WINNER TAKE SOME

Beau LaFave

Upper Peninsula Republican Rep. Beau LaFave (Iron Mountain) proposed last month upending the state's electoral college voting system by dividing votes by the state's 16 congressional districts. This system is shared by only two other states, Maine and Nebraska, and both are looking to change it to be consistent with the other 48 states. The bill would award two electors at-large to the candidate who wins the popular vote in each district. LaFave said the current system forces presidential candidates to focus on population centers and ignore outstate areas, like the UP. Democrats, who have traditionally done well under the current system in Michigan, have rejected the idea, but Republicans believe LaFave could be on to something, as it could help GOP candidates in the future, including Donald Trump who, at present, is not polling well in the state.