Election 2025
How 2025 Will Look
As we enter 2025, it seems fitting to reflect on the previous term, but more importantly to look toward what is ahead. While ABC of Michigan, its members, and the merit shop took legislative lumps in 2024, it isn’t all a loss. In fact, it’s only a loss if we don’t learn from our experience and come out on the other end stronger than we already were. The aftermath of the 2024 election proved this to already be true for ABC of Michigan and its members.
Due to your hard work and contributions, Michigan is the only state in the nation where an anti-merit shop legislative chamber flipped to a pro-merit shop legislature. 2025 will bring a new balance of power and a completely new dynamic where Republicans and Democrats must come to the table together and negotiate policy and appropriations to move Michigan forward. Because of the work ABC of Michigan did, we will have a seat at the table and our voices will be heard in those negotiations.
While being at the negotiation table going forward is an import ant step, the most critical thing secured is a safety net against bad legislation from ever reaching the Governor’s desk. As we enter 2025, it seems fitting to reflect on the previous term, but more importantly to look toward what is ahead. While ABC of Michigan, its members, and the merit shop took legislative lumps in 2024, it isn’t all a loss. In fact, it’s only a loss if we don’t learn from our experience and come out on the other end stronger than we already were. The aftermath of the 2024 election proved this to already be true for ABC of Michigan and its members. Due to your hard work and contributions, Michigan is the only state in the nation where an anti-merit shop legislative chamber flipped to a pro-merit shop legislature.
2025 will bring a new balance of power and a completely new dynamic where Republicans and Democrats must come to the table together and negotiate policy and appropriations to move Michigan forward. Because of the work ABC of Michigan did, we will have a seat at the table and our voices will be heard in those negotiations.
“It is without a doubt a huge victory to have a merit-shop friendly House going forward, but there isn’t a lot of time or merit in taking a victory lap,” said Shane Hernandez, President of ABC of Michigan. “We need to start thinking about 2026 when the House, Senate, and Governor are all up for re-election to secure a complete merit shop friendly legislature and regain the ground we lost in 2023 and 2024.”
Hernandez continued saying that some may argue it will take multiple terms, if not decades, to get back what merit shop contractors have lost, but already has the roadmap to victory.
“If ABC does the due diligence and puts in the necessary work now, I believe that Michigan will once again be a business-friendly state with freedom for all, regardless of labor affiliation,” Hernandez said.
The next two years won’t be free of legislative challenges to go along with our political challenges. At the Federal level, we are seeing President Trump working to bridge the gap with unions, putting forward a Labor Secretary pick, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, that has been praised by the Labor Unions. Legislators will certainly still push anti-free enterprise and anti-merit shop legislation at both a Federal and State level, and unelected bureaucrats will still attempt to implement rules and regulations that make it harder to operate a business. Despite this, ABC has two major advantages. First, the principles we hold so dearly are the right ones and that has been proven throughout history. Second, we are the vast majority in our industry and we can never forget it. If we speak up and tell people who we are—the men and women who have built this great nation—we can’t lose.
“We want to thank you all for your commitment and dedication to ABC of Michigan. We wouldn’t be in this position if it weren’t for all your efforts,” said Eric Chappell, Director of Legislative Affairs and Operations for ABC of Michigan.
As we close out a year of challenges and progress, ABC of Michigan stands ready to embrace the opportunities and hurdles ahead. The victories of 2024 are a testament to the resilience and dedication of our members, proving that even in adversity, strength, and unity can lead to transformative outcomes.
*article courtesy of Shane Hernandez and Eric Chappell with ABC of Michigan
