Michigan

This year Michigan voters will elect a governor and we recommend re-electing Governor Gretchen Whitmer. In her four years as Michigan’s governor, Gov. Whitmer has repeatedly proven herself as a fierce advocate for people across the state.

Despite continued efforts by the Republican-controlled legislature to derail her efforts, Gov. Whitmer has done her part to move the state forward, working with the GOP when it was possible and wielding her veto pen to stop bad bills when it was necessary.

With Roe v. Wade overturned, Gov. Whitmer has taken swift, decisive action to prevent enforcement of the state’s pre-Roe abortion ban. She has fought for abortion access throughout her career and consistently opposed efforts to restrict reproductive freedom. Right now, she’s one of the only things standing in the way of efforts by Michigan Republicans to further attack access to reproductive health care.

Under Gov. Whitmer’s leadership, the state has taken significant strides forward in public education. She took the lead on a historic budget that made the largest K-12 investment in state history, made the funding system more equal, and expanded multiple programs designed to support students and educators. She’s also worked to expand community college and job training programs to working folks across the state.

Of course, with Republicans in control of the legislature, Gov. Whitmer’s ability to pass progressive legislation has been limited—but she’s made use of her executive powers to stop bad bills passed by the GOP. The bills Gov. Whitmer has stopped include multiple anti-voter laws, a DeVos-backed school voucher scheme, and a tax plan that would benefit the wealthy at the expense of working people.

Whitmer’s running mate is Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II. Lt. Gov. Gilchrist studied computer engineering and computer science at the University of Michigan before moving on to a career as a software engineer at Microsoft. Before becoming lieutenant governor, Gilchrist was a community organizer and worked in local government. As Lt. Gov., he has spearheaded campaigns for criminal justice reform, access to community college and job training programs, and efforts to improve Michigan’s cities.

The Whitmer Gilchrist ticket is endorsed by eight of our partners: Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, Michigan AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers Michigan, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter, Clean Water Action, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, Michigan Education Association, and Equality Michigan.

Gov. Whitmer’s opponent is Tudor Dixon, a Trump-endorsed, DeVos funded MAGA Republican who believes abortion should be banned with no exceptions for rape, incest, or health of the mother. She has participated in spreading election disinformation and attacked efforts to teach honest accounts of U.S. history in schools and make classrooms more inclusive for LGBTQ+ kids. Tudor is endorsed by the anti-choice organization Right to Life Michigan. Dixon’s running mate is former state representative Shane Hernandez, who was named the most conservative member of the House in 2017 by MIRS News Service.

The Gov. Whitmer L.G. Gilchrist ticket is the progressive choice in this race.

Learn more: https://gretchenwhitmer.com/

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson knows how critical her office is to defending our democracy and ensuring voters can make their voices heard—she even wrote a book about it before she was elected.

Now, she’s using her expertise to keep our elections secure, efficient, and accessible. Under her leadership, Michiganders turned out in record numbers in the 2020 election despite a pandemic and rampant disinformation, and audits and court cases have proven time and time again that this election was the most secure in our state’s history.

Since then, Secretary Benson has worked to combat lies and conspiracy theories about Michigan’s election systems. Despite repeated attacks and threats from MAGA Republicans, she has refused to back down from the fight to preserve democracy in Michigan. She’s also pushed back against restrictive anti-voter laws and worked to ensure clerks have the resources they need to keep running efficient elections.

She’s also reworked how the Secretary of State’s office handles common transactions like updating vehicle registration. By expanding online services and self-serve kiosks and updating systems and processes for making an appointment, she’s cut down on wait times and made running our errands more convenient than ever.

Secretary Benson is endorsed by eight of our partners: Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, Michigan AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers Michigan, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter, Clean Water Action, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, Michigan Education Association, and Equality Michigan.

Secretary Benson’s opponent is Kristina Karamo, a Trump-endorsed, MAGA extremist and QAnon supporter who has repeatedly spread lies about Michigan elections, as well as dangerous antisemitic conspiracy theories and inflammatory rhetoric about the LGBTQ+ community. Karamo also opposes abortion and has said the practice of yoga, amongst other things, is satanic. Karamo is endorsed by the anti-choice organization Right to Life Michigan.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is the progressive choice in this race.

Learn more: https://votebenson.com/

This year Michigan voters will elect an attorney general and we recommend re-electing Attorney General Dana Nessel.

