There have been rumblings from parliament that an early election may be called in response to the tenuous situation in the Northern Midwest. Mass protests and acts of civil disobedience have been common in the past several months, and while the outright rioting that marked larger urban centers like Detroit have seen a decline, there is still an immense amount of political anger.

While no official announcement on the matter has been made, the rumors that have yet to be confirmed nor denied by the government indicate that early elections would include the apportionment of ridings for Minnesota and Michigan, both legally under full Northern Union administration. Wisconsin, while under Northern occupation, resides in a separate legal status that would preclude it from parliamentary representation for now.

The rumors, true or not, have kickstarted the formation of political parties across the Northern Midwest. Even if untrue, scheduled parliamentary elections are only two years away, and with an accompanying census, those elections by law would have to include the new states.

Minnesota

Minnesota has seen relative calm following the conclusion of the Midwest War. Significant demonstrations have only been seen in the Twin Cities, with border areas up near Duluth actually having the greatest support for the Northern Union in the Midwest. This relative calm has led to the creation of the Northern Democratic Party. Echoing the existing Democratic Party, the party retains its center-left positions while also advocating for inclusion in and cooperation with the Northern Union. The party's main base is centered around the Lake Superior region and Northwest Angle areas.

Running along them are the Minnesota Democratic Party. A holdover from the pre-war government, they remain center-left but without a stated stance on the Northern Union. Deflecting questions on their stance on independence, it is thought that they are holding out to see the success of the Northern Democrats before declaring. Officially however, they "are committed to the development and well-being of Minnesota no matter its status".

On the other end of the spectrum lie the Minnesota Republican Party. Maintaining their center-right political views from before the war, they have espoused their anti-Northern views and have seen success with it. Staunch independentists, they have stated a willingness to work with Northern authorities "for the time being" to create a functioning and growing Minnesota, but their end goal is an independent Minnesota or a reformed Midwestern state.

Michigan

The state that has seen the most unrest following war's end has begun to seen political parties of its own form.

Somewhat unremarkably, the pre-war Democrat and Republican parties have arisen here too. Maintaining their former center-left and center-right views, their stances on independence are mixed. Some members of both parties claim to be in favor and others against. However, these parties are not expected to be the biggest due to the larger single-issue parties.

The Freedom Party has been founded with a large base of support statewide. They have one goal and one goal only - independence of Michigan from the Northern Union. They have announced themselves as an umbrella party, stating that "all we need are those with a common interest in the just freedom and independence of Michigan by any means necessary". That last line, "by any means necessary", has stirred some controversy both in Michigan and in Ottawa, with fears that the party could turn to violent insurrection. However, many see violence as unlikely given that party leaders are, for the most part, career politicians from before the war. Hailing from both sides of the former aisle, they have abandoned their former parties to work together.

Smaller, but nearly as vocal is the New Union Party. Founded by freed African-Midwesterners in Detroit, it draws support primarily from communities of color across the state's urban centers. They have advocated for an autonomous status within the Northern Union and for cooperation with the government in the meantime, hailing Northern efforts to reform the justice system and fix inequalities that the Midwest government never did. They have stopped short from calling the war justified, but say that "we need to work with the situation as it is".

Regardless of whether elections happen in the coming months or if they happen as scheduled in 2047, it is apparent that the discontent and unrest that has marked the Midwest is beginning to turn political.

[M] High roll means more peace and a boost for pro-NU parties.