Haley Stevens
State Senator 2023-present
Haley stepped up to represent Michigan in the House of Representatives in 2018 and won – flipping an open seat that was previously held by the Republican party. Since then, Haley’s fought for Michigan’s manufacturing and auto-industries in the halls of Congress. One of the proudest days of her life was when the CHIPs and Science Act – a bill she helped write – was signed into law to bring America’s semiconductor industry back to where it belongs: Michigan.
Haley has also launched classes to teach digital manufacturing skills to middle and high school kids and voted to expand job training programs and apprenticeship programs for students – because she knows that while college isn’t for everyone, good-paying jobs should be. During her time in office, she has visited and met with workers at over 200 manufacturing businesses as part of a program she calls “Manufacturing Mondays.”
Federal Candidates
Mallory McMorrow
State Senator 2023-present
Mallory McMorrow is a Democrat with backbone who knows how to stand up, fight back against right-wing Republicans, and win.
She helped flip the Michigan state senate blue for the first time in nearly 40 years and then passed laws to reduce gun violence, raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, and repeal the state’s abortion ban.
Now, she’s running for the U.S. Senate because Donald Trump has put this country in a constitutional crisis and she believes that we need a new generation of leaders ready to stand up to Trump to protect our democracy and our fundamental rights and freedoms, stop Trump and the Republicans from gutting Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security, and fight to create a 21st century economy where working- and middle-class Michiganders can get ahead instead of getting screwed.
Abdul el-Sayed
U.S. Congress- Michigan District 2
Abdul El-Sayed wasn’t supposed to be a politician.
He studied to be a doctor — but realized it was our broken politics that was making people sick. Abdul has dedicated his entire career to building government agencies that actually work for Michiganders. He is running for the U.S. Senate because he believes life in America shouldn’t be this hard, and as your Senator, Abdul will fight to build a government that works for you, not Elon Musk, Donald Trump, or their billionaire friends.
Abdul is running for U.S. Senate because life in Michigan shouldn’t be this hard — or this expensive. After a successful career of making government work for Michiganders, he wants to take his vision to Washington and make the United States Senate work for you.
Abdul rebuilt a government agency to make it actually work — and then he did it again. He rebuilt Detroit’s Health Department after bankruptcy. Then he restructured Wayne County’s Department of Health, Human & Veterans Services, serving 1.8 million Michiganders in the state’s largest and most diverse county. As a public servant, Abdul secured free glasses for kids who needed them, removed lead from Detroit’s elementary schools, took on Michigan’s biggest polluters, and made life-saving Narcan universally accessible. He also spearheaded a program that will cancel up to $700 million in medical debt for 300,000 Michiganders over 2 years. His work earned him recognition as “Public Official of the Year” by the Michigan LCV and a spot on Crain’s Detroit Business 40 Under 40 list.
United States Senate
2nd Congressional District
Ben Ambrose
Veterans Advocate and Marine Combat Veteran
Ben Ambrose grew up on a small farm in Hesperia, Michigan. His life on the farm taught him that the most important thing you have is your word, that's the bond that solidifies us with each other – from helping your neighbor shovel their driveway to showing up to help out at the local fish frys.
Ben always knew he wanted to serve his country. He enlisted at 18 years old and shipped out 6 days after High School Graduation. He served for nearly 20 years in the Marine Corps as an Infantryman, with multiple combat tours and humanitarian operations.
In the Marines Ben learned quickly to always do the right thing, even when no one is watching, to always stand by his fellow service members and to never go back on his word.
Ben will always act with Integrity. To Ben, that means doing the right thing even when it's not popular or no one is looking. Too many members of Congress say they'll stand strong for working families, but then vote to fill the pockets of billionaires in exchange for big campaign donations. That lack of integrity is hurting Americans like us.
Just as Ben was committed to making sure his brothers and sisters in arms made it home, he's committed to fighting for West Michigan. He's committed to ensuring Michigander's pensions and retirements are protected, committed to protecting and enhancing our healthcare, committed to making sure you are able to keep and protect your farms, your land, and your families.