From the start, AG Nessel has been an advocate for the environment and public health. She’s successfully sued several of the big corporations responsible for polluting our water with toxic PFAS chemicals and ensured they’re held accountable for the messes they’ve made. She has gone toe-to-toe with fossil fuel giant Enbridge and fought to shut down the dangerous Line 5 oil pipeline to protect our Great Lakes.

Her corporate accountability efforts go beyond polluters. In response to rampant wage theft, AG Nessel created a payroll fraud unit to ensure employees are not robbed of their paychecks. She’s also held big pharma companies accountable for their role in the opioid crisis.

She’s also worked to prevent abuse and hold abusers accountable. From investigating sexual abuse in the Catholic Church and the Boy Scouts, to working proactively to prevent elder abuse, she’s been a consistent voice for our most vulnerable.

When MAGA Republicans tried to intimidate voters and subvert the will of the people, AG Nessel took immediate action to combat disinformation and make sure these bad actors faced consequences for their actions.

AG Nessel is endorsed by seven of our partners: Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, Michigan AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers Michigan, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter, Clean Water Action, Michigan Education Association, and Equality Michigan.

AG Nessel’s opponent Matthew DePerno is a Trump-endorsed MAGA extremist who worked to undermine the will of voters in the 2020 election and was fired from a law firm for a pattern of dishonesty and fraud. He wants to ban abortion in all cases, with no exceptions for rape, incest, or the life of the mother and has suggested he would go even further, potentially banning contraception as well. DePerno is endorsed by the anti-choice organization Right to Life Michigan.

Attorney General Dana Nessel is the progressive choice in this race.

Learn More: https://www.dananessel.com/

Jerry Hilliard is the Democratic candidate running in the 2nd Congressional District. Hilliard holds a Master’s degree from Central Michigan University and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Michigan. He has been an educator for both high school and college students.

Hilliard’s policy platform includes protecting abortion access, shutting down Enbridge’s dangerous Line 5 oil pipeline, and building an economy that works for all, not just the wealthy. He supports universal healthcare and affordable education for all and believes in creating new policies so that everyone, regardless of race, gender identity, or sexual orientation, has the same civil rights and is treated equitably under the law.

Hilliard is endorsed by the American Federation of Teachers Michigan.

Hilliard’s opponent is Rep. John Moolenaar, a far-right Republican who consistently supported the Trump agenda. Rep. Moolenaar holds irresponsible right-wing views on guns, supports restricting voting rights, and is anti-reproductive rights. Moolenaar is endorsed by the anti-choice organization Right to Life Michigan.

Jerry Hilliard is the progressive choice in this race.

Learn more: https://jerryhilliard.com/

Hillary Scholten is the Democratic candidate running for Congress in the new 3rd District. She served for four years in the Department of Justice under President Obama, where she worked to fix America’s broken immigration system. After President Trump took office, she continued her work to solve our immigration crisis by joining the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center. She also began volunteering for the Times Up Legal Defense Fund, which provides legal services to women who face workplace sexual harassment.

In addition to immigration and civil rights, she is focused on strengthening education, expanding access to healthcare, protecting our environment, advocating for clean water, and updating our infrastructure. She will work to bring down the cost of healthcare and lower the cost of prescription drugs, fight to protect reproductive rights, and work to expand skilled trade education programs and affordable college options.

Scholten is endorsed by six of our partners: Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, Michigan AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers Michigan, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter, Clean Water Action, and Michigan Education Association.

Scholten’s opponent is Joe Gibbs, a MAGA Republican who believes in election conspiracies and supports the Trump agenda. He holds views on education rooted in right-wing disinformation, is anti-reproductive rights, and holds irresponsible right-wing views on guns. Gibbs is endorsed by the anti-choice organization Right to Life Michigan.

Scholten is the progressive choice in this race.

Learn more: https://hillaryscholten.com/

Joseph Alfonso is the Democratic running to represent Michigan’s 4th Congressional District. Alfonso served in the United States Marine Corps and has worked in Michigan as an electrician and banker. Before deciding to run for office, Alfonso worked as an inspector for the city of Kentwood.

Alfonso’s priorities include protecting clean water by holding polluters accountable, making services for veterans more accessible, and taking better care of our troops and families. He will fight for equal protections for all Michiganders, crack down on corporate monopolies to protect small businesses and consumers, protect reproductive rights, pass common sense gun violence prevention measures, and support unions. Alfonso will also work to properly fund social security, protect consumer data, humanize the immigration system, drive down costs of public utilities, and bring new jobs to Michigan.

