Michigan's Legislature is looking a little more blue.
After Tuesday's midterm elections, Democrats have claimed the House of Representatives, 58-52, and are battling for more ground in a Republican-controlled Senate, 21-17. This shift in power could mean a completely Democratic agenda, political analysts said.
MSU political science Professor Paul Abramson said if the Democrats won just one of the state chambers, they would be in good shape to pass legislation Gov. Jennifer Granholm wouldn't veto.
Democrats probably won't revamp laws passed under the Republican-led session, but legislators would control what is passed to the governor and what bills die in the House or Senate from now on, he said.
"Hopefully, there will be some bipartisanship," Abramson said. "There will be some progress in turning the state around, but I wouldn't exaggerate on how much."
Jim Agee, co-director for MSU's Michigan Political Leadership Program, said a replacement for the Single Business Tax, Granholm's $4,000 Merit Scholarship and health care are a few of the issues on bills that will be brought up as soon as the Democrats assume control.
"Control is really great because it sets the table and helps you get your agenda through," Agee said. "But you can't point the finger at the Legislature after two years and say it's all their fault."
The virtual Democratic sweep of the state's Legislature could be attributed to a record high voter turnout for a Michigan general election, Agee said.
"The turnout surprised everybody," he said. "With the constant barragement of ads, it made people say, 'Let me go vote already and get this off my screen.'"
About 3.8 million voters, or about 53 percent of the voting age population, went to the polls Tuesday.
The previous record for midterm election voters was 3.2 million in 2002. The 2004 presidential election received about 4.9 million Michigan voters, or about 65 percent of the state's voting age population.
Michigan Secretary of State spokeswoman Kelly Chesney said the turnout shows an "energized electorate."
"There were a number of proposals that garnered interest and discussion and a gubernatorial race that dominated our airwaves," Chesney said. "There was so much talk about the election on the national level that it translated into people going to vote."
Bill Ballenger, editor and publisher of Inside Michigan Politics, said the unusually large general election voter turnout was most likely caused by races "at the top of the ticket" and not a united mentality to elect more Democrats.
Party power in the Michigan Legislature will depend less on quantity and more on key positions, such as the Senate majority leader, he said.
While weak Republican leadership in a GOP-controlled Senate could be an advantage to the Democrats, the parties can still block each other, Ballenger said.
"Let's not exaggerate what the Democrats did," he said. "They made gains, but they by no means took over state government."
