IN THE NEWS: Winnie Brinks Vows to Deliver for Upper Peninsula as Lieutenant Governor

Last weekend, Senate Majority Leader and Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor Winnie Brinks traveled to the Upper Peninsula to campaign with downballot Democrats, rally volunteers, and speak with residents about what they need from their next Governor and Lieutenant Governor. 

Winnie understands that rural areas like the Upper Peninsula face unique challenges — from limited access to healthcare, to workforce shortages, to sky-high utility prices — and she is committed to working with the legislature as the next Lieutenant Governor to deliver relief for Yoopers.

In case you missed it…

On the airwaves:

WBUP-TV — Marquette, MI: Brinks is currently the Senate Majority Leader. Campaigning in the U.P. over the weekend, we asked her on hearing the voices of Yoopers: "The Upper Peninsula is a place that is often ignored when it comes to conversations in Lansing, so that's one of the reasons it was really important for me to come up here. It's because every Michigander's voice matters. And I'm really very excited to have the opportunity to be up here now during the campaign, but I intend to come back many times as lieutenant governor."

In print: 

SooLeader: Brinks discusses EUP concerns during Sault campaign stop

[Scott Church, 10/19/26]

Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks brought her campaign for lieutenant governor to Sault Ste. Marie, where she heard concerns about rising utility costs, healthcare access, corrections staffing shortages, and other issues affecting Eastern Upper Peninsula residents.

Brinks, a Grand Rapids Democrat who represents Michigan's 29th Senate District, is running alongside Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson. She met with local residents at the Chippewa County Democratic headquarters, answered questions about issues facing the region, and outlined priorities for a potential Benson administration.

Although Brinks represents an urban area of the state, she said her upbringing in a rural community has given her an appreciation for some of the challenges facing residents of the Upper Peninsula.

Brinks said she grew up on a farm where trips to the grocery store or doctor's office required a considerable drive. She said those experiences have helped shape her understanding of the difficulties rural residents face in accessing services.

Economic development, education and healthcare are challenges throughout Michigan, Brinks said, but those issues can be particularly difficult in rural communities.

One issue that surfaced during the gathering was the ongoing staffing shortage within 

[...] 

Healthcare access was another concern raised during the visit.

In the exclusive interview, Brinks was asked about the difficulties Eastern Upper Peninsula residents face in finding physicians, specialists and dentists, along with the recent controversy involving a longtime local physician who was dismissed by MyMichigan Health following a disagreement over patient appointment policies.

Brinks acknowledged that attracting medical professionals to rural communities remains a difficult problem.

She pointed to state programs that provide financial assistance for medical professionals completing residencies or serving in areas where healthcare providers are in short supply.

Brinks said the state has increased funding for those programs and needs to continue making those investments.

She also discussed efforts to improve access to obstetric care through additional healthcare providers, including nurse midwives, while acknowledging that such measures do not fully replace access to obstetricians and gynecologists.

"It's a long-term challenge," Brinks said, adding that she has worked with both Republicans and Democrats on healthcare access issues.

[...]

Brinks said affordability would be among the priorities of a Benson administration, including efforts to increase oversight of utility companies and the rates they charge customers.

She discussed legislation that would prevent major utility companies from seeking rate increases more frequently than once every three years, rather than the annual requests currently permitted.

Brinks said she supports the proposal and hopes the Legislature will take action.

[...]

Brinks criticized Republican gubernatorial candidate John James for supporting federal policies she said would make healthcare and other necessities less affordable for Michigan families.

She expressed particular concern about reductions in food assistance and Medicaid funding, saying rural communities could be especially vulnerable to those changes.

[...]

Brinks said she views the lieutenant governor's position as an opportunity to represent the administration throughout Michigan while also working with the Legislature.

She noted that one responsibility of the lieutenant governor is presiding over the Senate, while another is serving as an ambassador to communities across the state.

For Brinks, that would include making sure the concerns of Upper Peninsula residents are heard in Lansing.

During her exclusive interview, she emphasized that representing one region of Michigan should not come at the expense of understanding the needs of another.

She said she has worked with Upper Peninsula lawmakers from both parties and believes their concerns deserve the same consideration as those of the communities she currently represents.

Their interests, she said, are just as important as her own.

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