Alfonso is endorsed by American Federation of Teachers Michigan and Michigan Education Association.

Alfonso’s opponent is Bill Huizenga. Huizenga is anti-reproductive rights and consistently voted to support Trump’s agenda. Huizenga is endorsed by the anti-choice organization Right to Life Michigan.

Learn more: https://www.josephalfonsoforcongress.com

Bart Goldberg is an experienced legal professional running as the Democratic candidate to represent the 5th Congressional District. After graduating law school, Goldberg started his own law practice rather than joining a firm in order to provide affordable help to people in his community.

Much of Goldberg’s policy platform focuses on leveling the playing field for working people and ensuring the economy is strong. He is firmly in favor of abortion rights and supports policies to prevent discrimination against marginalized communities. Goldberg also plans to make standing up for Michigan farmers a priority.

Goldberg is endorsed by two of our partners: American Federation of Teachers Michigan and Michigan Education Association.

Goldberg’s opponent is Rep. Tim Walberg, a right-wing Republican Congressman. Rep. Walberg is anti-reproductive rights, holds irresponsible right-wing views on guns, and consistently voted to support Trump’s agenda. Walberg is endorsed by the anti-choice organization Right to Life Michigan.

Bart Goldberg is the most progressive choice in this race.

Learn more:

https://www.bart4mi.com

Rep. Debbie Dingell is a Democratic candidate running for her fourth term in Michigan’s 6th Congressional District. Dingell has risen through the ranks to become co-chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. She also serves as co-chair of the House Medicare for All Caucus and 12 other caucuses.

Healthcare and education have been focal points for Dingell’s career. She previously served as an executive at General Motors and as president of its foundation. In 2006, Michigan voters elected her to the Wayne State University Board of Governors, which she chaired. In addition to health care and education, her work in Congress has also centered around the auto industry, the environment, and veterans’ affairs.

Dingell is endorsed by six of our partners: Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, Michigan AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers Michigan, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter, and Michigan Education Association.

Dingell is facing perpetual candidate and right-wing Republican Jeff Jones.

Dingell is the most progressive candidate in this race.

Learn more: https://debbiedingellforcongress.com/

Rep. Elissa Slotkin was first elected to Congress in 2018 and is now seeking her third term in the 7th Congressional District as the Democratic candidate. She gained recognition for her national security expertise, which she honed while working for the CIA and the Department of Defense.

In addition to national security, her priorities include healthcare, the environment, economic opportunity, equality, gun violence prevention, and campaign finance reform.

Slotkin worked hard in Congress to prevent Trump from abusing his powers. For instance, she was the lead sponsor of a bill to prevent President Trump from launching military action in Iran without Congressional approval.

Slotkin is endorsed by six of our partners: Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, Michigan AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers Michigan, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter, Clean Water Action, and Michigan Education Association.

Slotkin’s opponent is Tom Barrett, a state senator who is staunchly opposed to abortion rights and attacked public health efforts to stem the spread of COVID-19. Barrett is endorsed by the anti-choice organization Right to Life Michigan.

Slotkin is the most progressive choice in this race.

Learn more: https://elissaforcongress.com

Rep. Dan Kildee is the Democratic candidate running for his sixth term in the 8th Congressional District. He currently serves as chief deputy majority whip, where he acts as a liaison among Members of Congress and the leadership to build support for legislation. In 2016, he secured the release of Amir Hekmati, a U.S. Marine veteran who was held prisoner in Iran. He secured federal funding to replace water pipes in Flint. He successfully led an effort to prevent a Canadian company from burying nuclear waste near the Lake Huron shoreline.

Before serving in Congress, Kildee co-founded the Center for Community Progress, a national non-profit which works on urban revitalization. He founded the Genesee County Land Bank, which directed over $100 million in investment to Flint and is a model for land banks across America. He also served as Genesee County treasurer and member of the Flint School Board.

Rep. Kildee is endorsed by six of our partners: Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, Michigan AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers Michigan, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter, Clean Water Action, and Michigan Education Association.

Kildee’s opponent is Paul Junge, who supports the MAGA agenda and is opposed to reproductive rights. Junge is endorsed by the anti-choice organization Right to Life Michigan.