And Ben will always be working to earn your Trust. In the Marines, he learned quickly that trust is earned not freely given, and he'll work every day to earn your trust.
Integrity. Commitment. Trust. These are the values Ben is bringing to Congress
Rich Carrizales
Mortgage Broker
At the core of my policies there are a couple of principles that drive how I think. First, I believe that government should encourage policies that bring people together. One major example of this is what I like to call American Noblesse Oblige. The idea of noblesse oblige comes from France, and I encourage you to look it up. Simply put, it means "with power and wealth comes social obligation".
The idea that the wealthy should help those around them is popular in some circles and divisive in others. To me, the best way to eliminate that division is to add a dash of American capitalism to it. I'll do this by offering tax breaks to individuals and businesses that provide aid to those in need within their communities. A tornado strikes a rural hospital, and a wealthy individual within the state covers the costs of repairs while awaiting insurance payouts. This results in faster care for everyone using that hospital, and the wealthy individual should be rewarded for doing the right thing. There are plenty of things we could do, but as one example, we could give them a tax break equal to one years worth of interest based on a 10-year treasury bond.
My second guiding principle is that that people should be encouraged to invest in themselves first, and the market second. I have nothing against people investing in their 401ks, but by making them the only pre-tax investment, we encourage people to spend their entire lives focusing on the end of it. Instead, I want to create policies that encourage goal setting. Buy a house at 25. Pay it off at 40. This isn't controversial. We see finance experts recommending we eliminate debt all the time, but never before has the government incentivized it. I intend to do just that.
Jamie Hill
Physician Assistant serving rural communities
Jamie Hill is a lifelong rural Michigander, born and raised in the Thumb. Growing up in a working-class family trying to keep a small family farm afloat, Jamie learned firsthand the values that define rural America: resilience, community support, hard work, and grit. While coming of age, Jamie quietly wrestled with their gender identity in a time and place that offered no support or visibility for LGBTQ+ youth. Despite the fear of being different, they persevered, blending in while working on farms, learning construction trades, and building a life with their high school sweetheart, who remains their spouse and supporter to this day.
Jamie’s educational journey has been wide-ranging and relentless, rooted in public service and community resilience:
- AAS, Emergency Management – Baker College
- BAS, Public Safety Studies (minor: Healthcare Management) – Siena Heights University
- Professional Emergency Management Certificate – Michigan State Police
- AAS, General Science – St. Clair County Community College
- Numerous FEMA certifications in disaster preparedness and response
- Master of Medical Science, Physician Assistant – Yale School of Medicine
Their academic path reflects a consistent drive to serve: from construction and emergency services to higher education and advanced clinical practice.
Clyde Welford
Lake County Commissioner. Retired educator.
After special consideration, it is my pleasure to announce that I have decided to run for state representative in Michigan’s 2nd Congressional District. I look forward to this extraordinary privilege and opportunity to represent the people’s interests in my district. If you want to see a change for the better, please join me to help implement fair and common sense policies that the people of Western Michigan deserve.
I support equal opportunities for everyone, along with voting rights, fair livable wages, unions, LGBTQIA+ fairness and equality, education for all including college debt forgiveness, a woman’s right to choose, and combating climate change. I believe that healthcare should be affordable for everyone and that we need common-sense gun laws.
I heard my clarion call to political action again In 2016. I decided to run for Lake County Road Commissioner.I lost. I lost by 179 votes. Not being dismayed, I ran again 2 years later in 2018. This time I lost by even a larger margin (1100) votes. People told me to not give up, that God had something better in store for me. Two years later in 2020, I was elected County Commissioner in District-7. In 2022 I was re-elected as County Commissioner, this time for a 4 year term.
Currently I’m serving in the first year of that 4 year term.
State Candidates
Governor
Jocelyn Benson
Michigan Secretary of State
Jocelyn Benson has always been willing to take on big challenges. From her early years investigating hate groups, to transforming Michigan’s Secretary of State offices – considered before she took office to be the worst in the country – Jocelyn has defied preconceived notions of what is possible in public service. A fearless advocate for Michigan, Jocelyn will bring efficiency, people-driven solutions, and a progressive vision for Michigan’s future to make this state the best place to be a kid, raise a kid, stay, and call home.
