Great Lakes opportunities, obstacles await new governors in Michigan and Wisconsin

Entrenched legislatures and high expectations present challenges

Election campaigns for political office seem never-ending when they span many months. But once the winners are in office, the honeymoon is usually brief.

Constituents have big expectations for their newly-minted officials, and the winners have to come to grips with the fact that governing isn’t campaigning.

That’s the reality for two gubernatorial election winners in key Great Lakes states. Both are Democrats who will replace two-term Republicans....