2019 in Michigan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article reviews 2019 in Michigan, including the state's office holders, performance of its sports teams and athletes, a chronology of the state's top news and sports stories, and a list of notable Michigan-related deaths.
The top stories in Michigan during 2019 included the Larry Nassar sex abuse scandal and the deaths of William Milliken, John Conyers, John Dingell, and Lee Iacocca.
State office holders

- Governor of Michigan: Gretchen Whitmer (Democratic)
- Lieutenant Governor of Michigan: Garlin Gilchrist (Democratic)
- Michigan Attorney General: Dana Nessel (Democratic)
- Michigan Secretary of State: Jocelyn Benson (Democratic)
- Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives: Tom Leonard (Republican) (until January 9), Lee Chatfield (Republican) (starting January 9)
- Majority Leader of the Michigan Senate: Mike Shirkey (Republican)
- Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court: Stephen Markman (until January 9), Bridget Mary McCormack (starting January 9)
Mayors of major cities

- Mayor of Detroit: Mike Duggan (Democrat)
- Mayor of Grand Rapids: Rosalynn Bliss
- Mayor of Warren, Michigan: James R. Fouts
- Mayor of Sterling Heights, Michigan: Michael C. Taylor
- Mayor of Ann Arbor: Christopher Taylor (Democrat)
- Mayor of Dearborn: John B. O'Reilly Jr.
- Mayor of Lansing: Andy Schor
- Mayor of Flint: Karen Weaver/Sheldon Neeley
- Mayor of Saginaw: Floyd Kloc
Federal office holders


