LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – As Michigan lawmakers prepare to return to Lansing, State Representative Greg Markkanen (R-Hancock) says his focus in 2026 begins with maintaining strong constituent services across the sprawling 110th District.
“The top of the 110th district list is to maintain our high level constituent services,” Markkanen said. “We represent around 90,000 people… we’re the furthest away from Lansing.”
Markkanen said winter conditions in the Upper Peninsula make accessibility to state government especially important, with residents frequently needing assistance related to heating, weather-related issues, and navigating state departments.
Energy policy is also expected to dominate the legislative agenda this year. Markkanen says he is prioritizing legislation tied to reciprocating internal combustion engine, or RICE, generators, which play a key role in maintaining reliable power in the region.
“We do suffer from some of the highest energy costs in the nation,” he said. “But we want to keep one of our top employers in the UP and that’s important as well.”
Mining remains central to those discussions, particularly in Marquette County and surrounding areas. Markkanen warned that changes to energy reliability could have sweeping economic consequences.
“Cleveland Cliffs is a cornerstone,” he said. “It’s a really anchor in Marquette County, but it’s an anchor for the whole UP.”
Looking ahead, Markkanen said lawmakers will also need to address housing costs, access to health care, and broader economic development, while responding to growing public concern over data centers and their impact on communities.
“We’re hearing some feedback on, constituents and how they feel about data centers,” Markkanen said. “If we’re going to have data centers somewhere in Michigan, those questions are going to have to be answered.”
Markkanen says those conversations, along with constituent needs, will guide his approach as the 2026 legislative session gets underway.
