www.nytimes.com
Open in
urlscan Pro
151.101.1.164
Public Scan
URL:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/30/opinion/michigan-democrats-majority.html
Submission: On April 30 via manual from US — Scanned from US
Submission: On April 30 via manual from US — Scanned from US
Form analysis 2 forms found in the DOM
POST https://nytimes.app.goo.gl/?link=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/30/opinion/michigan-democrats-majority.html&apn=com.nytimes.android&amv=9837&ibi=com.nytimes.NYTimes&isi=284862083
<form method="post" action="https://nytimes.app.goo.gl/?link=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/30/opinion/michigan-democrats-majority.html&apn=com.nytimes.android&amv=9837&ibi=com.nytimes.NYTimes&isi=284862083"
data-testid="MagicLinkForm" style="visibility: hidden;"><input name="client_id" type="hidden" value="web.fwk.vi"><input name="redirect_uri" type="hidden"
value="https://nytimes.app.goo.gl/?link=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/30/opinion/michigan-democrats-majority.html&apn=com.nytimes.android&amv=9837&ibi=com.nytimes.NYTimes&isi=284862083"><input name="response_type" type="hidden"
value="code"><input name="state" type="hidden" value="no-state"><input name="scope" type="hidden" value="default"></form>POST https://nytimes.app.goo.gl/?link=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/30/opinion/michigan-democrats-majority.html&apn=com.nytimes.android&amv=9837&ibi=com.nytimes.NYTimes&isi=284862083
<form method="post" action="https://nytimes.app.goo.gl/?link=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/30/opinion/michigan-democrats-majority.html&apn=com.nytimes.android&amv=9837&ibi=com.nytimes.NYTimes&isi=284862083"
data-testid="MagicLinkForm" style="visibility: hidden;"><input name="client_id" type="hidden" value="web.fwk.vi"><input name="redirect_uri" type="hidden"
value="https://nytimes.app.goo.gl/?link=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/30/opinion/michigan-democrats-majority.html&apn=com.nytimes.android&amv=9837&ibi=com.nytimes.NYTimes&isi=284862083"><input name="response_type" type="hidden"
value="code"><input name="state" type="hidden" value="no-state"><input name="scope" type="hidden" value="default"></form>Text Content
Skip to contentSkip to site indexSearch & Section NavigationSection Navigation
SEARCH
SUBSCRIBE FOR $1/WEEKLog in
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Today’s Paper
SUBSCRIBE FOR $1/WEEK
Opinion|How Michigan Ended Minority Rule
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/30/opinion/michigan-democrats-majority.html
* Share full article
*
*
* 36
* U.S.
SECTIONS
* U.S.
* Politics
* New York
* California
* Education
* Health
* Obituaries
* Science
* Climate
* Sports
* Business
* Tech
* The Upshot
* The Magazine
U.S. POLITICS
* 2024 Elections
* Primary Results
* Supreme Court
* Congress
* Biden Administration
TOP STORIES
* Trump Investigations
* Immigration
* Abortion
* The Eric Adams Administration
NEWSLETTERS
* The Morning
Make sense of the day’s news and ideas.
* The Upshot
Analysis that explains politics, policy and everyday life.
See all newsletters
PODCASTS
* The Daily
The biggest stories of our time, in 20 minutes a day.
* The Run-Up
On the campaign trail with Astead Herndon.
See all podcasts
* World
SECTIONS
* World
* Africa
* Americas
* Asia
* Australia
* Canada
* Europe
* Middle East
* Science
* Climate
* Health
* Obituaries
TOP STORIES
* Israel-Hamas War
* Russia-Ukraine War
NEWSLETTERS
* Morning Briefing: Europe
Get what you need to know to start your day.
* The Interpreter
Original analysis on the week’s biggest global stories.
* Your Places: Global Update
The latest news for any part of the world you select.
* Canada Letter
Backstories and analysis from our Canadian correspondents.
See all newsletters
* Business
SECTIONS
* Business
* Tech
* Economy
* Media
* Finance and Markets
* DealBook
* Personal Tech
* Energy Transition
* Your Money
TOP STORIES
* U.S. Economy
* Stock Market
* Artificial Intelligence
NEWSLETTERS
* DealBook
The most crucial business and policy news you need to know.
See all newsletters
PODCASTS
* Hard Fork
Our tech journalists help you make sense of the rapidly changing tech
world.
See all podcasts
* Arts
SECTIONS
* Today's Arts
* Books
* Best Sellers
* Dance
* Movies
* Music
* Television
* Theater
* Pop Culture
* T Magazine
* Visual Arts
RECOMMENDATIONS
* Best of 2023
* Award Season
* Critic’s Picks
* What to Read
* What to Watch
* What to Listen To
* 5 Minutes to Make You Love Music
NEWSLETTERS
* Read Like the Wind
Book recommendations from our critics.
