Voters Not Politicians volunteers and staff set up a process to identify pro-democracy, pro-voter candidates who share our commitment to a government that reflects the will of the people, and who will make strengthening and protecting our democracy a priority.
Candidates were asked to fill out this questionnaire that asks about voting access and common-sense ethics and transparency reform policies. Below are the responses to that questionnaire.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Lowering Utility Bills, Medicare for All at the state level, Civil rights protections
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I will vote for, and vocally advocate anywhere I can to see it passes.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I will work with lawmakers to move this the house. Again sign my name to, and speak about this need.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: We are people-powered. Never will take their money.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I know candidates across the nation who’s states have this type of fund. They truly incentivize people to fundraise from people. I will happily author or sign onto a bill to bring this to Michigan.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I believe that any attempt to restrict voting access is unconstitutional. Many marginalized communities struggle to have their voices heard, and we need to ensure they can vote and use their voice.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes. I have already been doing this. I have been on several press interviews discussing this initiative, and I am fully on board. We circulate your petitions at every campaign event.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I believe leadership is more than just your vote. Leadership is on the streets working to solve issues and advocating for people with or without power. I have already done this in my campaign and beforehand. To me I want to be in the majority, but will still be a strong leader and voice for the causes that matter. That is beyond votes and majorities.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Health care costs, Utilities cost, Voter rights
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: Encourage yes votes if on ballot. Vote yes if on house floor.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Encourage yes votes if on ballot. Vote yes if on House floor.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: Yes
Explain your response.
Answer: If Republicans are, so am I. I use the money to help other Dem candidates in marginal seats.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 3 – Neutral
Explain your response.
Answer: Need more information before addressing this topic.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Hard NO on the proposal.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: As long as it will apply to all members, I support it.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I was able to introduce bills and get them signed into law while being in the minority all three terms I served in the House. In 2015-16 & 2017-18 it was 47 Dems & 63 Republicans in the House, 11 Dems & 27 Republicans in the Senate, and a Republican Governor. 2019-20 was almost as bad but we had a Dem Governor.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Affordability, public safety, and infrastructure.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I will make passing the Michigan Voting Rights Act a priority and work to build support. Protecting voting rights and ensuring fair access to the ballot is fundamental. This is very important in Melvindale and Lincoln Park where large where English is not their first language. Trust me, as someone who was born and raised in Southwest Detroit, an immigrant community, it really matters!
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I will support legislation to extend FOIA to the legislative and executive branches and make it a priority early in the session. Transparency and accountability are essential! What do they have to hide? I argue what do any canidates have to hide? I am open. Are my opponents? I don’t think so. You be the judge.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: Nope, never have and never will.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I will work with my colleagues to build support. And, I will also continue to work with advocacy groups and community organizations to keep the issue moving.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I oppose this ballot proposal! It’s a modern day poll tax! We should be working to increase turnout and engagement, not make the process harder. As a City Councilmember, I have seen how important it is for residents to feel that their voice matters. The more voices we have, the stronger our Democracy will be. No time to elect someone without that experience.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes, I support the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics proposal because it reduces the influence of large donors and gives voters a stronger voice. Once more experience here matters. I am ready to lead day one, I know where the floor is and don’t need a road map.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I will deliver results by staying focused on the issues that actually matter to this district, not getting caught up in the noise. As a City Councilmember, I’ve had to work with people who don’t always agree with me to get things done. That’s part of the job. You show up, you have the conversations, and you move things forward. I’m going to bring that same approach to Lansing.
That means for both years of a term. When Democrats had a trifecta, many sat back after the first year. Not me! I am elected for two years, not one. Too many people go to Lansing for the perks. I’m going to work. Some bounce from office to office, chasing titles and benefits. I already have a career, a family, and a record of results. I’m not running to cash in; I’m running to serve. Right now, Michigan families are tired of the same old politics that leave working people behind. Downriver Deserves Better!
