Michigan's Former Governors Call for Restoring Civility in Politics

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Four former Michigan governors - James Blanchard, John Engler, Jennifer Granholm, and Rick Snyder - are coming together in a bipartisan forum to address the state of civil discourse in American politics. Hosted by Michiganders for Civic Resilience and the Michigan Civility Coalition, the event on February 4th in Lansing will explore ways to bring more civility back to the public square. The forum comes at a time of deep political divisions in the country, with many citizens concerned about the direction the nation is heading.

Why it matters

Restoring civil discourse is seen as crucial to healing the partisan divide in America and strengthening democratic norms. As former state leaders, the four governors have credibility and national networks that could help spark a broader conversation about the threats to American democracy and ways to address them through nonpartisan, grassroots action.

The details

The Michigan Civility Coalition defines itself as 'a group of individuals and organizations who are concerned about the state of our politics and culture due to the seemingly ever-present rancor in public discourse ... committed to advocating for and practicing civil discourse in public life.' The forum will feature the four former governors discussing the importance of civility and potential paths forward to address the country's democratic crisis.

• The public forum will take place on February 4, 2026 in Lansing, Michigan.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The four former governors may be asked to consider spearheading a nonpartisan, citizen-led commission to investigate threats to American democracy and propose solutions, similar to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that helped end apartheid in South Africa.