{{Short description|American politician (born 1954)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Mike Shirkey |image = Sunshine Award - Mike Shirkey and Tom McMillin (13249567583) (cropped).jpg |office = Majority Leader of the Michigan Senate |term_start = January 1, 2019 |term_end = January 1, 2023 |predecessor = Arlan Meekhof |successor = Winnie Brinks |state_senate1 = Michigan |district1 = 16th |term_start1 = January 1, 2015 |term_end1 = January 1, 2023 |predecessor1 = Bruce Caswell |successor1 = Joe Bellino |state_house2 = Michigan |district2 = 65th |term_start2 = November 30, 2010 |term_end2 = December 31, 2014 |predecessor2 = Mike Simpson |successor2 = Brett Roberts |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|12|5}} |birth_place = Jackson, Michigan, U.S. |death_date = |death_place = |party = Republican |spouse = |education = Kettering University (BA)<br>University of Wisconsin, Madison (MA) |website = {{URL|senatormikeshirkey.com|Official website}} }} '''Michael J. Shirkey'''<ref name="committee_shirkey">{{cite web |url=https://cfrsearch.nictusa.com/committees/516758 |title=Michigan Committee Statement of Organization |publisher=Michigan Secretary of State |access-date=November 25, 2019 |archive-date=November 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118033541/https://cfrsearch.nictusa.com/committees/516758 |url-status=live }}</ref> (born December 5, 1954) is an American politician who served as a Republican member of the Michigan State Senate and as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives. He was first elected to the House in 2010 and to the Senate in 2014. His district, the 16th, covered all of Branch, Hillsdale, and Jackson Counties. From 2019 to 2023, Shirkey was the majority leader of the Michigan State Senate.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Cheney|first1=Kyle|last2=Montellaro|first2=Zach|date=2020-11-17|title=In abrupt reversal, Michigan's largest county certifies election results|work=Politico|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/17/wayne-county-michigan-election-certification-437181|url-status=live|access-date=2020-11-18|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118033446/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/11/17/wayne-county-michigan-election-certification-437181}}</ref>
== Early life and education == He has a bachelor's degree from Kettering University and a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Shirkey worked for General Motors for 13 years before starting his own engineering company. Shirkey founded the Jackson-based assembly machine manufacturing company, Orbitform.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Eggert |first1=David |title=Firms tied to legislative leader, Senate candidate got loans |url=https://apnews.com/bc62d7f2c257f4b5b27840dc51319953 |work=Associated Press |date=July 6, 2020 |access-date=July 7, 2020 |archive-date=November 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118033432/https://apnews.com/bc62d7f2c257f4b5b27840dc51319953 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last1=Sullivan|first1=Eileen|last2=Thrush|first2=Glenn|date=2020-11-19|title=Mike Shirkey, a Michigan Republican who will meet with Trump, said this week he would not override Biden's victory.|language=en-US|work=Peter & The Boys|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/19/us/mike-shirkey-a-michigan-republican-who-will-meet-with-trump-said-this-week-he-would-not-override-bidens-victory.html|access-date=2020-11-19|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
== Tenure == In May 2020, Shirkey appeared onstage at an American Patriot Council rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan with William Null and Adam Fox.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dutton |first1=Jack |title=GOP Michigan Sen. Mike Shirkey Pictured With Whitmer Kidnap Plot Suspect |url=https://www.newsweek.com/gop-state-sen-shirkey-pictured-whitmer-kidnap-plot-suspect-1591166 |website=Newsweek |date=May 13, 2021 |publisher=Newsweek Digital, LLC |access-date=31 October 2021}}</ref> In October 2020, William Null, his twin brother, Michael Null, Adam Fox, and 10 other men were charged in a plot to kidnap and kill Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.<ref>{{cite web |last1=DeVito |first1=Lee |title=Alleged FBI-thwarted plot to kidnap Gov. Whitmer came after Trump called to 'LIBERATE MICHIGAN' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2020/11/01/michigan-kidnapping-plot-coronavirus-lockdown-whitmer/ |website=Detroit Metro Times |publisher=Euclid Media Group, LLC |access-date=31 October 2021}}</ref>
In early April 2020, Shirkey criticized Governor Gretchen Whitmer for extending a "stay home" order until the end of April.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2020/04/sen-shirkey-says-whitmer-is-killing-our-livelihoods-with-stay-at-home-extension.html|title=Sen. Shirkey says Whitmer is 'killing our livelihoods' with stay-at-home extension|date=April 11, 2020|website=mlive|language=en|access-date=2020-04-23|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118033535/https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2020/04/sen-shirkey-says-whitmer-is-killing-our-livelihoods-with-stay-at-home-extension.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Shirkey opposed face mask requirements in Michigan.<ref name="mlive" />