Rep. Dan Kildee is the most progressive choice in this race.

Learn more: https://www.dankildee.com

Brian Jaye is a military veteran and legal professional running as the Democratic candidate to represent the 9th Congressional District. He was the first in his family to attend college and is running for Congress to ensure every child in America has equal opportunity to succeed.

Jaye is a pro-choice candidate who supports stronger protections for the LGBTQ+ community, efforts to combat systemic racism, and strong voting rights policies. He also supports a variety of policies to address economic inequality, including raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Jaye is endorsed by two of our partners: American Federation of Teachers Michigan and Michigan Education Association.

Jaye is running against incumbent Republican Lisa McClain, who supported Donald Trump’s attempt to illegally overturn the 2020 election. Rep. McClain also holds irresponsible right-wing views on guns and is anti-reproductive rights. McClain is endorsed by the anti-choice organization Right to Life Michigan.

Jaye is the most progressive candidate in this race.

Learn more: https://www.brianjayeformichigan.com/

Carl Marlinga is an attorney with decades of legal experience who is running as the Democratic candidate to represent the 10th Congressional District. He served for nearly four decades as Macomb County Prosecutor, an assistant U.S. attorney, and a judge on the 16th Judicial Circuit Court.

Marlinga fully supports the Constitutional right to get an abortion and intends to codify Roe into federal law. He wants to support good-paying jobs here in the U.S. to strengthen the economy, while also working to protect our Great Lakes and rivers and ensure they are clean for generations to come.

Marlinga is endorsed by two of our partners: American Federation of Teachers Michigan and Michigan Education Association.

Marlinga’s opponent is John James, a two-time Republican candidate for U.S. Senate who once said he was “2000% behind Trump.” James is endorsed by the anti-choice organization Right to Life Michigan.

Marlinga is the most progressive candidate in this race.

Learn more: https://www.marlinga4congress.com/

Rep. Haley Stevens is running as the Democratic candidate for her third term in Congress in the new 11th Congressional District. More than 200,000 jobs were saved thanks to Stevens’ work in the Obama administration, where she played key roles in helping to rescue the auto industry and revitalize manufacturing.

In addition to workforce development and technology, Stevens also prioritized health care, the environment, and equality during her first term in Congress. She was selected, alongside Colin Allred, to be co-presidents of the House Democratic freshman class of the 116th U.S. Congress.

More recently, Stevens voted to protect the U.S. Postal Service during a time when mail-in voting will be at an all time high, and called for greater transparency in the government.

Stevens is endorsed by three of our partners: Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, American Federation of Teachers Michigan, and Michigan Education Association.

Stevens’ opponent is Mark Ambrose, who supports anti-voter laws and Donald Trump. Ambrose is endorsed by the anti-choice organization Right to Life Michigan.

Rep. Stevens is the most progressive choice in this race.

Learn more: https://haleystevensforcongress.comm/

Rep. Rashida Tlaib is running as the Democratic candidate for her third term in the 12th Congressional District. Tlaib is one of the first two Muslim women ever elected to Congress and was previously the first Muslim woman elected to the Michigan House of Representatives, where she served for six years.

Rep. Tlaib has spent her career and her term in Congress working for social, economic, environmental, and housing justice and standing up to wealthy special interests. Despite being new to Congress, she has already secured funding to prevent water shutoffs and keep vital services in operation during the COVID-19 crisis. She also opened four neighborhood service centers throughout her district.

Rep. Tlaib is endorsed by two of our partners: American Federation of Teachers Michigan and Michigan Education Association.

Tlaib’s opponent is Steven Elliott. Elliott supports views on the LGBTQ+ community and schools rooted in right-wing disinformation, and holds irresponsible right-wing views on guns.

Tlaib is the most progressive choice in this race.

Learn more: https://rashidaforcongress.com/

Shri Thanedar is a current state representative running as the Democratic candidate to represent the 13th Congressional District.

Thanedar is a pro-choice candidate who lists equality for the LGBTQ+ community and addressing racial injustice as some of his top priorities. Thanedar supports reforms to remove corporate money from politics and pro-worker policies to strengthen the economy and protect workers’ rights.

Thanedar is endorsed by two of our partners: American Federation of Teachers Michigan and Michigan Education Association.

Thanedar’s opponent is Republican Martell Bivings.

Thanedar is the most progressive choice in this race.

Learn more: https://shriforcongress.com/