the state’s dominant utilities and major contractors. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
The Michigan Senate approved a bill Wednesday that would balloon the ability of government boards and commission to meet in secret. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
Michigan Senate approves bill to give government boards more chances to meet in secret
One open government advocate said the measure would allow government panels the chance to "shut the doors on almost any controversial issue."
www.detroitnews.com
June 25, 2025 at 9:39 PM
The Michigan Senate approved a bill Wednesday that would balloon the ability of government boards and commission to meet in secret. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
Michigan lawmakers' personal financial disclosures lacking in details:
- Only 29% went beyond the minimum requirements in listing lobbyist gifts;
- 2 of the 3 lawmakers who reported free tickets didn't detail what they were;
- Many discrepancies. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
- Only 29% went beyond the minimum requirements in listing lobbyist gifts;
- 2 of the 3 lawmakers who reported free tickets didn't detail what they were;
- Many discrepancies. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
Michigan lawmakers' personal disclosures often leave out key details
Multiple Michigan lawmakers reported getting tickets to events but didn't say what the events were or how much they were worth, a News review found.
www.detroitnews.com
June 25, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Michigan lawmakers' personal financial disclosures lacking in details:
- Only 29% went beyond the minimum requirements in listing lobbyist gifts;
- 2 of the 3 lawmakers who reported free tickets didn't detail what they were;
- Many discrepancies. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...
- Only 29% went beyond the minimum requirements in listing lobbyist gifts;
- 2 of the 3 lawmakers who reported free tickets didn't detail what they were;
- Many discrepancies. www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p...