House Minority Leader Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp.) takes questions from reporters after House Republicans’ Nov. 7, 2024 leadership meeting where he was named speaker of the House for the upcoming legislative session. | Kyle Davidson
With Tuesday’s election placing Republicans back in control of the Michigan House of Representatives next term, members of both parties met on Tuesday to select their leadership headed into the 2025-26 Legislative session.
Republicans selected current Minority Leader Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp.) as the next House speaker.
While Democrats won a slim majority in both the state House and the Senate in 2022, Republicans flipped four seats this election, earning a 58-52 majority, which will end the state’s Democratic trifecta and placing a check on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
After securing his position as speaker, Hall talked with reporters, saying he would like to hold legislative sessions regularly, criticizing House Democrats for a lack of action on policy.
“I think that one of the reasons the Democrats lost their majority is because they weren’t, they were too afraid of losing it, and they didn’t have session, and they didn’t take tough votes,” Hall said.
“I don’t think that’s how you lead a body. And personally, I think the people of Michigan want us to take action, right? And we have some important issues that we need to work on, and I don’t think we should play it safe. I think we should take risks. I think that we should push hard to get stuff done, even though it’s tough sometimes,” Hall said, pointing to road funding and education as potential areas for action.
Republicans also chose Minority Floor Leader Bryan Posthumus (R-Greenville) to serve as majority floor leader and Rep. Rachelle Smit (R-Martin), as speaker pro tempore.
Although House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) won reelection in Michigan’s 10th House District, Tate opted against running for minority leader, with Democrats ultimately selecting Rep. Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton) as minority leader and Rep. Jon Fitzgerald (D-Wyoming) as minority floor leader.
Reps. Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia) and Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor) ran for minority leader, but were not chosen.
“I’m thankful to have the support of the majority of my colleagues to help unify this caucus and work alongside Rep. Fitzgerald in making sure that we are doing whatever we can to put our caucus and the house Dems in a situation to help get back the majority in 2026,” Puri told reporters.
Democrats still have a 20-18 majority in the Senate, which was not up for reelection this year. However, Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) won her bid for the 8th Congressional District and will be vacating her Senate seat at the end of the year, triggering a special election in a competitive seat.
Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) issued a statement following the new leadership elections congratulating both Puri and Hall on their successful election into leadership positions.
“Caucus leaders in the majority are charged with both ushering through a productive legislative agenda and upholding the integrity of the institution we hold dear. I am proud that this has been our practice over the past two years, and I see no reason why that should change,” Brinks said. “I extend my congratulations to Speaker-elect Hall and offer him my partnership in running a legislature that effectively serves the people of Michigan.”
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