When Jocelyn became Secretary of State in 2019, she got to work on day 1 to make life easier for every Michigander. Under her leadership, operations at the Secretary of State’s Office drastically improved, and the department went from having some of the longest wait times in the country to a model for state services. She eliminated wait times, created over 150 self-service stations to serve Michiganders in every corner of the state, all while implementing initiatives to make Michigan’s elections the most secure and accessible in the nation. And, in the face of threats to both herself and her colleagues, Jocelyn oversaw two of the highest turnout and most transparent elections in the state’s history.
Jocelyn knows firsthand that the government only works well if it works for the people.
She will bring real solutions, not political games, conspiracy theories, or inaction. That means making government more efficient for working families, whether it’s saving them time when accessing government services, or saving them money by standing up to special interests. It means both listening to the concerns of Michiganders, and actually taking action to fix it. And it means investing in our state’s future so Michigan is a place where anyone can be a kid, raise a kid, have access to the health care and housing they need, and where our businesses and communities thrive.
Jocelyn knows how to win tough fights for the people, and she is a battle-tested leader with the strength and experience to get the job done. After leading the state’s second-largest agency, Jocelyn is ready to deliver substantial results for everyday Michiganders and finally bring the leadership required to solve the biggest issues Michigan faces today.
Garlin GilChrist
Lieutenant Governor of Michigan
Working alongside Governor Whitmer, Garlin has a proven track record of leading and delivering for Michigan. He played a leading role in delivering free pre-k for all, increasing small business success and diversifying the state economy, protecting abortion access, bringing more high-quality jobs to Michigan, reforming our justice system to create opportunity and keep communities safe, and connecting tens of thousands of Michiganders to reliable, affordable and fast internet. Garlin is committed to building a Michigan where every person can reach their full potential.
Now, Garlin is running for Governor to build on the progress of the Whitmer-Gilchrist administration by bringing bold new ideas to help Michiganders thrive. Unlike Elon Musk and Donald Trump, Garlin knows how to use technology and innovation to help our communities reach their full potential, including investing in education, lowering the cost of housing and healthcare, and bringing more 21st-century jobs to our state.
Growing up in Detroit, Garlin knows what it feels like to be part of communities across Michigan, the Midwest, and country that have been forgotten. He also knows how to win in Michigan. Governor Whitmer chose Garlin as her running mate in 2018, and they have won statewide twice by speaking to, connecting with, and delivering for Michigan families, entrepreneurs and communities.
Prior to serving as Lieutenant Governor, Garlin worked at Microsoft as a software engineer that helped build SharePoint into the fastest growing product in the company’s history. As the City of Detroit’s Director of Innovation, he created the Improve Detroit smartphone app that allows residents to report issues for the city to address like running water, potholes, damaged street signs, and other issues.
Garlin is the highest ranking Black elected official in Michigan history. He lives in Detroit with his wife, Ellen, where they are raising their twins, Emily and Garlin III, and daughter, Ruby.
Chris Swanson
Genesee County Sheriff
Swanson says he’ll bring a “fresh voice and a new energy” to the race as somebody who’s “got a history and a background of taking care of people.”
“That’s what sheriffs do. We enforce laws, we protect people, we maintain order, we give hope. And I get to bring that,” Swanson said live on WWJ Newsradio 950 Friday morning. “When you look at what’s happening in the world, you need leadership that can inspire people. All those things, I check those boxes and I have done it for 32 years. And I’m anxious and excited to bring it to 10 million people.”
Swanson says one thing that will separate him from other political candidates is the way he approaches the campaign in hopes of “changing the way people view politics.”
“Our campaign is focused, the whole team is, we’re running a campaign of hope. And it’s not an attack campaign,” Swanson said. “We’re gonna defend our positions, but all the individuals that are in there right now — the mayor, the secretary of state, even our senator — I’m friends with all of them.”