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Top 3 legislative priorities Environmental justice — cumulative impact permitting legislation requiring EGLE to consider total pollution burden before issuing or modifying permits in communities like Dearborn’s South End, where residents live surrounded by Cleveland-Cliffs, Marathon, and the Rouge complex with asthma rates nearly three times the state average. Affordability — real auto insurance reform with pass-through requirements so medical fee schedule savings reach drivers, repeal of rent-control preemption so cities can set local housing policy, and defense of the Michigan EITC. Government accountability — no corporate PAC money, no lobbyist money, expanded personal financial disclosure, and transparency reforms to close Michigan’s dark money loopholes. Michigan ranked 50th nationally on ethics.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I fully support all four provisions. District 3 is one of the most linguistically diverse in Michigan — Arabic, Bengali, Spanish — and many of my neighbors are first-generation voters navigating elections in a language that isn’t their first. Multilingual ballot access isn’t optional here, it’s essential. If elected, I would co-sponsor the Michigan VRA, push for a floor vote rather than letting it die in committee, and use my platform to build public support. I would also advocate for dedicated funding for county clerks to implement translation and accessibility requirements — unfunded mandates don’t protect voters.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I fully support all four provisions. District 3 is one of the most linguistically diverse in Michigan — Arabic, Bengali, Spanish — and many of my neighbors are first-generation voters navigating elections in a language that isn’t their first. Multilingual ballot access isn’t optional here, it’s essential. If elected, I would co-sponsor the Michigan VRA, push for a floor vote rather than letting it die in committee, and use my platform to build public support. I would also advocate for dedicated funding for county clerks to implement translation and accessibility requirements — unfunded mandates don’t protect voters.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I have taken a written, public pledge: no corporate PAC money and no lobbyist money. This is the foundational commitment of my campaign. I welcome support from labor unions and small-dollar individual donors. The distinction matters — worker-funded PACs and corporate-treasury PACs serve fundamentally different interests. My full donor list will be disclosed quarterly on my website, beyond what state law requires. If you can read my donor list and see only neighbors and working families, that’s the point.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: Public matching is how you make the no-corporate-PAC pledge scalable beyond candidates willing to be outspent. Connecticut’s Citizens’ Election Program proves it works — candidates who participate raise competitive totals from small donors matched by public funds, and they govern without corporate obligations. If elected, I would co-sponsor Michigan matching-fund legislation for state legislative races, advocate for a 6:1 match on contributions under $200, and use my own campaign as a case study for why the system is needed. Every candidate should be able to run the way I’m running. Right now, most can’t afford to.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A — I was not a member of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session. If elected, passing the Michigan Voting Rights Act would be a priority I’d co-sponsor and push for in the first session.
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes, I will publicly oppose it and urge voters to vote no. Proof-of-citizenship requirements create barriers for eligible voters — particularly naturalized citizens, immigrant communities, and voters of color — while solving a problem that statistically does not exist. In District 3, where thousands of naturalized Yemeni, Lebanese, and Iraqi Americans vote, this proposal would disproportionately burden the exact communities I represent. It is voter suppression dressed up as election security.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes, I will publicly support it and urge voters to vote yes. Getting corporate and dark money out of Michigan politics is the central promise of my campaign. I have pledged no corporate PAC money and no lobbyist money — but individual pledges aren’t enough. We need structural reform so the system works regardless of who’s running. I support this initiative because it makes my pledge the law rather than the exception. I am happy to sign, circulate, and publicly endorse the petition. If there are remaining signature collection efforts, my campaign volunteers are available to help.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: Three ways. First, I refuse the money that makes compromise corrupt. My no-corporate-PAC pledge means when I work across the aisle, it’s for my constituents — not because a lobbyist brokered the deal. That distinction is the difference between productive bipartisanship and captured bipartisanship.
Second, I show up. Monthly town halls, 48-hour constituent response, rotating office hours across the district. Accountability isn’t a press release — it’s answering the phone and explaining every vote I cast. I’ve committed to publishing a written explanation for every vote on my official website. Voters can hold me to these questionnaire answers because I’ll make them public myself.
Third, I build coalitions around specific bills, not partisan loyalty. Environmental justice, auto insurance reform, school infrastructure funding — none of these are partisan issues to the families living them. I will work with any legislator from any party who will co-sponsor real solutions, and I will publicly name any legislator from any party who blocks them. The families paying $3,696 a year for auto insurance don’t care which party fixes it. They care that someone fights for the fix and tells the truth about who’s blocking it.
Minority or majority, the job is the same: show up, tell the truth, refuse the money that corrupts the vote, and deliver for the people who sent you.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: My top three legislative priorities are education, economic stability for working families, and infrastructure. I will invest in public education, expand reliable and affordable transit, and lower the cost of living by increasing access to childcare, healthcare, and housing—while protecting our environment and holding corporations accountable.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: Protecting the right to vote makes a healthy democracy. I support and will continue to support measures that prevent voter suppression and expand voting access to underrepresented groups.
