Tuesday’s election was historical, but its aftershocks remain to be seen.

Michigan’s first female governor and the state’s first Republican attorney general in about 50 years are expected to be sworn in at the beginning of the new year. Governor-elect Jennifer Granholm will be the first Democratic governor in 12 years.

Both chambers of the Legislature remain in the hands of Republican lawmakers.

In preparing for her new job, Granholm will be busy deciding how to move forward and planning for transition and inauguration, said Ben Kohrman, spokesman for the Michigan Democratic Party.

“The governor and Legislature are going to face a series of tough choices because of the budget situation that exists right now,” he said. “The governor said he won’t leave the government in the same situation he claims he inherited, but that remains to be seen.”

Kohrman said Granholm promoted a unified Michigan throughout her campaign and is not surprised that the governor-elect has said she plans to include Republicans in her appointments.

“I certainly hope we can look forward to cooperating together and the kind of consensus-building that Governor-elect Granholm has said is important, that we can work together as one unified state and solve some economic problems,” he said.

“She’s a moderate Democrat, she said she’s going to bring everybody to the table and a lot of Republicans liked her. We’ve never maintained that all Republicans were bad people. There’s lots of qualified people in government and some of them are Republicans.”

However, Kohrman said he hopes a Republican-dominated Legislature does not try to obstruct what Michigan’s people voted for.

“The people of Michigan said they would like Jennifer Granholm to help make those tough choices,” he said.

State Rep. Gretchen Whitmer, D-East Lansing, who celebrated her re-election Tuesday night over Republican businessman Larry Ward, said she’s excited to work with Granholm. She added that Granholm has a tough road ahead because of the state’s largely Republican-dominated Legislature.

Redistricting completed by the Republicans last year hurt Democrats in many races, Whitmer said.

“The Republicans redrew all the seats in the state and they drew them to benefit Republicans,” she said. “We had a number of races that were pretty close, but that the outcome was good for Republicans wasn’t surprising.”

Carol Weissert, MSU political science professor and political expert, said the statewide races and their results were exciting, but not surprising. Weissert said the new governor will have to be strong because she will face many difficult decisions - especially those imbedded in the state budget.

“I hope people don’t have an unrealistic expectation that she’s going to be able to solve all the problems within the first few months,” she said.

Weissert said once Granholm has tackled the state’s budget woes, she may be able to put forth some of her own programs.

“It depends on the economy,” she said. “If things look up, then she’ll be able to put in some of her ideas.

“It’s a lot easier to be governor when you have a lot of money.”

The tight budget will require state legislators to put aside their party affiliations, state Rep. Virg Bernero said. Bernero, D-Lansing, beat state Rep. Paul DeWeese, R-Williamston, in the 23rd District state Senate race.

“A Republican Legislature and a Democratic governor is really going to force that to happen, otherwise you’re going to have stalemate,” he said.

Bernero said Tuesday’s election shows voters want and demand political balance in Michigan.

“Even if it’s not our natural inclination to work together and be nice, I think we know we have to,” he said. “The public expects and demands it.”

DeWeese said he hopes the Republicans who remain in office next year will give Granholm as much respect as they would to Republican Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus.

“I think it would be a terrible disservice to the public if the Legislature subverts every initiative of Governor-elect Granholm simply to look good in the next election,” he said.

He said under Gov. John Engler, legislation wasn’t as scrutinized as it should have been. DeWeese said the new balance will bring more diverse ideas.

“I think we’ll be able to deal with things in a balanced and productive way,” he said.