Ben Solis

Ben Solis

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Ben Solis is the senior reporter for Michigan Advance. Solis has covered state and local government for nearly a decade as a former staff writer with Gongwer News Service and multiple MLive newsrooms. He is an award-winning writer and editor and was a finalist for the Michigan Press Association Richard Milliman Journalist of the Year award in 2022 for his work covering Michigan's independent redistricting process.

Vance calls Michigan’s U.S. Senate race a ‘test’ of gratitude versus grievance in rally for Rogers
Michigan

Vance calls Michigan’s U.S. Senate race a ‘test’ of gratitude versus grievance in rally for Rogers

7:06pm ET
Ben Solis
Shoring up support for former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of White Lake in Michigan’s high-stakes U.S. Senate race was the main mission for Vice President JD Vance as he visited a sports center in Monroe Thursday, all the while framing...
Michigan election officials say there is room for improvement in signature petition review process
Michigan

Michigan election officials say there is room for improvement in signature petition review process

Oct 14, 2026
Ben Solis
Michigan election officials defended the state’s previous review of ballot petitions and its decision-making processes during a special House committee meeting held Wednesday, but they also agreed with the committee’s Republican majority that some changes needed to be made to...
Detroit Democrats challenge Mike Rogers’ touted gains with Black voters in US Senate race
Michigan

Detroit Democrats challenge Mike Rogers’ touted gains with Black voters in US Senate race

Oct 13, 2026
Ben Solis
A handful of Black civic leaders, Detroit elected officials and union heads said Tuesday that Republican U.S. Senate nominee and former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers has a record of suppressing Black voting power in the city and across Michigan —...
El-Sayed, Rogers trade barbs, accusations during first televised U.S. Senate debate
Michigan

El-Sayed, Rogers trade barbs, accusations during first televised US Senate debate

Oct 08, 2026
Ben Solis
GRAND RAPIDS — After months of circling each other on the campaign trail, former Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of White Lake and Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed met face-to-face on Thursday for the first debate of the cycle in Michigan’s...
Speaker Mike Johnson talks Iran, public safety with Tom Barrett in Michigan 7th campaign stop
Michigan

Speaker Mike Johnson talks Iran, public safety with Tom Barrett in Michigan 7th campaign stop

Oct 08, 2026
Ben Solis
MASON — U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson called in air support for Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett on Wednesday as the congressman winds down his reelection campaign to Michigan’s 7th Congressional District seat — a boost he’ll need as he...
Michigan Advance Fact Check: Tom Barrett’s voting record and Will Lawrence’s goals for healthcare
Michigan

Michigan Advance Fact Check: Tom Barrett’s voting record and Will Lawrence’s goals for healthcare

Oct 07, 2026
Ben Solis
Voter Guide: 2026 Michigan General Election U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett’s congressional record and his time in the Michigan Legislature came under fire during the first televised debate between him and Democratic nominee Will Lawrence, as did the challenger’s claims regarding...
Lawrence launches ‘Michigan First’ constituency services plan highlighting Barrett town hall woes
Michigan

Lawrence launches ‘Michigan First’ constituency services plan highlighting Barrett town hall woes

Oct 07, 2026
Ben Solis
Democratic Party-aligned constituents in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District have made U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett’s lack of town halls during his time in Congress a centerpiece in the campaign against his reelection prospects in the 2026 cycle — and Democratic nominee...
Iran war, Trump tariffs and Michigan data centers dominate questions during Barrett-Lawrence debate
Michigan

Iran war, Trump tariffs and Michigan data centers dominate questions during Barrett-Lawrence debate

Oct 06, 2026
Ben Solis
The reelection campaign of Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett and the progressive insurgency of Democratic nominee Will Lawerence came to a head Tuesday during the first — and potentially last — debate featuring the candidates in this year’s contest for...
Supporters of Barrett, Lawrence clash at dueling protests ahead of debate
Michigan

Supporters of Barrett, Lawrence clash at dueling protests ahead of debate

Oct 05, 2026
Ben Solis
Members of “Spartans for Will,” who back Democrat Will Lawrence, and supporters of Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) clashed in a war of words and protest signs in downtown Lansing on Monday evening during a pair of demonstrations calling...
Democrats target Macomb County with a first-ever joint town hall featuring El-Sayed, Slotkin
Michigan

Democrats target Macomb County with a first-ever joint town hall featuring El-Sayed, Slotkin

Oct 04, 2026
Ben Solis
The importance of Macomb County to Michigan Democrats’ 2026 playbook was on full display Saturday as U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin joined U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed for a joint town hall event that focused on unity, bridging the divide between...
Sanders, El-Sayed vow to improve healthcare work environments if Democrats take back U.S Senate
Michigan

Sanders, El-Sayed vow to improve healthcare work environments if Democrats take back U.S. Senate

Sep 30, 2026
Ben Solis
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders has big plans for the U.S. Senate’s healthcare and labor policy-making committee if Democrats take back chamber in the upcoming general election, and Michigan Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Abdul El-Sayed would be tapped to help...
Elissa Slotkin to join with Abdul El-Sayed at Warren town hall
Michigan

Elissa Slotkin to join with Abdul El-Sayed at Warren town hall

Sep 30, 2026
Ben Solis
Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed will have some extra firepower at his planned town hall tour stop in Warren this weekend, with U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin as the event’s newly announced special guest. El-Sayed is in a general...