Events from the year 2021 in Michigan.
Major events in Michigan in 2021 included the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan, the Oxford High School shooting, disruptions in the supply chain slowing the automobile industry, the 2021 Kellogg's strike, and legal proceedings relating to the Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping plot.
Major sports stories in 2021 included the 2021 Michigan Wolverines football team defeating Ohio State, winning the Big Ten Conference championship, and advancing to the College Football Playoffs for the first time in school history. Other notable sports stories included (i) the Detroit Lions trading quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams, (ii) the 2020–21 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team finishing the season ranked No. 4 and advancing to the Elite Eight, (iii) the 2021 Michigan State Spartans football team finishing the season ranked No. 8 in the Coaches Poll, (iv) the induction of Calvin Johnson and Charles Woodson into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and (v) the undefeated 2021 Ferris State Bulldogs football team winning the NCAA Division II national championship. The Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, Detroit Red Wings, and Detroit Pistons all compiled losing records
Office holders State office holders
Governor of Michigan: Gretchen Whitmer (Democratic) Lieutenant Governor of Michigan: Garlin Gilchrist (Democratic) Michigan Attorney General: Dana Nessel (Democratic) Michigan Secretary of State: Jocelyn Benson (Democratic) Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives: Jason Wentworth (Republican) Majority Leader of the Michigan Senate: Mike Shirkey (Republican) Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court: Bridget Mary McCormack
Mayors of major cities
Mayor of Detroit: Mike Duggan (Democrat) Mayor of Warren, Michigan: James R. Fouts Mayor of Grand Rapids: Rosalynn Bliss Mayor of Sterling Heights, Michigan: Michael C. Taylor Mayor of Ann Arbor: Christopher Taylor (Democrat) Mayor of Dearborn: John B. O'Reilly Jr. Mayor of Lansing: Andy Schor (Democrat) Mayor of Flint: Sheldon Neeley Mayor of Saginaw: Brenda Moore
Federal office holders
U.S. Senator from Michigan: Debbie Stabenow (Democrat) U.S. Senator from Michigan: Gary Peters (Democrat) House District 1: Jack Bergman (Republican) House District 2: Bill Huizenga (Republican) House District 3: Peter Meijer (Republican) House District 4: John Moolenaar (Republican) House District 5: Dan Kildee (Democrat) House District 6: Fred Upton (Republican) House District 7: Tim Walberg (Republican) House District 8: Elissa Slotkin (Democrat) House District 9: Andy Levin (Democrat) House District 10: Lisa McClain (Republican) House District 11: Haley Stevens (Democrat) House District 12: Debbie Dingell (Democrat) House District 13: Rashida Tlaib (Democrat) House District 14: Brenda Lawrence (Democrat)
Population of largest cities
The state's 15 largest cities, based on U.S. Census estimates for 2021, were as follows:
2021rank City County2000 pop. 2010 pop.2020 pop. 2021 pop. (est)Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Michigan: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021, U.S. Census Bureau, May 2022.Change 2000-211DetroitWayne951,270713,777639,111632,464−33.5% 2Grand RapidsKent197,800188,036198,917198,1730.2% 3Sterling HeightsMacomb124,471129,699134,346133,2697.1% 4WarrenMacomb138,247134,056139,387138,1300.1% 5Ann ArborWashtenaw114,024113,934123,851121,5366.6% 6LansingIngham119,128114,297112,644112,6845.4% 7DearbornWayne97,77598,153109,976108,4208.9% 8LivoniaWayne100,54596,94295,53494,4226.1% 9TroyOakland80,95980,98087,29486,8367.3% 10WestlandWayne86,60284,09485,42084,51511Farmington HillsOakland82,11179,74083,98683,29212FlintGenesee124,943102,43481,25280,62835.5% 13WyomingKent69,36872,12576,50176,74914SouthfieldOakland78,32271,75876,61875,89815KalamazooKalamazoo76,14574,26273,59873,257
Sports Baseball 2021 Detroit Tigers season – In their first year under manager A. J. Hinch, the Tigers began the season 9–24, but played over .500 the rest of the year and compiled a 77–85 record. The team's statistical leaders included Harold Castro with a .283 batting average, Robbie Grossman with 23 home runs, Jonathan Schoop with 84 RBIs, and Tarik Skubal with eight wins and 164 strikeouts. 2021 Michigan Wolverines baseball team - In their ninth season under head coach Erik Bakich, the team compiled a 27–19 record. 2021 Michigan Wolverines softball team - In their 37th season under head coach Carol Hutchins, the team compiles a 38–8 record and was the Big Ten regular season champion. 2021 Little League World Series - Taylor North Little League of Taylor, Michigan, defeated West Side Little League of Hamilton, Ohio, in the championship by a 5–2 score. It was the first championship for a team from Michigan since 1959.
