Some dedicated ‘Gander readers might be confused seeing election coverage today, instead of our usual events list. Fear not, the events will return later this week, but today we’re going to bring you a quick update on this historic election.

As the dust settles on Election Day, one thing is clear: voters across the country, and here in Michigan, have overwhelmingly rejected the Trump administration.

Democrats scored big wins in Michigan, including victories in key statewide races, while also flipping control of both the US House and Senate.

Today, we’re breaking down the biggest results from across the state and the country, from races to ballot proposals.

I also want to point out something worth being proud of, regardless of how you voted: Michiganders showed up. By early Tuesday afternoon, nearly 1.76 million absentee ballots had already been returned, and another 750,467 residents had voted early in person. The day was also marked by widespread reporting of busy parking lots and lines at polling stations. But the best part is that it was smooth sailing, with few reports of disruptions across the state.

It goes to show that when a state makes voting accessible to the people, we turn out. And is anybody else pleasantly surprised at the speed of the results this time around?

Let’s get into the details.

Michigan Democrats restore trifecta (Michigan Advance): Michigan Democrats have reclaimed control of both chambers of the state Legislature, restoring a party trifecta with Gov.-elect Jocelyn Benson after Tuesday’s election. Unofficial results show Democrats holding a 19-14 majority in the Senate and a 51-43 advantage in the House, where Ranjeev Puri is expected to become the first Indian American and Sikh speaker.

Public power proposal fails in Ann Arbor (Michigan Public): Voters in Ann Arbor rejected Proposal E, which would have created a city board to oversee the process of establishing a publicly owned electric utility, with nearly 52% voting against it. Despite the loss and a nearly $2 million opposition campaign funded by DTE, supporters say they plan to keep pushing for public power.

Michigan DNR warns of invasive snail (CBS News): An invasive New Zealand mudsnail has been discovered near Grand Rapids, marking the first confirmed sighting of the species in Southern Lower Michigan. The tiny snail can reproduce rapidly and threaten native aquatic life. With no effective way to eradicate it, the DNR is urging water users to clean their equipment before moving to another waterway.

Michigan voters cast their ballots, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, in White Lake, Mich. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

By Kyle Kaminski

Jocelyn Benson will be Michigan’s next governor and Abdul El-Sayed won the state’s open US Senate seat, according to The Associated Press.

Democrats also swept the rest of the ballot—winning the races for attorney general and secretary of state, and taking majority control of the state Legislature.

Want deeper coverage of Michigan politics? Our free Thursday newsletter, This Week in Michigan Politics, breaks down what’s happening in Lansing and Washington—clearly and without the jargon.

With the midterms approaching, we’ll keep you informed on what could affect your day-to-day life.

Interested?

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Karel Vega. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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