* Watching
Streaming TV and movie recommendations.
See all newsletters
PODCASTS
* Book Review
The podcast that takes you inside the literary world.
* Popcast
Pop music news, new songs and albums, and artists of note.
See all podcasts
* Lifestyle
SECTIONS
* All Lifestyle
* Well
* Travel
* Style
* Real Estate
* Food
* Fashion
* Love
* Your Money
* Personal Tech
* T Magazine
COLUMNS
* Modern Love
* The Hunt
* Social Q’s
* The Ethicist
WELL
* Eat
* Move
* Mind
* Family
* Live
* Ask Well
NEWSLETTERS
* Open Thread
The latest news on what we wear, by our chief fashion critic.
* Well
Essential news and guidance to live your healthiest life.
See all newsletters
PODCASTS
* Modern Love
The complicated love lives of real people.
See all podcasts
* Opinion
SECTIONS
* Opinion
* Guest Essays
* Editorials
* Op-Docs
* Videos
* Letters
TOPICS
* Politics
* World
* Business
* Tech
* Climate
* Health
* Culture
COLUMNISTS
* Charles M. Blow
* Jamelle Bouie
* David Brooks
* Gail Collins
* Ross Douthat
* Maureen Dowd
* David French
* Thomas L. Friedman
* Michelle Goldberg
* Ezra Klein
* Nicholas Kristof
* Paul Krugman
* Carlos Lozada
* Tressie McMillan Cottom
* Pamela Paul
* Lydia Polgreen
* Bret Stephens
* Zeynep Tufekci
PODCASTS
* Matter of Opinion
Thoughts, aloud. With Michelle Cottle, Ross Douthat, Carlos Lozada and
Lydia Polgreen.
* The Ezra Klein Show
Discussions of ideas that matter, plus book recommendations.
See all podcasts
* Audio
AUDIO
Podcasts and narrated articles covering news, tech, culture and more.
Download the Audio app on iOS.
LISTEN
* The Headlines
* The Daily
* Hard Fork
* The Ezra Klein Show
* Matter of Opinion
* Serial Productions
* The Book Review Podcast
* Modern Love
* The Run-Up
* Popcast
* Reporter Reads
* The Sunday Read
See all audio
FEATURED
* The Headlines
Your morning listen. Top stories, in 5 minutes.
* The Kids of Rutherford County
A series about how one county illegally jailed children.
* Reporter Reads
Recent articles read by the reporters behind them.
NEWSLETTERS
* Audio
Our editors share their favorite listens from the New York Times Audio
app.
See all newsletters
Audio is included in an All Access subscription. Learn more.
* Games
GAMES
Word games, logic puzzles and crosswords, including an extensive archive.
PLAY
* Spelling Bee
* The Mini Crossword
* Wordle
* The Crossword
* Vertex
* Connections
* Sudoku
* Letter Boxed
* Tiles
COMMUNITY
* Spelling Bee Forum
* Wordplay Column
* Wordle Review
* Submit a Crossword
* Meet Our Crossword Constructors
* Mini to Maestro
* Wordlebot
* Take the Puzzle Personality Quiz
NEWSLETTERS
* Gameplay
Puzzles, brain teasers, solving tips and more.
* Easy Mode
Get an easy version of one of the hardest crossword puzzles of the week.
See all newsletters
Games is included in an All Access subscription. Learn more.
* Cooking
COOKING
Recipes, advice and inspiration for everyday cooking, special occasions and
more.
RECIPES
* Easy
* Dinner
* Quick
* Healthy
* Breakfast
* Vegetarian
* Vegan
* Chicken
* Pasta
* Dessert
EDITORS' PICKS
* Soups and Stews
* Easy Weeknight
* Newest Recipes
* One-Pot Meals
* Slow Cooker Recipes
* Comfort Food
* Party Recipes
NEWSLETTERS
* The Cooking Newsletter
New recipes, easy dinner ideas and smart kitchen tips from Melissa Clark,
Sam Sifton and our New York Times Cooking editors.
* The Veggie
Delicious vegetarian recipes and tips from Tanya Sichynsky.
* Five Weeknight Dishes
Dinner ideas for busy people from Emily Weinstein.
See all newsletters
Cooking is included in an All Access subscription. Learn more.
* Wirecutter
WIRECUTTER
Reviews and recommendations for thousands of products.
REVIEWS
* Kitchen
* Tech
* Sleep
* Appliances
* Home and Garden
* Moving
* Travel
* Gifts
* Deals
* Baby and Kid
* Health and Fitness
THE BEST...