In November 2020, Shirkey stated that he would not attempt to appoint a slate of electors in the Electoral College that would vote for President Donald Trump, following Trump's loss in the 2020 United States presidential election.<ref name=":0" /> Trump invited Shirkey and several of his Republican colleagues to the White House following Shirkey's statement.<ref name=":0" /> Shirkey and several of his colleagues in the Michigan Legislature met with Trump on November 20, 2020. Shirkey and others issued a statement following the meeting in which they stated that they would "follow the normal process" of certifying the state's election results.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Gray|first1=Kathleen|last2=Haberman|first2=Maggie|author-link2=Maggie Haberman|date=2020-11-20|title=Michigan lawmakers, after meeting with Trump, reaffirm that they will honor the state's vote.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/11/20/us/joe-biden-trump|access-date=2020-11-21|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
On December 23, 2020, Shirkey tested positive for COVID-19. He believed he was exposed to the coronavirus on December 19. On December 21, Shirkey attended Lee Chatfield's farewell speech at the Michigan State Capitol.<ref name="mlive">{{cite web |url=https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2021/01/senate-majority-leader-mike-shirkey-appeared-in-capitol-with-covid-19.html|title=Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey appeared in Capitol with COVID-19|date=January 13, 2021 |publisher=MLive |access-date=January 13, 2021}}</ref> Shirkey characterized his COVID-19 illness as him having fought against the "Chinese flu army"; his remarks were criticized as xenophobic.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Boucher|first=Dave|title=Shirkey statement emblematic of 'xenophobic sentiments' criticized in White House memo|url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/26/shirkey-comments-covid-19-white-house-xenophobic/4263368001/|access-date=2021-02-11|website=Detroit Free Press|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-19|title=Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey says he wrestled COVID-19 sent by 'Chinese flu army'|url=https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2021/01/senate-majority-leader-mike-shirkey-says-he-wrestled-covid-19-sent-by-chinese-flu-army.html|access-date=2021-02-11|website=mlive|language=en}}</ref>
In April 2020, Shirkey's business, Orbitform, received [https://www.federalpay.org/paycheck-protection-program/orbitform-group-llc-jackson-mi $1.8 million] in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. In January 2021, Orbitform received another [https://www.federalpay.org/paycheck-protection-program/orbitform-group-llc-jackson-mi $1.7 million] in PPP loans, for a total of $3.5 million. During this time, Shirkey led the Michigan Senate to block allocation of $4 billion in federal COVID reliefs funds for food and rental assistance.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mauger |first1=Craig |title=Michigan Senate leader's business OK'd for second federal loan amid COVID aid fight |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2021/02/26/senate-leader-firm-approved-second-federal-loan-amid-covid-aid-fight/6834659002/ |website=The Detroit News |access-date=31 October 2021}}</ref> Although Shirkey claims to not be involved in the day-to-day management of his company, several of his family members (including son David Shirkey, grandson Karter Fannin, and Mark Shirkey) are employed at Orbitform in management positions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/people/?currentCompany=%5B%2239407%22%5D&origin=COMPANY_PAGE_CANNED_SEARCH&sid=cCP |website=LinkedIn |access-date=31 October 2021}}</ref>
In February 2021, Shirkey falsely claimed that the January 6 United States Capitol attack was a "hoax", that it was "staged", and that supporters of Donald Trump did not carry it out.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Boucher|first=Clara Hendrickson and Dave|title=Shirkey falsely claims US Capitol attack was staged, not carried out by Trump supporters|url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2021/02/09/mike-shirkey-insurrection-hoax-trump/4455506001/|access-date=2021-02-10|website=Detroit Free Press|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Neavling|first=Steve|title=Sen. Shirkey baselessly claims U.S. Capitol riot was 'staged' by Trump haters, recording shows|url=https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2021/02/09/sen-shirkey-baselessly-claims-us-capitol-riot-was-staged-by-trump-haters-recording-shows|access-date=2021-02-09|website=Detroit Metro Times|language=en}}</ref>
