DETROIT — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vetoed a bill that would have required her and future governors to set special election dates for state lawmaker seats within 30 days of their vacancy, a move that Republicans described as unexpected and protecting her own power.
The Republican-led Legislature had advanced the legislation by former state Rep. Andrea Schroeder, an Independence Township Republican who wanted to make sure constituents didn't go long without representation in Lansing after a lawmaker left office early.
Schroeder died Oct. 1 from cancer, and Whitmer announced on Dec. 14 that she would hold special primary and general elections to fill her seat and those of two other legislators in March and May, two Republicans and a Democrat.
