Michigan’s Mike Shirkey problem is not going away Updated on Feb 18, 2021; Published on Feb 18, 2021 Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake speaks to a crowd of supporters during a rally for Pastors Alliance Thursday Oct. 8, 2020. The rally which was preplanned took place hours after details were released regarding a plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer surfaced. Nicole Hester/Mlive.com Twitter Share Michigan’s highest-ranking senator has repeatedly used sexist language when referring to the governor, used the word “hoax” when describing the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, insinuated without evidence there was some election fraud - but not enough to overturn the results - called one of the largest employers in his district his “No. 1 enemy” and got censured by local members of his own party.