He said he views the other candidates as “options, not opponents” and he hopes a more friendly and positive approach will “inspire the next generation of political leaders.
“And I’m gonna do it in a positive way. I think people are hungry for that and they’re exhausted with the hate and the negative,” he said.
With 32 years of experience in law enforcement, Swanson weighed in on the fentanyl and border crisis, as Michigan is a border state.
He told WWJ’s Jackie Paige and Jonathan Carlson he’ll enact what he calls “Operation Vigilant” to crack down on the flow of fentanyl.
“I’m gonna enact that on every expressway because 85% of all the fentanyl that comes into Michigan comes on the expressways — I-94, I-96, US-23, I-75 — we’re able to identify traffickers that are moving fentanyl in vehicles and trucks and you can identify, stop and stop the supply line. That’s the thing; if you break the supply chain, you help stop it from getting to the end user,” he said.
Swanson said he’ll focus on helping those addicted as well.
“We’re gonna build them up, we’re gonna give them the hope they need. I’ve done that and I’m gonna continue to do that,” Swanson said.
The sheriff said his campaign will also improve on improving education in Michigan and continuing to fix the state’s roads.
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Karen McDonald
Oakland County Prosecutor
Karen D. McDonald was elected Oakland County Prosecutor on November 3, 2020, and took office on January 1, 2021. Karen is committed to protecting victims of crime, improving outcomes for juveniles and families, and increasing fairness and racial equity across the criminal justice system.
Karen’s early initiatives have included reviewing the files of every pending juvenile lifer case in Oakland County, establishing a Trafficking Unit, a Hate Crimes Unit, and a Conviction Integrity Unit. She has formed the first-ever Oakland County Prosecutor’s Racial Justice Advisory Council, as well as an internal Equity Team. Most critically, she has extended prosecutorial discretion to assistant prosecutors. Every case is unique, and discretion allows assistant prosecutors to make the right decision based on all of the circumstances.
Prior to her election as Oakland County Prosecutor, Karen was a judge on the Oakland County Circuit Court. She was elected to the bench in 2012, and re-elected in 2018. As a judge, Karen specialized in family matters - including divorce and custody, child abuse and neglect, and adoption. She is especially proud to have presided over the first adoption by an LGBTQ+ couple in the history of the State of Michigan.
She gave up her seat as a judge in April 2019 to run for prosecutor because she believed she could have a greater impact on our community.
Karen began her career as a high school English teacher in Midland, Michigan – an experience that sparked her lifelong commitment to kids. After attending law school, Karen served as an assistant prosecuting attorney at the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office, where she prosecuted child sexual assault cases. She then became a private practice attorney and partner at a prominent Oakland County-based law firm, where she specialized in civil and family law.
Throughout her legal career, Prosecutor McDonald has honed significant expertise in matters relating to children and families. She has been called upon to share her passion and expertise on a number of boards, tasks forces, and commissions, including the Oakland County Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force and the Foster Care Review Board Program Advisory Committee. She is the recipient of the Oakland County Domestic Violence Prevention Award and the Joan E. Young Champion of Children Award. In July 2021, Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed Prosecutor McDonald to serve on the State of Michigan’s Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform, chaired by the Lieutenant Governor.
Karen was raised in Portland, Michigan, alongside her two sisters. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English and political science at Alma College and graduated cum laude from Wayne State University School of Law. She lives in Birmingham with her husband and five children.
Eli Savit
Washtenaw County Prosecutor
The son of two educators, Eli was born and raised in Ann Arbor. He attended Kalamazoo College in western Michigan, where he played four years of college basketball. Following his college graduation, Eli worked as a public school teacher—teaching both special-education and general-education 8th-grade U.S. history.
After graduating from the University of Michigan Law School, Eli worked for two federal judges. He was then selected to clerk on the United States Supreme Court for Justices Sandra Day O’Connor (ret.) and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
A Fighter for Justice in Detroit
As Senior Legal Counsel for the City of Detroit, Eli quickly earned a reputation as a fighter who was unafraid to challenge powerful interests and used his unique aptitude to solve complex problems. In this role, Eli:
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Oversaw the City’s lawsuits against the opioid industry, netting nearly $50 million to remedy the opioid epidemic.
