Bridge Michigan readers discussed democracy, voting access, local governments and transparency during a Wednesday evening installment of Issues Watch. The free, hourlong event featured a conversation with Bridge Deputy Editor Jonathan Oosting, Senior Reporter Ron French and Senior Political Reporter Lauren Gibbons. This week, Bridge published a series of articles about the state of democracy and transparency in Michigan and governor candidates’ stances on issues surrounding it. It’s part of the monthly Bridge Listens series, an effort to hear directly from readers about their pressing issues in the 2026 election. Catch up on the conversation here:RelatedRepublish This Story Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under our Republication Guidelines.