As an organizer, I’ve worked to expand voter access and engagement, and I’m committed to ensuring our elections are fair for ALL Michiganders.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I will support and help advance legislation to extend FOIA to the executive and legislative levels. I will work with colleagues and other orgs to ensure transparency. I’ll also use my platform to build public support and educate constituents on the importance of government accountability.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: My campaign is funded by the people and I’m committed to building a campaign for everyday people. I wanted to run because I feel like Lansing should be reflective of the community it serves.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: As someone running a grassroots campaign, I’ve seen how important it is to show the power of campaigns built on the people and not corporations.
I aim to advance a durable/equitable program that increases voter participation and highlights underrepresented communities.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes, I would publicly oppose the Americans for Citizen Voting proposal.
This proposal is unnecessary and is stirring up confusion and barriers for eligible voters. We already have laws in place to safeguard our elections.
As an organizer, I believe the goal should be expanding accessibility to the ballot, not adding issues. This proposal is dangerous and pushes voter suppression.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: I’ve supported MMOP by signing the petition myself and working as a paid circulator to help gather signatures for Mobilize Michigan. This first hand experience lets me talk to people of all walks of life. Explaining how our rates are going up because of corporate influence helps me connect with everyday people. These are the people I want to fight for in Lansing.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: Regardless of which party is in the majority , I will be steadfast the issues impacting my district. I’ve built coalitions as an organizer and that’s what I want to continue to do.
It’s important that transparency and accountability are shown in my work as a legislator ! It’s on my platform and on my literature. By coming back to my district , it’s my duty to be visible and present to those I serve. It’s important that they know how things are going and what I’m working on. People don’t want career politicians, we want people who advocating for us no matter what.
It takes many moving parts to get things done. I will always work alongside the isle , but not at the expense of the people. I am eager to serve my constituents because I know what it’s like to want fair and honest representation.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: My top three issues are: 1) Affordability, in particular with respect to energy, housing, and healthcare (including winning MiCARE at the state level); 2) Investing in communities instead of corporations, especially for transit, education, and increased local revenue sharing; 3) Government accountability, including getting corporate money out of politics and standing up to Trump no matter what he threatens us with.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I support passing a Michigan Voting Rights Act to ensure our voting rights are protected regardless of federal backlash and regression at the supreme court, and I will sponsor/co-sponsor it as soon as possible if elected. The state house’s failure to pass the MIVRA in the 2024 lame duck session was an unforgivable failure of house leadership, and I believe rectifying it should be an immediate priority in the 2027-2028 session. I also believe that restrictions on corporate money in politics are inseparable from other measures to protect our democracy, and I will fight to implement publicly funded elections in Michigan to the greatest extent possible and at every level.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I believe fully extending FOIA to all executive and legislative offices should be a top priority, and I will support/sponsor/co-sponsor legislation to that effect in office.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I’m strongly opposed to corporate spending in our elections and I’ve publicly committed not to take any corporate money for my campaign
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I’m strongly supportive of publicly funded elections, and if elected I’ll organize in my district and champion legislation to establish public matching programs and to severely restrict corporate spending.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes – this proposal is a misleadingly-named step backwards for voting rights in Michigan that would only make it harder to exercise the fundamental right to vote in our state. I will publicly oppose the proposal and organize throughout my district to ensure voters are educated about the risks it carries.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: I’ve been a huge supporter of MMOP/TBOP in both my professional and personal capacity since the start of the TBOP campaign, and I’ve been collecting signatures to get it on the ballot since the start. I will proudly support legislation to fully implement MMOP/TBOP and close any remaining loopholes regardless of the outcome of the ballot measure, and in the longer run I support moving Michigan towards publicly-funded elections at every level.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: The 2023-2024 democratic trifecta was an enormous missed opportunity to go much further and ensure progressive wins on a broad range of policy issues; I believe it’s not too late to ensure the 2025-2026 period of divided government sets up Michigan for progressive policy success in the next term. I believe one critical lesson to take away from the term overall, and the lame duck session in particular, is that progressives cannot count on good-faith promises to work on an issue at a later time. We must always demand that progressive, pro-worker legislation moves forward quickly and openly, and we shouldn’t be afraid to publicly call out attempts to kill pro-democracy policy ideas behind closed doors. I also believe the trifecta highlighted the importance of rules and leadership decisions made at the beginning of the term, and in particular it underscored that progressives cannot afford to let bad decisions slip by early on in the name of building a working relationship. No matter who leads the state legislature in the next term, I believe that open and aggressive organizing for bold policy changes will be critical, and I’m committed to vocally supporting policies I believe in and publicly making the case for pro-voter and pro-democracy legislation everywhere in my district.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Voting Rights/VRA, Housing/Homelessness, Health Care
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: This is one of the main topics on my website under the “”Voting Rights & Democracy”” Page.
