Launching ยท Summer 2026

The candidates,
on the record.

A data-informed political interview series covering the 2026 Michigan statewide elections. Long-form conversations with candidates, grounded in policy research and public data. Published independently and distributed across podcast and video platforms.

About the project
4
statewide offices on the 2026 ballot
9
major candidates tracked in this series
Aug 4
Michigan primary election, 2026
3
formats produced from every interview
What we cover · 2026 Michigan
Governor

Open Seat

A major election with candidates from multiple parties competing for Michigan's future.

U.S. Senate

Open Senate Seat

One of the most competitive Senate races in the country. Each candidate conversation is prepared using voting records, public statements, and relevant federal policy data.

Down-ballot

AG, Secretary of State and More

Attorney General, Secretary of State, Board of Regents. Offices with real policy consequence that rarely receive serious long-form coverage.

Three formats. One series.
Written Q&A

Full Transcripts

Research-backed, on the record. Edited for clarity, not length. Published independently on this site and through media partners.

Podcast

Every Interview, on Tape

Full-length audio of every conversation. Weekly, on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Short-form video

2–3 Clips Per Interview

Key moments from each conversation, cut for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.

The Approach

The Policy Desk gives candidates a platform for substantive, extended conversation with an engaged student audience. Every interview is prepared using candidate-specific research: policy positions, legislative records, voting history, and relevant public data.

We interview candidates from every party. We do not endorse. We do not accept money from campaigns or PACs. The goal is to produce a clear, evidence-based record of where each candidate stands.

Read more about the project →