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Led the City’s efforts in the landmark right-to-literacy lawsuit on behalf of Detroit schoolchildren. He worked in partnership with labor unions, school officials, and community advocates— and served on the three-member negotiating team that secured nearly $100 million in funding for Detroit schools.
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Served as the top lawyer in international negotiations that facilitated the construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge. This cleared the way for a multi-billion-dollar union construction project, and secured almost $50 million in community benefits such as workforce development, and environmental remediation—funded by the Canadian government—for residents of Southwest Detroit.
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Led the City’s successful lawsuits against tax-delinquent banks, slumlords, and land-speculators.
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Negotiated a deal that allowed thousands of low-income Detroit families to avoid tax foreclosure and remain in their home, working with the ACLU, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and housing advocates.
A Transformational Prosecutor in Washtenaw County
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In 2020, Eli was elected Prosecuting Attorney for Washtenaw County, where he was born and raised. Under his leadership, the Prosecutor’s Office has:
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Established dedicated special-victims and domestic violence units, staffed by specialized prosecutors who can address sexual and intimate-partner violence.
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Led the successful investigation and prosecution of multiple “cold-case” rape cases— including at least one individual suspected of having been a serial rapist, who is currently serving a 28-46 year prison sentence.
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Used its authority to prevent sexual assault before it even occurs by successfully suing a fraternity whose parties were tied to over a dozen sexual assaults, proactively eliminating the conditions that led to those assaults in the first-of-its-kind case.
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Launched multiple successful programs that allow people dealing with behavioral health and substance-use issues to obtain rehabilitative services— while avoiding a criminal conviction.
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Established Washtenaw County’s first-ever conviction integrity and expungement unit, which remedies wrongful convictions and provides legally eligible residents free assistance in clearing old criminal records. To date, that unit has assisted over 1,000 residents in expunging their old records, giving those who have earned a second chance a fair opportunity to secure jobs, housing, and educational opportunities.
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Fought against unlawful corporate exploitation by establishing an Economic Justice Unit—the only Unit of its kind in Michigan—which ensures that corporations are held accountable for harm done to workers and consumers. The Unit specifically focuses on wage theft, consumer-protection, and suing to remedy the harm perpetrated by shady businesses on working families.
A PUBLIC SERVANT
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In addition to his public service, Eli has dedicated significant time and effort to fighting for the rights of all people. Among other things, Eli litigated on behalf of the ACLU, the American Association of University Women, and the League of Women Voters to challenge the Michigan Legislature’s so-called adopt-and-amend tactics, which deprived Michigan families of paid sick leave and a boosted minimum wage.
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As Prosecutor, Eli has also used every tool at his disposal to fight for the rights of Michiganders. When Roe v. Wade was overturned, Eli personally litigated alongside Governor Whitmer to overturn Michigan’s antiquated abortion ban. As prosecutor, he has litigated at every level of the state and federal judiciary to protect reproductive freedom—including leading national coalitions of prosecutors and police leaders to advocate for abortion rights at the United States Supreme Court. And under Eli's leadership, the Prosecutor’s Office has regularly led and joined national coalitions litigating for consumer protection, gun safety, voting rights, immigrants’ rights, workers’ rights, and other issues important to our community.
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He also played a lead role in efforts to expand Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, successfully advocating to have the Michigan Civil Rights Commission prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
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Eli has also worked as a practicing environmental lawyer. Working on behalf of Maryland, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico, Eli has sued corporate polluters like Shell, Exxon, and DuPont over their unlawful contamination of the water and air. He has been part of a team that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars to restore and remediate the environment in those jurisdictions.
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In addition to his work as Prosecuting Attorney, Eli is a Lecturer at the University of Michigan Law School, and a proud member of Lecturers’ Employee Organization (American Federation of Teachers-Michigan Local 6244).