* Air Purifier
* Electric Toothbrush
* Pressure Washer
* Cordless Stick Vacuum
* Office Chair
* Robot Vacuum
NEWSLETTERS
* The Recommendation
The best independent reviews, expert advice and intensively researched
deals.
* Clean Everything
Step-by-step advice on how to keep everything in your home squeaky clean.
See all newsletters
Wirecutter is included in an All Access subscription. Learn more.
* The Athletic
THE ATHLETIC
Personalized coverage of your sports teams and leagues.
LEAGUES
* NFL
* MLB
* NBA
* Premier League
* NCAAF
* NCAAM
* NHL
* NCAAW
* MLS
* Formula 1
* NWSL
* Golf
TOP STORIES
* Today's News
* 2024 NFL Draft
* MLB Standings
* Olympics
NEWSLETTERS
* The Pulse
Delivering the top stories in sports, Sunday to Friday.
* Scoop City
The top stories in the NFL, from Jacob Robinson with Dianna Russini.
* The Windup
The biggest stories in baseball, by Levi Weaver with Ken Rosenthal.
* The Athletic FC
Renowned soccer writer Phil Hay's daily newsletter unpacks the truth
behind the game's biggest stories.
The Athletic is included in an All Access subscription. Learn more.
Advertisement
SKIP ADVERTISEMENT
Opinion
Supported by
SKIP ADVERTISEMENT
Guest Essay
HOW MICHIGAN ENDED MINORITY RULE
April 30, 2024, 5:01 a.m. ET
Credit...María Medem
* Share full article
*
*
* 36
* Read in app
By Ari Berman
Mr. Berman is the national voting rights correspondent at Mother Jones and the
author of “Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People — and
the Fight to Resist It.”
On April 8, one day before the Arizona Supreme Court reinstated a ban on
abortion from 1864, Donald Trump said the issue of abortion rights should be
left to the states and “whatever they decide must be the law of the land.”
Mr. Trump’s statement — and the outcry over the Arizona decision — reinforced
how state-level policy on issues like abortion can have major national
ramifications. Though states’ rights have long been a rallying cry for
conservatives opposed to the federal government’s policies on issues like civil
rights and abortion, today the states offer Democrats the best opportunity to
protect democracy and expand key rights.
For years Democrats have prioritized federal elections over state ones, but they
should look to the states as the most effective avenue for progressive reform,
especially since state power is very likely to only increase even as the federal
system is stacked against Democrats. The Electoral College and the Senate are
biased toward whiter, more rural, and more conservative areas while the Supreme
Court is a product of those two skewed institutions.
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority, in striking down federal abortion and
voting rights, has delegated a tremendous amount of authority to the states and
unexpectedly given progressive reformers a new opening to protect such rights at
the state level. Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, for example, seven states
have voted directly on abortion, and in all seven states — red and blue alike —
abortion rights advocates have won.
Advertisement
SKIP ADVERTISEMENT
Michigan is one promising national model for how state-level activists can
retake the power of their state governments. This notion would have been
laughable a decade ago. After Republicans took control of the state following
the 2010 election, Michigan was a bastion of minority rule. Over the course of
the decade, Republicans routinely received a minority of votes for the State
Legislature but won a majority of seats thanks to extreme partisan
gerrymandering that allowed them to “cram ALL of the Dem garbage,” in the words
of one G.O.P. staffer, into as few seats as possible.
Sign up for the Opinion Today newsletter Get expert analysis of the news and a
guide to the big ideas shaping the world every weekday morning. Get it sent to
your inbox.
It was the failure of Michigan’s broken political institutions that led to an
unlikely movement for reform. Two days after the 2016 election, dismayed by the
Michigan government’s detachment from voters, Katie Fahey, a 27-year-old
political novice from the Grand Rapids area, posted on Facebook before leaving
for work: “I’d like to take on gerrymandering in Michigan. If you’re interested
in doing this as well, please let me know.” She added a smiley face emoji for a
millennial touch.
Subscribe to The Times to read as many articles as you like.
Read 36 Comments
* Share full article
*
*
* 36
* Read in app
Advertisement
SKIP ADVERTISEMENT
COMMENTS 36
How Michigan Ended Minority RuleSkip to Comments
Share your thoughts.
The Times needs your voice. We welcome your on-topic commentary, criticism and
expertise. Comments are moderated for civility.
SITE INDEX
SITE INFORMATION NAVIGATION
* © 2024 The New York Times Company
* NYTCo
* Contact Us
* Accessibility
* Work with us
* Advertise
* T Brand Studio
* Your Ad Choices
* Privacy Policy
* Terms of Service
* Terms of Sale
* Site Map
* Canada
* International
* Help
* Subscriptions
* Your Privacy Choices
Enjoy unlimited access to all of The Times.
See subscription options