How Michigan Democrats took control for the first time in decades

Republicans were expected to maintain their iron grip on state legislature -but Democrats took control of the vital swing state's senate and house

Early on the morning after the midterm elections, a stunning new development that few Michigan political observers imagined possible took shape: Democrats, for the first time in nearly 40 years, took control of the vital swing state's senate and house.

They achieved it in a year Republicans were expected to maintain their iron grip on the state legislature, but when the dust settled, Democrats held a 56-54 majority in the House and 20-18 advantage in the Senate. It came in addition to Dems sweeping the statewide offices at the top of the ballot, retaining control of the state supreme court and winning a majority of US House seats.