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Senators are elected at the same time as the governor and serve 4-year terms concurrent with the governor's term of office. Senate and gubernatorial elections are offset by two years from U.S. Presidential elections (e.g., Presidential elections were in 1996 and 2000, gubernatorial elections were in 1998 and 2002). Terms for senators begin on January 1, following the November general election. Senators who have not served more than half of someone else's Senate term are eligible for two full terms.


MAKE-UP OF MICHIGAN SENATE


As Of 2006 , there are 22 Republicans and 15 Democrats in the Michigan Senate. One seat was vacated by Virgil Bernero when he became mayor of Lansing. A special election to replace him is scheduled for March 14 .


LEADERSHIP INFORMATION


Michigan State Senate Officers

  • President : John D. Cherry, Jr.

  • President Pro Tempore: Patricia Birkholz

  • Assistant President Pro Tempore: Alan Sanborn

  • Associate President Pro Tempore: Jim Barcia



Senate Majority Leadership

The Republican Caucus , with 22 members, currently holds the majority.

  • Majority Leader: Ken Sikkema

  • Assistant Majority Leader: Michael D. Bishop

  • Majority Floor Leader: Beverly S. Hammerstrom

  • Assistant Majority Floor Leader: Alan Cropsey

  • Majority Caucus Chairperson: Wayne Kuipers

  • Assistant Majority Caucus Chairperson: Ron Jelinek

  • Majority Whip: Jason Allen

  • Assistant Majority Whip: Laura Toy



Senate Minority Leadership

The Democratic Caucus , with 16 members, is currently in the minority.

  • Minority Leader: Bob Emerson

  • Assistant Minority Leader: Liz Brater

  • Minority Floor Leader: Mark Schauer

  • Assistant Minority Floor Leader: Gilda Z. Jacobs

  • Minority Caucus Chair: Ray Basham

  • Assistant Minority Caucus Chair: Hansen Clarke

  • Minority Whip: Jim Barcia

  • Assistant Minority Whip: Dennis Olshove



MEMBERS OF THE MICHIGAN STATE SENATE



UNICAMERAL MICHIGAN

A grass-roots movement has started up in Michigan to abolish the Senate. The group 'Unicameral Michigan' advocates "firing the Senate" in order to reduce state operation costs, and is hoping to have the question put to a referendum on the 2006 ballot. {Link without Title} If they succeed, Michigan will become the second state in the United States to have a One House Legislature , after Nebraska , which wrote its House Of Representatives out of the constitution in 1934 .


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