They say issues like the closing of Enbridge Inc.’s Line 5 oil and natural gas pipeline, repealing the state’s right-to-work laws that allow people to opt out of unions without paying so-called “fair share” fees, creating tougher gun laws, and tax increases are now on the table.

After the November general election, Democrats control the state House 56 to 54 and the state Senate 20 to 18.

With Democrats holding the majority in the Legislature for the first time in decades, the task of getting legislation passed that benefits the conservitive agenda may be a challenge, but newly elected Republicans say they will work with Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and legislative Democrats, and fight for policy that fits the needs and wants of people in the area.

The Alpena area, which is primarily made up of Republican voters, elected Michele Hoitenga, a Republican from Manton, as the area’s state senator, and Cam Cavitt, a Republican from Mullett Township, to the state House.

Michele Hoitenga

When both filed to run, it seemed unlikely the Democrats would unseat the Republicans in both chambers, but, after the Nov. 8 general election, the reality is it will be tough for them to get Republican-proposed legislation passed without some Democrats crossing party lines.

Cavitt, who will begin his first term in January, said he is willing to work across party lines to get bills passed, as long as they are in the best interest of the people in his district.

“I didn’t see this coming at all, and it was a shock,” Cavitt said. “It will definitely stall the conservitive agenda, but we’ll work with the governor and the Democrats on issues we think are good and fight those that aren’t.”

Hoitenga, who served in the state House and will now take a seat in the state Senate, said she has always been able to work with Democrats and hopes to be able to continue to do the same. Still, she said, it will be tougher for her and her fellow Republicans to get legislation passed now that Democrats hold the majority.

She said Whitmer and the Democrats will likely be aggressive policy-wise quickly.

“They have been hungry for this for a long time, and have a lot on their agenda, and it isn’t good,” she said. “I expect lots of announcements just after the first of the year and we’ll know what they want to do. If they choose the radical route, I’ll fight them, but, if they are moderate, I’ll work with them. This doesn’t mean we are giving up. We’ll still fight for northern Michigan and we won’t roll over.”

Cavitt said that, besides expecting the Democrats to ramp up their effort to close Line 5, which is the dual pipeline through the Straits of Mackinac, he expects the right-to-work laws passed under former Republican Gov. Rick Snyder to be undone.

Cavitt said he anticipates higher gas prices in the not-too-distant future because of Whitmer’s past interest in raising the gas tax to increase road funding.

After being elected in 2018, Whitmer sought a 45-cents-per-gallon tax increase on gasoline after saying during a debate she wasn’t going to do so.

“I would say that will be on the table again, and that could have serious impacts on small businesses, tourism, and families who are already struggling with high costs,” Cavitt said.

Hoitenga said that, while the Legislature was controlled by Republicans, the Alpena area received a lot of financial support. She fears the shift in power could impact funds that come Up North.

“We made a lot of progress to get northern Michigan recognized, and I fear more money is going to flow into Detroit and other places downstate,” Hoitenga said.