Ananich, James

Biography

Jim is a co-instructor for the Robert and Marjorie Griffin Endowed Chair in American Government and the Hart-Milliken Endowed Speaker Series Coordinator. 

Jim Ananich has seen some stuff. From being the leader of Michigan’s Senate Democratic Caucus as the Flint Water Crisis ripped through his hometown to serving in that role while the state navigated a global pandemic, Jim has always used a people-first philosophy to push policies and responses that keep people safe, stronger, and healthier. 

After graduating from Flint Central High School in 1994, Jim studied political economics at Michigan State University's James Madison College and ventured to Washington DC after graduation to start his career with the US Department of Interior at the National Indian Gaming Commission and eventually made his way to Congressman Dale Kildee's office.

Ananich's unfortunate loss of his father in 2000 led him back to Flint, both for work and additional education. Ananich earned his master’s degree in educational administration and supervision from the University of Michigan, which he eventually used to teach social studies at both Carman Ainsworth and Flint Community Schools. 

As the years progressed, Ananich served on the Flint City Council between the years of 2005 and 2009. Following that experience, Ananich served as a state representative from 2011 to 2013, the year in which he won a special election to the state senate. Ananich was reelected in 2014 and 2018 to serve as the Michigan Senate Minority Leader. His two-full terms leading the Senate Democratic Caucus is the most of any Caucus leader in Michigan’s term-limit era.

During his tenure in the legislature, Ananich was at the forefront of addressing the Flint Water Crisis. He continues to push for answers and champion long-term solutions to the critical infrastructure, health, and economic needs the community now faces. Ananich led efforts to help create good-paying jobs, improve workforce development, prevent scrap metal theft, and keep unused prescription drugs off the streets.

Jim knew that even more was possible if there were changes in who controlled the agenda in statehouses in Michigan and across the country, so he stepped up to serve on the national Board of the Democratic Legislative Leadership Council. There he worked with legislative leaders from every region to flip multiple chambers. And in Michigan, his multi-cycle efforts leading campaigns resulted in the State Senate achieving Democratic control for the first time in 40 years. 

Ananich was appointed to the Greater Flint Health Coalition's Board of Directors as a State Representative in 2011, named chair in 2015, and now serves as the organization’s President and CEO. 

Ananich was appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to serve as Chair of the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB), effective April 25, 2025. Ananich also serves on the Advisory Board of the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan.

Ananich resides in the Flint his wife Andrea, son Jacob, and dog Lucky, in the same neighborhood in which he grew up.