Michigan Republicans take over the majority in the state’s House of Representatives

Michigan Republicans gained control of the state’s House of Representatives following last week’s election. The party was able to flip several seats to gain its 58 to 52 majority including in the Upper Peninsula’s 109th district. Representative-elect Karl Bohnak was able to turn the long-time democrat seat and turn the entire Upper Peninsula legislative collation red. 110th representative Greg Markkanen says the state’s citizens wanted conservative voices heard.

They know that the economy is the most important issue in our community, schools our our health care and of course our environment. Like Lake Superior, timber industry, those are all important issues to our state representatives and you know they’re going to be even more so as we go on forward in the future – Rep.Greg Markkanen, 110^th District, Michigan House of Representatives

Republicans will not have a substantial majority and will need to work with state Democrats to further address issues impacting Michigan families. Markkanen adds that he sees the state’s legislature continuing to work on issues where the parties find common ground, such as maintaining roadways and supporting existing and growing industries.

These are all bipartisan concerns you know, especially with our mining. Not only in Marquette county but across the western U.P. And we need these minerals to move forward with industry and there’s a lot of small industry. Houghton county is growing, Marquette is growing we need housing. Those concerns are a big deal and that’s a bipartisan issue working with local government township government county government to meet the needs of our population – Rep.Greg Markkanen, 110^th District, Michigan House of Representatives

Markkanen and 38th district Senator Ed McBroom are the region’s senior leaders, both elected in 2018. Republican representative Matt Hall of Richland Township has been selected as the next speaker in the Michigan House of Representatives. Markkanen was elected at the same time as Hall and sworn in alongside him in 2018.

He understand that in the upcoming term for representatives that cover the U.P. we want to be a part of the rest of Michigan, but we also have different needs throughout the peninsula. Speaker elect Hall understands that as we ready to work with all four colleagues in and our senator in the next term. So we’re looking forward to it. – Rep.Greg Markkanen, 110^th District, Michigan House of Representatives

Michigan’s House of Representatives falls to 58 Republicans and 52 Democrats. Matt Hall of the 42nd district was selected as the house speaker, and Bryan Posthumus of the 90th district has been named the house majority floor leader.