Statewide Office & University Board Selection Method

Current understanding

A proposed Michigan constitutional amendment (amending Art. V § 21 and Art. VIII § 5) would modify the nomination process for secretary of state and attorney general and replace the current election of university regents, trustees, and boards of governors with gubernatorial appointment. Currently, SoS/AG are nominated at party conventions and elected statewide, while U-M, MSU, and Wayne State board members are elected on the statewide partisan ballot. The proposal is at the introduction stage.

Evidence log

• 2026-05-21 — Elections: primary; nomination process for secretary of state and attorney general; modify. Amends; adds & repeals (See bill). TIE BAR WITH: HJR U’26: HB 6018 introduced in the House as a companion statutory implementing bill (tie-barred to HJR U’26) modifying the primary-election nomination process for secretary of state and attorney general — a House-side parallel to SB 1021/SJR J’26. (novelty: 2)
• 2026-06-02 — Elections: primary; nomination process for secretary of state and attorney general; modify, and provide for gubernatorial appointment of regents, trustees, or board of governors for universities. Amends sec. 21, art. V & sec. 5, art. VIII of the state constitution.: Joint resolution introduced to amend Art. V § 21 and Art. VIII § 5 — modifying the primary nomination process for secretary of state and attorney general and replacing popular election of U-M, MSU, and Wayne State governing boards with gubernatorial appointment (the underlying SJR to which SB 1021 and SB 1022 are tie-barred). (novelty: 3)
• 2026-06-04 — Campaign finance: other; definition of statewide elective office in the Michigan campaign finance act; remove reference to university boards. Amends sec. 12 of 1976 PA 388 (MCL 169.212). TIE BAR WITH: SJR J’26: SB 1022 introduced as a further tie-barred implementing amendment to the Campaign Finance Act (MCL 169.212), removing university boards from the definition of ‘statewide elective office’ consistent with SJR J’26’s shift to gubernatorial appointment of regents/trustees. (novelty: 2)
• 2026-06-04 — Elections: school; election of regents, trustees, or board of governors for the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University; eliminate, and modify the nominating process for the secretary of state and attorney general. Amends; adds & repeals (See bill). TIE BAR WITH: SJR J’26: SB 1021 introduced as the statutory implementing companion (tie-barred to SJR J of 2026) to eliminate popular election of U-M, MSU, and Wayne State governing boards and to modify the nomination process for secretary of state and attorney general. (novelty: 3)

Open questions

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