Former Michigan Governors Call for Political Civility

Bipartisan group urges return to civil discourse amid national tensions over immigration enforcement

Feb. 4, 2026 at 4:23pm

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Michigan's four living former governors, including Republicans John Engler and Rick Snyder as well as Democrats Jim Blanchard and Jennifer Granholm, gathered near the state Capitol to stress the need for political civility. The forum, hosted by the Michigan Civility Coalition, came amid national tensions over aggressive federal immigration enforcement, with the former governors arguing that the divisiveness could happen "in any place in Michigan."

Why it matters

The call for a return to civil political discourse comes as the nation grapples with heightened polarization, with the former governors warning that the lack of civility poses a major threat to American democracy. The event highlights the bipartisan effort to turn down the temperature on political divisiveness, particularly ahead of major statewide elections in Michigan.

The details

The former governors argued that the "siloing" of people on social media and the spread of misinformation have contributed to the erosion of civil discourse. They suggested measures such as the return of the Fairness Doctrine, which required balanced coverage of controversial issues, as well as more televised candidate debates to help restore civility. The event was hosted by the Michigan Civility Coalition, a network of political groups aiming to address political divisiveness.

  • The forum took place on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 near the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing.

The players

John Engler

A Republican who served as governor of Michigan from 1991 through 2002.

Rick Snyder

A Republican who served as governor of Michigan from 2011 through 2018.

Jim Blanchard

A Democrat who served as governor of Michigan from 1983 through 1990.

Jennifer Granholm

A Democrat who served as governor of Michigan from 2003 through 2010.

Gretchen Whitmer

The current Democratic governor of Michigan.

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What they’re saying

“If you look at Minneapolis, that could be any place in Michigan. Think of Grand Rapids. Think of other places in Michigan, and ask yourself the same question: If you would have had that many people showing up from the federal government, what would happen in any community, particularly in the Midwest?”

— Rick Snyder, Former Republican Governor of Michigan

“It doesn't have to be the way it is today in American society. It doesn't. The tone at the top is a lot to do with the issues that we're dealing with.”

— Jim Blanchard, Former Democratic Governor of Michigan

“I think that this algorithmic slicing, the siloing of people on social media, is a big culprit — and people aren't swimming in the same pond at all. Their realities, their facts, are completely different because their sources are completely different.”

— Jennifer Granholm, Former Democratic Governor of Michigan

What’s next

The former governors urged journalists to organize televised debates between candidates for upcoming statewide elections in Michigan to help restore civil discourse.

The takeaway

This bipartisan call for a return to political civility highlights the growing concerns about the erosion of civil discourse in the country and the need for leaders to model respectful dialogue, even across party lines, in order to address the nation's challenges effectively.