LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Democrats plan to quickly advance a proposal in the coming weeks to shift the state's 2024 presidential primary earlier, but they might need votes of support from Republican lawmakers who could use the opportunity for leverage.
The dynamics potentially complicate the push to make Michigan one of the first five states to vote in the presidential nominating process next year. The situation also provides an example of the influence the GOP can wield despite Democrats holding narrow majorities in both the House and the Senate for the first time in nearly 40 years.
The reason is because the Michigan Constitution requires bills to take effect 90 days after the end of the legislative session unless two-thirds of the lawmakers in each chamber vote to give them "immediate effect."
