The move is unlikely to impact Bahar-Cook’s chances of being re-elected to the Board of Trustees as she is serving an eight-year term that doesn’t conclude until 2033.

“For Rebecca specifically, I don’t think it’s a big deal at all,” said Lansing-based political strategist Adrian Hemond. 

The episode does suggest that Bahar-Cook could face a strained future relationship with the party, and highlights the fraught position trustees hold as both political figures elected statewide and leaders of a university committed to remaining neutral on most current events.

Since late 2024, university policy has advised against MSU departments, colleges, administrative units and individual employees releasing statements that appear to represent the university. MSU's website on the neutrality policy says that employees should not make personal statements on behalf of the university, including by using their administrative title.

Those guidelines were adopted amid a shift among universities to remain neutral on current events unless they threaten their mission or impact the campus community.

While Bahar-Cook is listed with her MSU title on Duggan’s campaign website, university spokesperson Amber McCann said that Bahar-Cook’s endorsement doesn’t interfere with the policy of “institutional restraint.” MSU faculty and administrators are allowed to make political statements as long as they don’t try to speak on behalf of the university, she said.

“I don’t believe the trustee choosing to make an endorsement is in any conflict with institutional restraint,” McCann said. “Trustee Bahar-Cook is not endorsing any one person on behalf of Michigan State University.”

Bahar-Cook was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.

The trustee previously donated $5,300 to Hertel’s failed campaign to represent Michigan’s 7th congressional district in the U.S. House. She was also the treasurer of Hertel’s campaign committee, being tasked with ensuring the campaign adhered to election finance law.

Any reference to Bahar-Cook’s close working relationship with Hertel was not apparent in his statement regarding elected officials who will need to run again in the future. “I look forward to their independent campaigns," the statement said.

Derrick Honeyman, spokesperson for the Michigan Democratic Party, declined to comment on Hertel and Bahar-Cook’s working relationship.

The Democratic Party’s sanction represents an escalation in its efforts to defeat Duggan, a former Democrat whose independent bid threatens to poach votes from the eventual Democratic nominee. Duggan leads the fundraising race through July 20, according to the most recent filings.

No current trustee other than Bahar-Cook appears on any gubernatorial candidate’s endorsement pages. No current trustee responded to emailed questions about which candidate they had endorsed, or whether they had endorsed one at all.  

Hemond, the consultant, said it remains to be seen if the Democratic Party’s strategy will successfully stop officials from endorsing Duggan. However, he said, the move could sour relationships between party members.

“It’s awkward and annoying,” Hemond said. “Like, we all know each other, right.”