Abigail Censky

Politics/Government Reporter
  • portrait: Abigail Censky
    Abigail Censky
    Lindsay Wilkinson Photography

Abigail Censky is the Politics & Government reporter at WKAR.

Abigail joined WKAR in December 2018.

Prior to joining WKAR, Abigail served as news intern at St. Louis Public Radio, covering the Missouri 2018 midterm elections; and covered Colorado politics as a reporter with the Colorado Springs Gazette.

Abigail Censky has a bachelor's degree from Colorado College.

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Bills Targeting Absentee Ballot Processing Move To Senate Floor

By • Feb 13, 2020
Voting Ballot
James Durkee / Flickr Creative Commons

2020 is the first presidential election year Michigan voters will have access to no-reason absentee voting, and election clerks are expecting a surge in absentee ballots. A set of bills passed out of the state Senate Elections Committee Thursday will allow clerks to remove ballots from the mailing envelope, but not the secrecy sleeve the day before the election.


Analysis: Governor Whitmer's State Of The Union Response

By • Feb 5, 2020
Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivers her response to President Trump's State of the Union address Tuesday.
Courtesy of the office of Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Governor Gretchen Whitmer gave the Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday night. Her response centered on Democrat’s actions on health care, infrastructure, and education—notably departing from commenting on the content of the President’s remarks.

Governor Whitmer Announces "Plan B" To Fix Michigan Roads

By • Jan 30, 2020
Governor Gretchen Whitmer gave Republicans the news that she plans to finance fixing roads with bonds Wednesday night in her second State of the State address. Whitmer's Plan "B" won't require approval from the state legislature.
Jake Neher, WDET

Governor Gretchen Whitmer gave her second state of the state address Wednesday after many months divided government in Lansing. She proposed her "Plan B” to fix the state’s roads and talked about ways to shore up protections of the Affordable Care Act. WKAR’s Abigail Censky gave Morning Edition Host Mary Ellen Pitney a recap. Below are highlights of their conversation.

Michigan Senators Call For Witnesses In Senate Impeachment Trial

By • Jan 21, 2020
Both of Michigan’s Democratic Senators will have new jobs Tuesday. In addition to representing the people of Michigan, they’ll serve as jurors in the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.
Senate Democrats via Flickr

You can follow special coverage of the Senate impeachment trial on WKAR, here.

Both of Michigan’s Democratic Senators will have new jobs Tuesday. In addition to representing the people of Michigan, they’ll serve as jurors in the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.

For the third time in United States history Senators will deliberate whether or not to remove the president from office.

In Photos: A Dwindling, Stalwart Crowd At 2020 Women's March

By & • Jan 18, 2020
A small but stalwart crowd gathered at the Michigan state Capitol for the 2020 Lansing Women's march. Capitol facilities estimated more than 250 people took part in festivities despite heavy snow earlier in the day and poor driving conditions.
Abigail Censky, WKAR

A stalwart crowd of protesters gathered at the state Capitol Saturday for the 2020 Women’s March. The event was one of 200 sister marches held across the country for the popular protest that began in 2017 as a rebuke to President Donald Trump, the day after his inauguration.

Former MSU President Lou Anna Simon’s Protracted Legal Battle Continues

By • Jan 9, 2020
Lou Anna Simon's Attorneys announced Thursday they'll file a motion to quash another judges' motion ordering Simon to face trial in Eaton County Circuit Court.
Cheyna Roth / MPRN

Attorneys for former Michigan State University President Lou Anna Simon announced Thursday that they’ll file a motion to quash another Eaton County judge’s decision that ordered Simon to face trial in circuit court.


The Looming Battle For Michigan's Senate Seat

By • Jan 6, 2020
The reelection effort for Michigan’s junior Democratic Senator, Gary Peters, will be hard fought between Democrats, who need the seat to maintain their foothold in the Senate, and Republicans, who place Peters at the top of their “endangered” list.
Photo: WKAR

Another version of this story previously aired on Weekend Edition Saturday.

When Donald Trump won the state of Michigan in 2016, he did it by a narrow margin of just over 11,000 votes. The President’s victory in 2020 depends on voters in a coalition of battleground states, like Michigan, voting for him again.

While the top of the ticket race may be the marquee for politicos, it’s not the only one. The reelection effort for Michigan’s junior Democratic Senator, Gary Peters, will be hard fought between Democrats, who need the seat to maintain their foothold in the Senate, and Republicans, who place Peters at the top of their “endangered” list.

The Burden Of Proof; Politicians Spar Over Medicaid Work Requirements In MI

By • Dec 9, 2019
The Governor made a plea to Republicans in the legislature in a letter last week asking them to suspend Medicaid work requirements while there is ongoing litigation. The program is currently scheduled to begin January 1st.
Alec Gerstenberger, WKAR

As lawmakers in Lansing extend olive branches to make a deal on the state budget, public disagreements over Medicaid work requirements continue.


At Michigan State, Students Protect Their Mascot From Mischievous Rivals

By • Nov 14, 2019

Members of the Michigan State University marching band are braving below freezing temperatures to take part in "Sparty Watch" — a more than 50-year-old protection scheme devised to fend off attacks on MSU's beloved mascot, The Spartan, in advance of their rivalry football game on Saturday.

It's 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, and 22 degrees. Twenty members of the MSU marching band and color guard are huddled outside in the snow flanking the 9-foot bronze statue.

Debriefing The Lansing And East Lansing City Council Elections

By • Nov 7, 2019
Newcomers made the biggest gains on both the Lansing and East Lansing City Council's with Brandon Betz ousting incumbent Jody Washington. And, Lisa Babcock and Jessy Gregg knocking off Eric Altmann in East Lansing.
Amanda Pinckney, WKAR

Two incumbents were ousted from the Lansing and East Lansing City Councils in Tuesday’s election. The upsets were part of a trend of progressive and anti-establishment newcomers, unseating well-financed and widely recognized incumbents. WKAR’s Abigail Censky talked to Lansing State Journal Reporter Sarah Lehr about the results. Below are highlights of their conversation. 


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