Article 12 of the Michigan Constitution parallels the language of the federal constitution with a slight difference:
The house of representatives shall have the sole power of impeaching civil officers for corrupt conduct in office, or for crimes or misdemeanors; but a majority of the members elected shall be necessary to direct an impeachment.
It does not use “high crime or misdemeanors.” Also treason is not a state offense so the identical standard of “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes or Misdemeanors” would not work on the state level. Yet, it is clear that the language is meant to establish a high standard of proven wrongdoing and not mere disagreements with policies and priorities. The Michigan standard references “corrupt conduct” or “crimes or misdemeanors” — allegations that encompass serious and objective misconduct. Every modern president has lost constitutional cases in federal courts as have many governors. We have a court system to address such controversies, but a ruling against a president or governor is not instantly grounds for removal from office.
Three Republican members in the Michigan House of Representatives introduced a resolution for impeachment against Whitmer for failing to respect the separation of powers by exercising power granted to the legislative branch, violating the constitutional rights of the people of Michigan, issuing executive orders against the interests of the people and state, and using state resources to reward political allies.” Those are all valid political objections, but they fail short of constitutional grounds for impeachment in my view.
As I previously wrote in relation to the Trump impeachment:
Parliamentary systems, like Great Britain’s, allow for “no confidence” motions to remove prime ministers. Parliament can pass a resolution stating “That this House has no confidence in Her Majesty’s Government.” But that’s not our system, and it’s doubtful that the members of Congress calling for Trump’s impeachment would relish a parliamentary approach: When such a vote succeeds, the prime minister isn’t necessarily the only politician to go. If the existing members of parliament can’t form a new government in 14 days, the entire legislative body is dissolved pending a general election…
The Constitution’s framers were certainly familiar with votes of no confidence, but despite their general aim to limit the authority of the presidency, they opted for a different course. They saw a danger in presidents being impeached due to shifts in political support and insulated presidents from removal by limiting the basis for impeachment and demanding a high vote threshold for removal. There would be no impulse-buy removals under the Constitution.
The same holds for true for governors, including Whitmer.