In a February interview with radio station WKHM, Shirkey falsely claimed that dead people voted in Michigan in the 2020 elections.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=16 February 2021|title=PolitiFact - Michigan Senate GOP leader Shirkey falsely claims dead people voted|url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/feb/16/mike-shirkey/michigan-senate-gop-leader-shirkey-falsely-claims-/|access-date=2021-02-17|website=Politifact|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Boucher|first=Clara Hendrickson and Dave|title=Michigan Senate GOP leader Shirkey falsely claims dead people voted|url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2021/02/16/shirkey-election-claims-dead-people-voted/6773026002/|access-date=2021-02-17|website=Detroit Free Press|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2021, Shirkey led efforts in the Michigan Senate by Republicans which according to the GOP are aimed at securing elections in Michigan, Democrats and other critics have called these efforts by Republicans a push to restrict voting rights.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Eric Bradner|title=Michigan voting rights battle looms as Republicans plan to side-step Whitmer veto|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/31/politics/michigan-voting-rights-battle/index.html|access-date=2021-04-01|website=CNN|date=March 31, 2021 }}</ref>
In April 2021, Shirkey accepted an invitation to meet with militia leaders. During the meeting in Grand Rapids, Shirkey told the militias, "We need you now more than ever to continue to train" and "to stand up and test that assertion of authority by government". The Associated Press described the event, stating, "Michigan's GOP leadership has for the first time in memory bestowed legitimacy on its state's militia, long relegated to the shadows" and indicative of the rightward shift of the Michigan GOP after the 2020 elections.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-20|title=Once the mainstream model, Michigan GOP embraces right wing|url=https://apnews.com/article/michigan-gop-embraces-right-wing-d5e0b7626e0adaf07e6edf088e25e043|access-date=2021-05-26|website=AP NEWS}}</ref>
Shirkey was ineligible for re-election in 2022 due to term limits.<ref name=":0" />
In his farewell address to the Senate, Shirkey claimed that "the surprise attack of an insidious virus" was "one that we were not prepared for, but one that was most certainly planned," embracing the unproven theory that COVID was a designed attack by China. He also suggested a series of "little-g gods" like climate change, gun control, digital currency, child sacrifice, and "trans-whatever" are part of a broader push to "achieve a one-world government" and "one-world religion." He also took aim at the World Economic Forum, arguing the non-governmental lobbying organization is behind a push for "the elimination of sovereignty", and that "It's becoming glaringly apparent COVID was just the beginning of the forces that will test the very fabric of our freedoms, independence, our sovereignty, our values, and even our God-given rights." According to the Anti-Defamation League, adherents of the "Great Reset" conspiracy theory "warn that 'global elites' will use the pandemic to advance their interests and push forward a globalist plot to destroy American sovereignty and prosperity."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-12-07|title=Michigan's Mike Shirkey: COVID part of push toward 'One World Government'|url=https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/michigans-mike-shirkey-covid-part-push-toward-one-world-government|access-date=2022-12-07|website=Michigan Advance}}</ref> He also shared an anecdote about noticing warmth in a Senate bathroom and reaching his hand into a Senate toilet to test the water temperature. He said, "I put my hand in it, and it was hot water. So I went back to the office and said, 'Please, get a hold of maintenance staff around here and ask them why taxpayers are paying for hot water in our toilets."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-12-07|title=Michigan Senate leader warns of push for 'one world governance' in farewell speech|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/michigan/2022/12/08/michigan-senate-gop-leader-mike-shirkey-warns-of-push-for-one-world-governance-farewell-address/69710465007/|access-date=2022-12-07|website=Detroit News}}</ref>
==See also== * List of Michigan state legislatures
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Official website|https://www.senatormikeshirkey.com/}}
{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-mi-sen}} {{s-bef|before=Arlan Meekhof}} {{s-ttl|title=Majority Leader of the Michigan Senate|years=2019–2023}} {{s-aft|after=Winnie Brinks}} {{s-end}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shirkey, Mike}} Category:1954 births Category:21st-century American engineers Category:Businesspeople from Michigan Category:General Motors people Category:Kettering University alumni Category:Living people Category:Republican Party members of the Michigan House of Representatives Category:Republican Party Michigan state senators Category:University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni Category:21st-century members of the Michigan Legislature