Mark Totten
Former US Attorney General West Michigan
Mark Totten has spent his life fighting for justice, fairness, and the rule of law.
As a prosecutor, he stood up for Michigan values, keeping us safe, and protecting our rights. He’s held accountable domestic abusers, gun traffickers, child predators, corporate polluters, and those trying to defraud seniors.
Mark’s taken on white supremacists, stood up for the victims of hate crimes, defended workers’ rights, and led the Governor’s fight to protect reproductive freedom as her Chief Counsel.
From criminal gangs and greedy corporations to the Trump Administration, he won’t let anyone undermine our rights or take advantage of Michiganders.
As Attorney General, Mark Totten will be a fierce advocate for the people of Michigan. Mark has spent his career standing up for justice, and as Attorney General, he will continue that fight by focusing on these priorities:
Protecting Communities from Violence
Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for children in America. That’s unacceptable. Every Michigander—regardless of their zip code—deserves to feel safe in their homes and neighborhoods. Mark will work to keep guns out of dangerous hands, protect children, and support crime prevention efforts that make communities safer, such as community-based violence intervention programs.
Protecting Children from Predators
The internet has made children more vulnerable than ever to exploitation and online predators. As U.S. Attorney, Mark set national benchmarks for prosecuting sextortion crimes and dismantling networks that prey on kids. As Attorney General, he will expand efforts to hold online predators accountable and work with law enforcement to protect Michigan’s children.
Protecting Seniors from Fraud
Scammers are increasingly targeting seniors, stealing their savings, and undermining financial security. Mark will aggressively prosecute those who prey on the elderly and strengthen protections for programs like Social Security and Supplemental Security Income, ensuring Michigan’s seniors are safe from fraud.
Protecting Consumers from Corporate Greed
When businesses cut corners, exploit workers, or defraud consumers, the Attorney General must hold them accountable. Mark has a proven record of taking on fraudulent financial schemes and companies that put profits over people. He will be a watchdog for Michigan’s consumers and fight back against corporate wrongdoing.
Protecting Civil Rights
Everyone deserves to live free from hate and discrimination. Mark has taken on white supremacists, prosecuted civil rights violations, and protected vulnerable communities from violence and harassment. As Attorney General, he will ensure Michigan remains a place where everyone can live safely and equally under the law.
Protecting Workers’ Rights
Every worker deserves fair pay, safe conditions, and the right to organize. Mark has defended workers by helping reinstate Michigan’s prevailing wage laws and standing up for union rights. As Attorney General, he will continue fighting for workers and against corporate interests that seek to weaken labor protections.
Protecting Reproductive Freedom
The right to make personal healthcare decisions is under attack. Mark led the Governor’s legal fight to protect abortion rights in Michigan, and as Attorney General, he will continue to fight back against efforts to roll back reproductive freedom.
Protecting Our Air, Land, and Waters
Michigan’s natural beauty—the Great Lakes, forests, and clean air—must be protected. Mark has taken on corporate polluters and prosecuted those who threaten our environment. As Attorney General, he will continue to hold polluters accountable and ensure Michigan’s natural resources are preserved for future generations.
Protecting Our Democracy
Mark played a central role for the Governor in protecting Michigan’s 2020 election results. He has prosecuted corrupt politicians and fought against efforts to weaken democracy. As Attorney General, he will continue defending the integrity of our elections and fighting back against those who seek to undermine democracy and the rule of law.
Mark has the experience, vision, and commitment to be Michigan’s next Attorney General. He’s ready to protect our communities, fight for justice, and ensure that the law works for everyone—not just the powerful.
SECRETARY OF STATE
Barb Byrum
Ingham County Clerk
I grew up in a working class family that will seem familiar to so many Michiganders. My father worked in agribusiness, my mom worked for Lifesavers, and I spent a lot of time in my grandmother’s rental home before moving to our family farm.
