Politics

Michigan State University Students Cover the Midterms in Four Diverse Counties

by American Communities Project October 30, 2026

The fall, the American Communities Project partnered with the Michigan State University School of Journalism and WKAR, a public media outlet at MSU to cover the midterm elections in the state of Michigan.

A group of four students fanned out across four different counties in the state, representing four different kinds of communities in the ACP.

They traveled to the four locales and talked to people about local voter concerns and issues. You can read their pieces by clicking on the links below.

In Grand Traverse County, a narrow Republican edge and rising costs shape the Senate race (Rural Middle America) by Alex Boesch

 

 

From MSU to Mason, Ingham County voters make their voices heard ahead of Election Day (College Town) by Emily Autry

 

 

Rising costs, Republican divisions test Ottawa County voters ahead of election (Exurb) by Carly Carter

 

 

In Democratic Wayne County, Detroit and Dearborn voters bring different priorities to the 2026 election (Big City) by Paige Murray

 

 

 

Vol. 3 2020-2021

Deaths of Despair Across America

The American Communities Project is undertaking a 30-month study of Deaths of Despair in its 15 community types.

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