Michigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper body of the Michigan Legislature. It consists of 38 members who are elected from districts having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents.
Senators are elected at the same time as the governor and serve 4-year terms concurrent with the governor's term of office. Senate and gubernatorial elections are offset by two years from U.S. Presidential elections (e.g., Presidential elections were in 1996 and 2000, gubernatorial elections were in 1998 and 2002). Terms for senators begin on January 1, following the November general election. Senators who have not served more than half of someone else's Senate term are eligible for two full terms.
Make-up of Michigan Senate
As of 2005, there are 22 Republicans and 16 Democrats in the Michigan Senate.
| Affiliation | Members | |
| Template:American politics/party colours/Republican| | Republican Party | 22 |
| Template:American politics/party colours/Democratic| | Democratic Party | 16 |
| Total |
38 | |
| Government Majority |
6 | |
Leadership Information
Michigan State Senate Officers
- President: John D. Cherry, Jr.
- President Pro Tempore: Patricia Birkholz
- Assistant President Pro Tempore: Alan Sanborn
- Associate President Pro Tempore: Jim Barcia
Senate Majority Leadership
The Republican Caucus, with 22 members, currently holds the majority.
- Majority Leader: Ken Sikkema
- Assistant Majority Leader: Michael D. Bishop
- Majority Floor Leader: Beverly S. Hammerstrom
- Assistant Majority Floor Leader: Alan Cropsey
- Majority Caucus Chairperson: Wayne Kuipers
- Assistant Majority Caucus Chairperson: Ron Jelinek
- Majority Whip: Jason Allen
- Assistant Majority Whip: Laura Toy
Senate Minority Leadership
The Democratic Caucus, with 16 members, is currently in the minority.
- Minority Leader: Bob Emerson
- Assistant Minority Leader: Liz Brater
- Minority Floor Leader: Mark Schauer
- Assistant Minority Floor Leader: Gilda Z. Jacobs
- Minority Caucus Chair: Ray Basham
- Assistant Minority Caucus Chair: Hansen Clarke
- Minority Whip: Jim Barcia
- Assistant Minority Whip: Dennis Olshove
Members of the Michigan State Senate
| District | Senator | Party | Residence | Eligible for re-election in 2006? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hansen Clarke | Democrat | Detroit | Yes |
| 2 | Martha G. Scott | Democrat | Highland Park | Yes |
| 3 | Irma Clark-Coleman | Democrat | Detroit | Yes |
| 4 | Samuel Buzz Thomas III | Democrat | Detroit | Yes |
| 5 | Burton Leland | Democrat | Detroit | No |
| 6 | Laura M. Toy | Republican | Livonia | Yes |
| 7 | Bruce Patterson | Republican | Canton | Yes |
| 8 | Raymond E. Basham | Democrat | Taylor | Yes |
| 9 | Dennis Olshove | Democrat | Warren | Yes |
| 10 | Michael Switalski | Democrat | Roseville | Yes |
| 11 | Alan Sanborn | Republican | Richmond | Yes |
| 12 | Michael Bishop | Republican | Rochester | Yes |
| 13 | Shirley Johnson | Republican | Royal Oak | No |
| 14 | Gilda Z. Jacobs | Democrat | Huntington Woods | Yes |
| 15 | Nancy Cassis | Republican | Novi | Yes |
| 16 | Cameron Brown | Republican | Fawn River Twp. | Yes |
| 17 | Beverly S. Hammerstrom | Republican | Temperance | No |
| 18 | Liz Brater | Democrat | Ann Arbor | Yes |
| 19 | Mark Schauer | Democrat | Battle Creek | Yes |
| 20 | Thomas M. George | Republican | Kalamazoo | Yes |
| 21 | Ron Jelinek | Republican | Three Oaks | Yes |
| 22 | Valde Garcia | Republican | Howell | Yes |
| 23 | Virg Bernero | Democrat | Lansing | Yes |
| 24 | Patricia L. Birkholz | Republican | Saugatuck Twp. | Yes |
| 25 | Judson Gilbert II | Republican | Algonac | Yes |
| 26 | Deborah Cherry | Democrat | Burton | Yes |
| 27 | Robert L. Emerson | Democrat | Flint | No |
| 28 | Kenneth R. Sikkema | Republican | Wyoming | No |
| 29 | Bill Hardiman | Republican | Kentwood | Yes |
| 30 | Wayne Kuipers | Republican | Holland | Yes |
| 31 | Jim Barcia | Democrat | Bay City | Yes |
| 32 | Mike Goschka | Republican | Brant | No |
| 33 | Alan L. Cropsey | Republican | DeWitt | Yes |
| 34 | Gerald VanWoerkom | Republican | Muskegon | Yes |
| 35 | Michelle McManus | Republican | Lake Leelanau | Yes |
| 36 | Tony Stamas | Republican | Midland | Yes |
| 37 | Jason Allen | Republican | Traverse City | Yes |
| 38 | Michael Prusi | Democrat | Ishpeming | Yes |