It was all the time I spent with my grandmother and mother, two of the strongest women I’ve ever met, that shaped me into who I am today. Even at a young age, I felt a strong sense of justice. In elementary school, I wrote a letter to the school principal about unequal treatment at school; the boys were picked to raise the flag in the morning, but never girls. They quickly offered me the chance to raise the flag and allowed girls to do so moving forward.
While I learned strength from the women in my life, I learned the importance of customer service and collaboration as a business owner. I’m grateful to have been raised in a hardware store and have the experience of owning my own. It instilled in me a comfort in talking with people from all walks of life and all backgrounds.
I eventually followed in my mother’s footsteps, running for her seat in the State House, becoming Caucus Vice Chair and Chair of the Agricultural Committee. While I was only 28 when I was first elected, I didn’t let that stop me from making big changes. I championed small businesses, defended women’s right to reproductive freedom, and held insurance companies accountable for ripping off the people of Michigan.
While in the State House, I served as Vice Chair on the Redistricting and Elections committee, where I fought for fair district lines. I later became a Certified Elections/Registration Administrator through Election Center, the only national program of continuing professional education that specializes in elections administration and voter registration.
Then, I decided to take my customer service work and expertise in elections directly to the people. As Ingham County Clerk, I streamlined requests for documents, modernized the office, and saved taxpayer money. When the 2016 election results were contested, I immediately sprang into action, hired 75 election workers, and made Ingham County the first in the state to complete a recount. I wanted our process to not only be transparent, but fast and effective, to ensure the people could trust the validity of our elections.
Now, I want to go toe-to-toe against election deniers who want to sow chaos across the state and continue my track record of making government more accessible, transparent, and service-oriented as Secretary of State. With attacks against the constitution and our core rights challenged, I believe now is the time for me to step up and continue to protect our rights, defend our democracy, and continue to provide excellent service to the people of Michigan.
Aghogho Edevbie
Deputy Secretary of State
Born and raised in Detroit, Aghogho Edevbie is the son of Nigerian immigrants who taught him when there’s work to do, we get going. His dad spent 35 years as a union man at the Detroit Water Department, and his mom is a nurse who has cared for thousands in our community.
Aghogho’s parents came to Michigan in search of a better life and Aghogho grew up hearing the story of his mom and grandfather, waiting in an endless line to vote in Nigeria’s first presidential election. When his mom wanted to give up and go home, his grandfather told her that voting was their civic duty. They were going to stay, and they were going to vote. This lesson has stayed with Aghogho—that voting is our collective duty, and our democracy is something each of us must protect.
While studying law at the University of Michigan, Aghogho started working as an election protection lawyer and a poll challenger every election cycle. By 2020, Aghogho was Michigan State Director of one of the nation’s leading voting rights and election protection groups, All Voting Is Local. There, he helped lead the fight to pass Proposal 2—giving every Michigan voter access to early voting, a drop box in every community, the right to return their absentee ballot free of charge, and guaranteeing their votes would be certified in a free and fair election.
After being appointed Deputy Secretary of State, he helped implement the promises of Proposal 2, and has continued to make voting easier, so that casting a ballot isn’t a chore but a moment of empowerment. Michigan was once ranked 31st for election administration. Now, it’s ranked 2nd in the country.
Aghogho, who lives in Detroit with his wife Erin, has also worked to make the day-to-day experience of government as efficient as possible. He’s helped to put services online to save Michiganders a trip to the Secretary of State’s office and made sure that if they still decide to make a trip, they can get in and out of a branch within 30 minutes. Putting people first and making government work is why Aghogho is running for Secretary of State.
Adam Hollier
Deputy Secretary of State
Deep Roots
Adam was born and raised in Detroit. where generations of his family have lived since the 1940’s. His family’s story is what inspires Adam to always step up and run towards any challenge – no matter how big or small.
Adam’s father Carl was a union firefighter – when others ran away, it was his job to run into the fire. Adam’s mother Jacqueline was a social worker – when others gave up, she never walked away from someone in need.
Adam is a lifelong Michigander and a proud union member of the American Federation of Teachers Local 6075. A graduate of Detroit Public Schools, he and his wife Krystle are now raising their two children Lily and A.J. right here in the community he grew up in.
