A rare bipartisan push to modernize Michigan elections

Only 3,000 party insiders currently choose Michigan’s Secretary of State and Attorney General nominees. A bipartisan duo—Lon Johnson and Jason Roe—want to change that. Their message: let millions of voters decide, not a convention hall. https://crcmich.substack.com/p/reform... Johnson sits down with Eric Lupher and Guy Gordon to make the case for open primaries for Michigan's Secretary of State and Attorney General. Johnson and Roe are pushing to move these nominations to a statewide primary, where every voter can participate. Johnson argues that broader participation produces stronger candidates and a healthier democracy. “You never go wrong when you allow more people to have a voice,” he said. To place the change on the November ballot, two-thirds of both the Michigan House and Senate must approve the ballot language before lawmakers leave for summer recess. Ballots begin printing on September 4, making the timeline tight but still achievable. Johnson cites the bipartisan success of Proposal 1 in 2022 as evidence that major reforms can pass when both sides work together. The conversation also touched on the broader political climate. Amid rising polarization and threats that discourage people from public service, Johnson believes structural reforms like this can help rebuild trust and lower the temperature. Despite coming from opposite parties, Johnson and Roe have been traveling the state together to make their case — a partnership the podcast hosts described as a refreshing reminder that bipartisan cooperation is still possible.