Right Direction Wrong Track

CLOSUP Updates

Bridge Listens: The state of democracy, transparency in Michigan

Jul 28, 2026 Bridge Michigan

Michigan has been at the epicenter of heated national debates over election policies and how the democratic process works, particularly since President Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn his 2020 loss.

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Opinion: Democracy is a skill we may be forgetting

Jul 15, 2026 Livingston Daily

Democracy isn't just about what's making national headlines. It's about the city council meeting, the board of education meeting and the local little league game.

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Local officials think the Legislature is doing a bad job

Jul 10, 2026 Gongwer

The opinion of local government leaders on the state, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Legislature is falling, according to a statewide survey conducted in spring of 2026 by the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy Center for Local, Sta...

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U-M survey finds 60% of local officials believe Michigan is ‘on the wrong track’

Jul 9, 2026 Click on Detroit

A majority of local officials in Michigan say the state is headed in the wrong direction, according to a new survey from the University of Michigan.

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New MPPS Policy Brief: Local officials report declining outlook for state, plummeting approval of the Legislature

Jul 7, 2026

A new policy brief presents the opinions of Michigan's local government leaders regarding the direction in which the state is headed, as well as their evaluations of the job performance of Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature.

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New MPPS Policy Brief: A majority of Michigan local officials continue to say the state is on the wrong track, reflecting partisan affiliation and growing uncertainty

Jul 22, 2025

A new MPPS policy brief presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding the direction in which the state is headed, as well as their evaluations of the job performance of Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature. ...

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Report: Local lawmakers, law enforcement officers want access to misconduct reports, internal investigations

Jul 8, 2025 Gongwer

There is widespread support among local government and law enforcement for the creation of a statewide misconduct database for law enforcement officers, according to a report from the University of Michigan's Center for Local, State and Urban Policy....

MPPS in the news

From the World Around Us, Michigan Public Policy Survey

Jun 5, 2023 Rural Insights

The survey showed that 60% of Michigan’s local leaders say the state is on the wrong track in 2023. 30% believe the state is on the right track. 11% are unsure.

MPPS in the news

Survey: Gov. Whitmer and Michigan Legislature on Wrong Track

May 18, 2023 DBusiness.com

Nearly 60 percent of Michigan’s local government leaders say the state is on the wrong track in 2023, according to a recent University of Michigan survey. Specifically, 59 percent see the wrong track, less than the 62 percent in 2022 and the high of ...

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MPPS Report: Local leaders' pessimism about Michigan’s direction continues, but eases slightly from last year

Jul 6, 2022

A new report presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding the direction in which the state is headed, as well as their evaluations of the job performance of Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature. These findi...

MPPS in the news

WJR Late Mornings interview: Is Michigan Heading in the Right Direction?

Jul 8, 2021 WJR Radio

Dr. Debra Horner, Professor of Center for Local, State and Urban Policy at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, tells Kevin Dietz how local government officials say Michigan is going in the wrong direction.

MPPS in the news

Survey: Local Leaders' Views Of Whitmer, Legislature See Sharp Drop

Jul 8, 2021 Gongwer

(Subscription required) In the eyes of local government officials, the job performance of both Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Republican-controlled Legislature has slipped over the past year and there has been a rise in concern over the...

MPPS in the news

UM survey: 67% of government leaders say Michigan headed in wrong direction

Jul 7, 2021 Iosco County News Herald

More than two-thirds of local government officials say Michigan has “gotten off on the wrong track,” says the University of Michigan’s 2021 Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS).

MPPS in the news

Survey: Michigan Moving in Wrong Direction, Gov. Whitmer’s Job Performance Falls Sharply

Jul 7, 2021 dbusiness.com

Economic growth in Michigan is moving in the opposite direction, with 67 percent of local government officials saying the state has gotten off on the wrong track as the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, according to the results of the University of Michiga...

MPPS in the news

UM survey: 67% of government leaders say Michigan headed in wrong direction

Jul 7, 2021 The Center Square

More than two-thirds of local government officials say Michigan has “gotten off on the wrong track,” says the University of Michigan’s 2021 Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS).

MPPS in the news

Two-thirds of local leaders see Michigan moving in wrong direction, according to annual U-M survey

Jul 6, 2021 University of Michigan News

The combined crises of the past year have darkened the attitudes of local government leaders, according to the first results of the University of Michigan’s 2021 Michigan Public Policy Survey.

MPPS in the news

Two-thirds of local leaders see Michigan moving in wrong direction, according to annual U

Jul 6, 2021 Mirage News

The combined crises of the past year have darkened the attitudes of local government leaders, according to the first results of the University of Michigan’s 2021 Michigan Public Policy Survey.

MPPS in the news

Two-thirds of local leaders see Michigan moving in wrong direction, according to annual U-M survey

Jul 6, 2021 dispatchist.com

Two-thirds of local leaders see Michigan moving in wrong direction, according to annual U-M survey on: The combined crises of the past year have darkened the attitudes of local government leaders, according to the first results of the University of M...

CLOSUP Updates

MPPS Report: Local leaders’ concerns about Michigan’s direction spike, while evaluations of state leaders sink over the past year

Jul 6, 2021

This report presents the opinions of Michigan's local government leaders regarding the direction in which the state is headed, as well as their evaluations of the job performance of Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature. These findin...

MPPS in the news

Mixed messages, fading outlook among local leaders in annual Michigan Public Policy Survey

Jul 16, 2020 MyScience.org

MPPS in the news

Michigan Local Government Officials More Optimistic About State

Jul 20, 2018 Route Fifty

MPPS

MPPS Policy Brief: Local officials report declining outlook for state, plummeting approval of the Legislature

July 7, 2026

Debra Horner, Stephanie Leiser

This policy brief presents the opinions of Michigan's local government leaders regarding the direction in which the state is headed, as well as their evaluations of the job performance of Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature. These ...

MPPS

MPPS Policy Brief: A majority of Michigan local officials continue to say the state is on the wrong track, reflecting partisan affiliation and growing uncertainty

July 22, 2025

This policy brief presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding the direction in which the state is headed, as well as their evaluations of the job performance of Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature. These ...

MPPS

MPPS Policy Brief: Despite two-year trend of improvement, most Michigan local officials continue to say the state is on the wrong track

May 17, 2023

This report presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding the direction in which the state is headed, as well as their evaluations of the job performance of Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Legislature. These findin...

MPPS

Local leaders’ pessimism about Michigan’s direction continues, but eases slightly from last year

July 6, 2022

MPPS

Local leaders' concerns about Michigan’s direction spike, while evaluations of state leaders sink over the past year

July 6, 2021

MPPS

Local leaders' evaluations of Michigan's direction and Governor's performance during the COVID-19 pandemic's arrival

July 16, 2020

MPPS

New Governor, new evaluations of the direction Michigan is headed among local leaders

August 1, 2019

MPPS

Rising confidence in Michigan’s direction among local leaders, but partisan differences remain

July 1, 2018

This report presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding the direction in which the state is headed, as well as their evaluations of the job performance of Governor Rick Snyder and the Michigan Legislature. These findings ar...

MPPS

Michigan local leaders' doubts continue regarding state's direction

July 1, 2016

This report presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding the direction in which the state is headed, as well as their evaluations of the job performance of Governor Rick Snyder and the Michigan Legislature. These findings ar...