A Call to Service
Throughout his life, Adam answered the call to service whenever it came. His volunteer work took him all across the country, including serving as a disaster relief coordinator after Hurricane Katrina in Biloxi, MS, and the Gulf Coast. In college, he even continued the family tradition and served as a volunteer firefighter.
That same call to service led Adam to enlist in the U.S. Army. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant at Officer Candidate School in Fort Benning, Georgia, and currently serves as team chief and paratrooper in the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion, Army Reserve. While he could have gone after the desk job, Adam instead signed up to jump out of airplanes – so he would always get to where the danger was first.
Delivering for the Community
No matter where he went, Adam always knew that Michigan was his home and where he would dedicate his time and energy to making a positive change. He returned to pursue a graduate degree in Urban Planning from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor. He worked in the Michigan Legislature and for Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, helping to bring positive change and much-needed resources to families across the Detroit area.
In 2018, he stepped up once again, and ran for the Michigan State Senate. There, he helped to deliver over $40 Million to the district, including much-needed investments for job training, career mentorship, and business development. He also tackled critical issues like lead pipe replacement, fair election maps, criminal justice reform, and LGBTQ+ rights.
In his first week in office, when a major employer moved to close an auto plant, Adam stood with UAW leaders and helped turn it into Factory Zero. This state-of-the-art electric vehicle manufacturing plant is creating the cars of tomorrow while providing new jobs for today.
From day one, Adam has also been a leading voice for fair maps, representation of communities of color, and the voting rights of all Michiganders. He was one of the first to see problems in the redistricting process, and spoke up when others wouldn’t about the importance of fair and representative maps that didn’t weaken the power of Voters of Color. When Donald Trump and MAGA extremists attempted to steal the election and invalidate the votes of thousands of Detroiters in 2020, Adam was there at the vote counting center fighting to protect the rights of thousands of Michigan voters.
In 2023, Governor Whitmer asked Adam to join her cabinet, appointing him Director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. Together, they’ve more than doubled the state’s veteran database and expanded jobs programs – ensuring more veterans have access to services and the meaningful employment they are seeking. They also worked together to tackle the high rates of suicide and homelessness among veterans, creating new initiatives and investments to directly help service men and women get the assistance they need.
Throughout his life, Adam has always answered the call to serve and led the fight to protect the rights and freedoms of every Michigander.
MICHIGAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Tracy Ruell
100th District State Representative Candidate
“Rooted in Michigan soil, driven by Michigan grit.”
Tracy Ruell is a lifelong Michigander, small business owner, and passionate community advocate running for the State House of Representatives. Born and raised on a third-generation farm in Big Rapids, Tracy saw firsthand the impact of the PBB crisis on Michigan agriculture—an experience that shaped her drive to stand up for everyday families and fight for accountability.
At just 16, Tracy entered the workforce at McDonald’s, where she spent 20 years building teams, opening restaurants, and leading operations. She continued her leadership journey at Meijer’s corporate office and now co-owns International Insulation Fabricator’s Inc. with her husband Rob. A family business in operation since 1983.
Married since 1996, they’ve raised two children and built a life grounded in hard work and service.
Tracy’s dedication to the community shines through her involvement in AAUW, Angels of Action, and the Big Rapids Rotary Club.
Now, she’s ready to take her advocacy to Lansing—fighting for:
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Good-paying jobs and economic growth
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Strong public schools with full funding
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Affordable, accessible healthcare for every resident
Tracy believes in rolling up her sleeves and getting things done. She’s ready to lead with heart, listen with empathy, and deliver real results for District 100.
Voting in Michigan
In the GENERAL election, you are able to vote across parties. This is different from our primary election which only allows you to vote for one party, Democrat or Republican.
Attorney General and Secretary of State are not primaried. They are voted on at the Michigan Democratic Convention in Detroit, April 18-19.
Michigan Primary Election
August 4th, 2026
*You must choose - democrat or republican. If you vote for both parties your ballot will not be counted.