Email from MCRGO   MICHIGAN COALITION FOR RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERS "Promoting safe use and ownership of firearms through education, litigation, and legislation." MONDAY E'NEWS Midsummer Legislative Update Legislative session has continued this month due to the unfinished budget. Schedules have been light, and no new firearms bills were voted on in July. Beyond the road funding dispute, the issue dominating Lansing chatter is a special election for a state senate seat that could end Democratic control in the Michigan Senate. Last November, former State Senator Kristen McDonald-Rivet (D-Bay City) was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, leaving Michigan State Senate District 35 seat vacant. At over 200 days, it is the longest legislative vacancy in Michigan history—now over twice as long as the previous longest vacancy. The district covers portions of Saginaw County, Bay County, and Midland County. All three counties have been trending Republican. All three counties voted for Trump in 2024. Despite Governor Whitmer's refusal to call a special election in the district, Michigan State Board of Education President Pamela Pugh announced on July 17 that she is running for the seat. However, Pugh fared poorly in the Democratic primary for the Congressional seat in 2024, which McDonald-Rivet ultimately won. With only 20.3% of the vote, Pugh finished third out of three candidates. That Congressional district largely overlaps with the now vacant state senate seat. Despite the absence of a Republican candidate for the yet-nonexistent race, there is a widespread expectation that State Rep. Bill G. Schuette (R-Midland) will participate. The 30 year old former U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency analyst has been in office for three years, over-performing the district's Republican base in 2022 and 2024. Schuette enjoys wide name identification due to the electoral history of his father, former Michigan Attorney General and Congressman Bill D. Schuette. In short, Republicans have a winning horse with strong future electoral prospects. Democrats, not so much. If control of the Michigan Senate were not at stake, none of this would matter. At present, Democrats hold a 19-18 majority in that chamber. A majority of members elected and serving is necessary to pass legislation. With 37 current senators, Senate Democrats can pass partisan legislation if all 19 of their members vote. We saw this last month with the party-line votes on the Capitol gun ban and hobbyist firearms ban. However, if Republicans win the vacant Michigan State Senate District 35 seat and the Senate is restored to 38 members, 20 affirmative votes will be necessary to pass legislation. If a vote is tied 19-19, Democratic Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist could break the tie. But the lieutenant governor can only vote in the case of a tie. If a Republican member does not vote and no tie exists, Senate Democrats are no longer able to control the passage of legislation with only 19 votes. This scenario would include future gun control bills. It would also diminish Democrats' chances of holding the Michigan Senate in 2026, impacting their fundraising. As for the timing of the special election, the Michigan Constitution does not impose a deadline on the governor. Whitmer has said, "At some point, there will be one." But she hasn't said when. Pressure on the governor continues to grow. Two weeks ago, the Detroit Free Press published an editorial demanding a special election. Even Attorney General Dana Nessel has said she felt Whitmer should call the special election "for quite some time." MCRGO Bylaw Amendments At midnight this coming Friday, an electronic ballot will be emailed to every MCRGO member who was current as of July 1, 2025 and who has an email address on file. The ballot will include candidates and their statements for the five geographic regions. This year, it will also contain three proposed bylaw amendments. The Board of Directors placed the proposed amendments on the ballot through supermajority votes. A simple majority of members voting in the election must approve each proposed amendment. Bylaw Amendment 1-2025 asks, "Should a permanent MCRGO Marketing Subcommittee be created?" The intent of this amendment is to establish a group to more aggressively market the organization. Marketing has become increasingly important in recent years due to the introduction and growth of the MCRGO CPL training program. Bylaw Amendment 2-2025 asks, "Should a permanent MCRGO Shooting Competitions Subcommittee be created?" This past April, MCRGO became the official NRA State Association for Michigan. Part of the role of an NRA State Association is to host NRA shooting competitions. While MCRGO has held informal competitions in the past at its picnics and festivals, the change would create a more organized competitions schedule that could include partnerships with other organizations and host clubs. Bylaw Amendment 3-2025 asks, "Should a person be required to be an MCRGO member for at least the 365 consecutive days prior to the candidate filing deadline to run for a position on the MCRGO Board of Directors?" This type of longevity or experience requirement to run for organization leadership is common with nonprofits. MCRGO currently does not have such a requirement in its bylaws. It would require that a candidate for MCRGO's Board of Directors be a member of the organization for at least one full year immediately prior to an election's candidate filing deadline. The proposed amendment is proactive rather than in response to a candidate filing for this year's election. All candidates on this year's ballot would meet the requirement. UPCOMING EVENTS MCRGO Upper Peninsula Picnic Saturday, September 6, 2025, from 11 AM to 1 PM EDT West Branch Sportsmen's Club, 1888 Engman Lake Rd., Skandia 49855 NO RSVP is required. Open to MCRGO members, friends & family. We will provide grilled items and beverages at no cost. We encourage you to bring your firearms, ammunition, and ear and eye protection. NRA Freedom Fest at Howell Saturday, September 6, 2025, 10 AM to 6 PM Peacemakers Gun Range, 158 Catrell Dr, Howell, MI 48843 MCRGO will be present as an exhibitor. This is not a MCRGO hosted event. MCRGO Southwest Michigan Picnic Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 11 AM to 1 PM EDT Southern Michigan Gun Club, 22471 38th Ave., Mattawan, MI 49071 NO RSVP is required. Open to MCRGO members, friends & family. We will provide grilled items and beverages at no cost. We encourage you to bring your firearms, ammunition, and ear and eye protection. MCRGO 2025 Annual Meeting Friday, December 5, 2025, from 11 AM to 2 PM EST Coral Gables Restaurant, 2838 Grand River Ave, East Lansing, MI 48823 MCRGO will provide a pizza and salad buffet along with non-alcoholic beverages. The annual meeting is open to current MCRGO members. Please RSVP to [email protected]. MCRGO | PO Box 14014 | Lansing, MI 48901 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice