Michigan’s Local Leaders Express Lingering Pessimism, Entrenched Partisanship About State’s Direction

Local leaders in Michigan are worried the state is heading in the wrong direction, according to new results from U-M’s Michigan Public Policy Survey. Dissatisfaction among local leaders has remained high in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, and in many cases, responses fall heavily along partisan lines. In this research spotlight from Michigan News, survey manager Debra Horner breaks down the responses and assesses how feelings may change following the 2026 gubernatorial election.