Jason Morgan is a politician who represents the 23rd District in the Michigan House of Representatives.[1] He previously served as a Washtenaw County commissioner representing the board's 8th district.[2] He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Jason Morgan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 23rd district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Darrin Camilleri |
| Washtenaw County Commissioner from the 8th district | |
| In office January 2017 – January 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Yousef Rabhi |
| Succeeded by | Yousef Rabhi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 14, 1989 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Northern Michigan University (BA) University of Michigan (MPA) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | housedems |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | United States Coast Guard Auxiliary |
Early life and education
editMorgan was born and raised in Pinconning, Michigan. He graduated from Northern Michigan University in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in Political Science.[3] He moved to Ann Arbor in 2011. He later received a Master of Public Administration from the Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan.[2]
Career
editDuring his career in politics, Morgan has served as an advisor to Congresswoman Haley Stevens, Constituent Services Director for Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Transition Director for Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, and as the District Director for Congresswoman Debbie Dingell.[4]
In March 2021, Morgan was appointed to the Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees by Governor Gretchen Whitmer as a recess appointment for an eight-year term.[5] Previously, Morgan's nomination was rejected by then Michigan's Republican-controlled Senate. In 2023, Morgan resigned from the Board of Trustees after he was elected to the state legislature.[6]
Morgan is a part-time instructor at Washtenaw Community College.[4]
Morgan is a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.[3]
In February 2023, Morgan was selected to serve as the first vice chair of the Michigan Democratic Party.[7]
Washtenaw County commissioner
editMorgan was elected to the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners' 8th district seat in 2016. He chaired the board from 2019 to 2021 and was re-elected to the board in 2018 and 2020. Morgan served as the first openly LGBTQ chair of the commission.[8]
2022 election and first State House term
editIn June 2021, Morgan announced his candidacy for representative for Michigan's 53rd district. He received endorsements from a large number of local elected officials, including Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor and State Representative Felicia Brabec.[8] On August 2, 2022, Morgan advanced from the Democratic primary. On November 8, 2022, Morgan was elected to serve represent the 23rd District in the Michigan House of Representatives, defeating his Republican opponent with over 65% of the vote.[9]
In January 2023, Morgan was appointed to serve as the chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military, Veterans and State Police, and as the vice chair of Appropriations Subcommittees on Education and Transportation.[10]
In June of 2023, Morgan introduced House Joint Resolution F to codify marriage equality in Michigan.[11] Later that year, Morgan secured funding for the Ann Arbor Landfill Solar Project and a grant to support community-based public safety in his district. [12]
In 2024, Morgan and Representative Mike McFall formed a bipartisan Public Transit Caucus in the Michigan Legislature to improve Michigan's transit infrastructure. [13]
Personal life
editAt age 13, Morgan was diagnosed with Becker's Muscular Dystrophy.[14]
Morgan is openly gay.
Electoral history
edit2022
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jason Morgan | 24,256 | 65.1% | |
| Republican | Richard Sharland | 13,004 | 34.9% | |
| Total votes | 37,260 | |||
References
edit- ^ "Michigan Election Results 2022". The New York Times.
- ^ a b "Alumnus Re-elected to County Commission | Northern Today". news.nmu.edu.
- ^ a b "Two Alumni Appointed to NMU Board | Northern Today". news.nmu.edu.
- ^ a b "Jason Morgan (WCC Employee Directory)". www.wccnet.edu.
- ^ "Jason T. Morgan". NMU Board of Trustees.
- ^ "New NMU trustees bring much to the table". The Mining Times.
- ^ "Barnes wins third term as MDP chair, party endorses repealing Right to Work". Michigan Advance.
- ^ a b "Washtenaw County Commissioner Jason Morgan running for state House". mlive. June 17, 2021.
- ^ "Michigan Election Results 2022". The New York Times.
- ^ "Morgan Sworn in as Representative, Appointed Chair of Military, Veterans and State Police and Vice Chair of Education and Transportation Appropriations Subcommittees". Michigan House Democrats.
- ^ "Morgan Introduces Joint Resolution to Codify Marriage Equality in Michigan Constitution". housedems.com. Michigan House Democrats. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ "Morgan Secures Green Energy and Public Safety Investments for Ann Arbor". housedems.com. Michigan House Democrats. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ "Morgan, McFall Launch Bipartisan Public Transit Caucus". housedems.com. Michigan House Democrats. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ "Commissioner talks publicly for first time about his muscular dystrophy". mlive. August 4, 2017.
- ^ "2022 Michigan State House Election Results". The Detroit Free Press.