Michigan political news remains active as 2023 comes to a close. Here is a roundup of recent developments in the state's political landscape.

In a significant ruling this week, the Michigan Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal in a lawsuit seeking to keep former President Donald Trump off the state's presidential primary ballot. The plaintiffs argued that Trump had violated the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment's insurrection clause due to his alleged role in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. This decision comes in the wake of similar lawsuits across the country, with Trump recently being barred from Colorado's ballot while being ruled ineligible in Maine. Legal experts suggest that these diverging decisions may ultimately push the matter to be decided at the federal level by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Calls for the resignation or removal of Kristina Karamo, the chair of the Michigan Republican Party, have been growing louder within the party. In an open letter published on Thursday, eight out of 13 Republican congressional district party chairs urged Karamo to step down, citing the need for an end to the chaos within the party. This call follows the party's co-chair expressing support for a meeting aiming to force a vote to remove Karamo. The chairwoman has responded by labeling her critics as secret Democrats seeking to undermine Republicans in the upcoming crucial election year.

Michigan's first independent redistricting panel has been thrown into disarray following a significant federal court decision. The court has ordered the commission to redraw 13 state legislative districts after ruling that a substantial number of districts in metro Detroit violated the Voting Rights Act. However, the commissioners appear to be at odds over how to respond to the ruling, particularly regarding whether to appeal the decision or leave the redrawing process to an external expert. The recent departures of two commission members supportive of the ruling left the panel without enough members to conduct business. With imminent deadlines approaching, including the filing of candidacies for Michigan legislative races in mid-April, the commission must resolve the turmoil and choose three new members.

In Michigan state government, the key dynamic for the next few months will be the evenly-divided House. This follows the departure of two Democrats to other offices in November. Both Democrats and Republicans have extensive to-do lists they hope to accomplish. Democrats, although holding the speakership and control over bill votes, will require at least one Republican supporter for any legislation reaching the governor's desk until the vacant seats are filled in April.

With these recent developments, Michigan's political landscape is poised to undergo significant changes in the coming months. The actions of the courts, the internal struggles within political parties, and the power balance in the state legislature will all shape the political climate as Michigan heads into a pivotal election year.