- U.S. Senator from Michigan: Debbie Stabenow (Democrat)
- U.S. Senator from Michigan: Gary Peters (Democrat)
- House District 1: Jack Bergman (Republican)
- House District 2: Bill Huizenga (Republican)
- House District 3: Justin Amash (Republican)
- House District 4: John Moolenaar (Republican)
- House District 5: Dan Kildee (Democrat)
- House District 6: Fred Upton (Republican)
- House District 7: Tim Walberg (Republican)
- House District 8: Elissa Slotkin (Democrat)
- House District 9: Andy Levin (Democrat)
- House District 10: Paul Mitchell (Republican)
- House District 11: Haley Stevens (Democrat)
- House District 12: Debbie Dingell (Democrat)
- House District 13: Rashida Tlaib (Democrat)
- House District 14: Brenda Lawrence (Democrat)
Population
In the 2010 United States Census, Michigan was recorded as having a population of 9,883,640 persons, ranking as the eighth most populous state in the country. By 2018, the state's population was estimated at 9,995,915, and the state had become the 10th most populous state.
The state's largest cities, having populations of at least 75,000 based on 2019 estimates, were as follows:
| 2019 rank |
City | County | 2010 pop. (est) | 2019 pop. | Change 2010–19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit | Wayne | 713,777 | 670,031 | −6.1% |
| 2 | Grand Rapids | Kent | 188,040 | 201,013 | 6.9% |
| 3 | Warren | Macomb | 134,056 | 133,943 | −0.01% |
| 4 | Sterling Heights | Macomb | 129,699 | 132,438 | 2.1% |
| 5 | Ann Arbor | Washtenaw | 113,934 | 119,980 | 5.3% |
| 6 | Lansing | Ingham | 114,297 | 118,210 | 3.4% |
| 7 | Flint | Genesee | 102,434 | 95,538 | −6.7% |
| 8 | Dearborn | Wayne | 98,153 | 93,932 | −4.3% |
| 9 | Livonia | Wayne | 96,942 | 93,665 | −3.4% |
| 10 | Troy | Oakland | 80,980 | 84,092 | 3.8% |
| 11 | Westland | Wayne | 84,094 | 81,511 | −3.1% |
| 12 | Farmington Hills | Oakland | 79,740 | 80,612 | 1.1% |
| 13 | Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo | 74,262 | 76,200 | 2.6% |
| 14 | Wyoming | Kent | 72,125 | 75,667 | 4.9% |
Sports
Baseball
- 2019 Detroit Tigers season – Under manager Ron Gardenhire, the Tigers compiled a 47–114 record, the worst record in Major League Baseball. The team's statistical leaders included Harold Castro with a .291 batting average, Brandon Dixon with 15 home runs, Miguel Cabrera with 59 RBIs, Buck Farmer with a 3.72 earned run average, and Matthew Boyd with 238 strikeouts and nine wins.[1]
American football
- 2019 Detroit Lions season - Under head coach Matt Patricia, the team compiled a 2–3–1 record through the first six games.
- 2019 Michigan Wolverines football team - Under head coach Jim Harbaugh the team compiled a 5–2 record through the first seven games.
- 2019 Michigan State Spartans football team - Under head coach Mark Dantonio the team compiled a 4–3 record through the first seven games.
- 2019 Central Michigan Chippewas football team - Under head coach Jim McElwain the team compiled a 5–3 record through the first eight games.
- 2019 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team - Under head coach Chris Creighton the team compiled a 4–3 record through the first seven games.
- 2019 Western Michigan Broncos football team - Under head coach Tim Lester the team compiled a 4–4 record through the first eight games.
Basketball
- 2018–19 Detroit Pistons season – Under head coach Dwane Casey, the Pistons compiled a 41–41 record. The team's statistical leaders included Blake Griffin with 402 assists and 1,841 points and Andre Drummond with 1,232 rebounds.[2]
- 2018–19 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team – Under head coach John Beilein, the Wolverines compiled a 30–7 and were ranked No. 8 in the final AP poll.[3]
- 2018–19 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team – Under head coach Tom Izzo, the Spartans compiled a 32–7 record, were ranked No. 5 in the AP poll, and advanced to the Final Four.[4]
- 2018–19 Michigan Wolverines women's basketball team – Under head coach Kim Barnes Arico, the Wolverines compiled a 22–12 record.
- 2018–19 Michigan State Spartans women's basketball team – Under head coach Suzy Merchant, the Spartans compiled a 21–12 record.
Ice hockey
- 2018–19 Detroit Red Wings season – Under head coach Jeff Blashill, the Wings compiled a 32–40–10 record.[5]
- 2018–19 Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey season – Under head coach Mel Pearson, the Wolverines compiled a 13–16–7 record.
Music and culture
- January 19 - Greta Van Fleet, a rock band from Frankenmuth, Michigan, featuring three Kiszka brothers, appeared on Saturday Night Live, performing "Black Smoke Rising" and "You're the One".
- February 10 - From the Fires by Greta Van Fleet won the 2019 Grammy Award for Best Rock Album.
- February 23 - Eminem celebrated the 20th anniversary of the release of "The Slim Shady LP". A 20th anniversary digital edition was released with bonus tracks, rarities, a capellas, freestyles, and instrumentals.
- March 10 - "Aretha! A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soul", a tribute concert for Aretha Franklin taped on January 13 in Los Angeles, aired on CBS.
- April 21 - "Motown 60: A Grammy Celebration", a tribune concert celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of Motown Records held in February, aired on CBS.
- May 3 - Jack White received an honorary degree from Wayne State University as part of the school's commencement ceremony at Detroit's Fox Theatre.
- June 5 - The address of the DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan, was changed from 7774 Sashabaw to 33 Bob Seger Drive, as a tribute to Bob Seger's 33 shows at the theatre. As part of his farewell tour, the 74-year-old Seger performed six shows at DTE as part of his Roll Me Away farewell tour.
- June 7 - The album Scriptures by Detroit rapper Tee Grizzley was released and reached No. 9 on the U.S. rap chart.
- June 14 - Madonna's 14th studio album "Madame X" was released. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard album chart.
- August 23 - "Hitsville: The Making of Motown", a documentary produced by Berry Gordy, premiered in Royal Oak before airing the following night on Showtime.
- September 6 - Kid Rock started a four-show stand at DTE Energy Music Theatre.[6]
- October 18 - "Stacked", the debut album from Detroit rapper Kash Doll, was released. She also performed on singles in 2019 with Lil Wayne, Big Sean, and Iggy Azalea, and signed as an opening performer for Meek Mill's 2019 The Motivation Tour.