American football 2021 Detroit Lions season - Led by head coach Dan Campbell, the Lions compiled a 3–13–1 record. The team's statistical leaders included Jared Goff with 3,245 passing yards, D'Andre Swift with 617 rushing yards, and Amon-Ra St. Brown with 912 receiving yards. 2021 Michigan Wolverines football team - Led by head coach Jim Harbaugh, the Wolverines compiled a 12–2 record, won the Big Ten championship, and played for the first time in school history in the College Football Playoff, losing to eventual national champion Georgia. The team's statistical leaders included Cade McNamara with 2,576 passing yards and Hassan Haskins with 1,327 rushing yards. Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson was a unanimous All-American and finished second in the voting for the Heisman Trophy. 2021 Michigan State Spartans football team - Led by head coach Mel Tucker, the Spartans compiled an 11–2 record and defeated Pitt in the Peach Bowl. The team's statistical leaders included Payton Thorne with 3,232 passing yards, Kenneth Walker III with 1,636 rushing yards, and Jayden Reed with 1,026 receiving yards. Walker won the Walter Camp and Doak Walker Awards. 2021 Ferris State Bulldogs football team - Led by head coach Tony Annese, the Bulldogs compiled a perfect 14–0 record and won the NCAA Division II national championship. 2021 Central Michigan Chippewas football team - Led by head coach Jim McElwain, the Chippewas compiled a 9–4 record and defeated Washington State in the Sun Bowl. 2021 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team - Led by head coach Chris Creighton, the Eagles compiled a 7–6 record and lost to Liberty in the LendingTree Bowl. 2021 Western Michigan Broncos football team - Led by head coach Tim Lester, the Broncos compiled an 8–5 record and defeated Nevada in the Quick Lane Bowl. 2021 Michigan Tech Huskies football team - Led by head coach Steve Olson, the Huskies compiled a 6–4 record.
Basketball 2020–21 Detroit Pistons season – Under head coach Dwane Casey, the Pistons compiled a 20–52 record. The team's statistical leaders included Jerami Grant with 1,203 points and Mason Plumlee with 519 rebounds and 202 assists. 2020–21 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team – Under head coach Juwan Howard, the Wolverines compiled a 23–5 record and advanced to the Elite Eight at the NCAA tournament. The team's statistical leaders included Hunter Dickinson with 394 points scored and 206 rebounds and Mike Smith with 149 assists. 2020–21 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team – Under head coach Tom Izzo, the Spartans compiled a 15–13 record. The team's statistical leaders included Aaron Henry with 430 points, 158 rebounds, and 101 assists. 2020–21 Michigan Wolverines women's basketball team – Under head coach Kim Barnes Arico, the Wolverines compiled a 16–6 record. 2020–21 Michigan State Spartans women's basketball team - Under head coach Suzy Merchant, the team compiled a 15–9 record 2020–21 Central Michigan Chippewas men's basketball team - 7–16 2020–21 Detroit Mercy Titans men's basketball team - 12–10 2020–21 Eastern Michigan Eagles men's basketball team - 6–12 2020–21 Michigan Tech Huskies men's basketball team - 15–8, Sweet Sixteen 2020–21 Oakland Golden Grizzlies men's basketball team - 12–18 2020–21 Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team - 5–16
Ice hockey 2020–21 Detroit Red Wings season – Under head coach Jeff Blashill, the Wings compiled a 19–27–10 record. The team's statistical leaders were Anthony Mantha and Adam Erne with 11 goals each and Filip Hronek with 24 assists and 26 points.Dylan Larkin was the team captain. 2020–21 Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey season – Under head coach Mel Pearson, the Wolverines compiled a 15–10–1 record. The team's statistical leaders included Thomas Bordeleau with 22 points and 30 points. 2020–21 Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey season - Under head coach Danton Cole, the team compiled a 7–18–2 record. 2020–21 Lake Superior State Lakers men's ice hockey season - 19-7-3 record 2020–21 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey season - 17-12-1 record 2020–21 Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey season - 10-12-3 record 2020–21 Northern Michigan Wildcats men's ice hockey season - 11-17-1 record 2020–21 Ferris State Bulldogs men's ice hockey season - 1-23-1 record
Other 2021 Michigan Wolverines women's gymnastics team - Led by head coach Bev Plocki, the team compiled a 29–2–0 record and won the school's first NCAA national championship. Natalie Wojcik was a four-time All-American for the Wolverines. 2021 Michigan Wolverines women's soccer team - Led by head coach Jennifer Klein, the Wolverines compiled an 18–4–3 record won the Big Ten Tournament and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinal. 2020–21 Detroit City FC season Fall 2021 Detroit City FC season
Chronology of events
January January to February - Chip shortages disrupt automobile manufacturing. January 7 - Following the January 6 insurrection, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos of Michigan resigned, blaming Trump's rhetoric for impacting the situation January 11 - Michigan banned the open carry of guns inside the Michigan Capitol. January 13 - The House of Representatives voted to impeach President Trump for inciting the January 6 insurrection. Michigan Republican Congressmen Peter Meijer and Fred Upton voted in favor of impeachment. Faced with primary challenges in 2022, Upton opted to resign, and Meijer lost in the primary. January 14 - Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced new indictments against former Gov. Rick Snyder and others for their roles in the Flint water crisis. January 15 - Michigan State Capitol boarded up and National Guard activated in preparation for armed protests on January 17. January 18 - Republican Aaron Van Langevelde was not nominated for another term by his party. He had resisted partisan pressure not to certify Biden's victory in 2020. January 19 - Gov. Whitmer announced a $5 billion COVID recovery plan January 20 - Kwame Kilpatrick released from prison after President Trump commuted his sentence. January 21 - Dan Campbell hired as Detroit Lions' head coach. January 21 - Michael Joseph Foy of Wixom charged with hitting police with a hockey stick during the January 6 insurrection. January 22 - Gov Whitmer announced that indoor dining would resume on February 1. January - Detroit Lions trade Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams January 24 - Jason Wentworth named speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives. January 26 - Gov. Whitmer delivered her State of the State address, outlining $3.6 billion capital-spending plan. January 27 - Fiat Chrysler pleads guilty in federal corruption probe and agreed to pay $30 million fine. January 26 - Detroit native Roz Brewer became the first black woman to be CEO of a Fortune 500 company, Walgreens.
February February 6 - Calvin Johnson and Charles Woodson selected for Pro Football Hall of Fame. February 12 - Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced that a statewide election audit affirmed the results of the 2020 Presidential election in Michigan.