For me, the need for a Michigan Voting Rights Act became even more urgent after the Louisiana v. Callais decision and other recent federal actions weakening voting rights protections. I have spent years working directly on democracy and representation issues, so watching federal protections continue to erode has only reinforced my belief that Michigan must act at the state level.
This issue is personal to me. As Chairman of the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, I spent years fighting to ensure communities had fair representation and a meaningful voice in government. I defended that work publicly, through lawsuits, and through constant attacks on the legitimacy of the process itself. I know how fragile trust in democracy can be if leaders are unwilling to stand up for it.
I was also disappointed that the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not make it through the House last session, especially because House District 9 played a role in that outcome. We cannot afford to let critical democracy reforms continue to stall and waste the next Dem Trifecta.
If elected, I would use the relationships I have built over years of advocacy work to help move the legislation forward. Through my work in policy and advocacy, I have strong connections with lawmakers, organizers, and grassroots advocates across the state.
My entire campaign is centered around community and bringing people together. I believe protecting voting rights is fundamental to that mission, and I would make passing a Michigan Voting Rights Act one of my top priorities in Lansing.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: This is one of the main topics on my website under the “”Voting Rights & Democracy”” Page.
For me, FOIA expansion is about rebuilding trust between people and their government. During my time on the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, I saw firsthand how much public trust increases when processes are transparent and people can actually see decisions being made in real time. That openness was one of the reasons the Commission was successful.
It was frustrating to watch FOIA expansion pass the Senate last term but fail to make it through the House. Especially since, once again, HD-9 was part of that failure. Michigan should not be one of the only states in the country where the Legislature and Governor’s office are exempt from basic transparency laws.
If elected, I would use the relationships I have built through years of nonprofit advocacy, coalition work, and statewide democracy reform efforts to help get this done. My campaign is centered around building community, and I believe transparency is fundamental to both.
I do not want to go to Lansing just to support good ideas in theory. I want to help finally get reforms like this across the finish line.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: No. I am a circulator for MMOP. Beyond Corporate donors we also need to tackle dark money groups as well.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: Yes, I support a small donor public financing system because I believe campaigns should be powered by people, not wealthy special interests.
That is one reason why I do not take corporate PAC money. My support for reforms like MMOP comes from years of seeing how money influences policymaking and erodes public trust.
I want everyday people, not just wealthy donors, to have a meaningful voice in our democracy.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A – However, HD-9 was part of the issue – the speaker was from the district, and while not all his fault, played a part in the MI VRA not passing. I will take the district in a different direction and get it done.
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I am CURRENTLY opposing both the Americans for Citizens Voting ballot proposal and the SAVE act. I have held multiple membership meeting through CDAD with our members to warn them about the potential ramifications it could happen, including inviting VNP into a meeting.
As someone from the Chaldean community – community that is generally more conservative (if I win, I will be the first Chaldean American elected to the Dem side, and only the 2nd overall in MIs history), I have personally seen how misinformation around elections and voting spreads within communities that are often more conservative politically. These are conversations I regularly have with friends, family members, and community members. I do not believe the answer is to dismiss people, but instead to engage directly, explain the facts, and rebuild trust.
On the MICRC, I spent years defending the integrity of our democratic systems and pushing back against false narratives about elections and representation.
For me, this issue is personal. I believe leaders have a responsibility not only to protect voting rights, but also to have difficult conversations within their own communities and help bring people together around the truth.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: I am currently, as we speak, collecting signatures and urging folks to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics proposal.
This issue is personal to me and directly connected to how I am running my campaign. I do not take corporate PAC money because I believe elected officials should be accountable to people, not special interests.
I have actively supported MMOP by signing the petition, helping circulate signatures through my networks, and working with partners like 482Forward to promote the initiative. At CDAD, I also brought in Christy McGillivray to speak with our members and help organize support around the campaign.
After years in nonprofit advocacy and democracy reform work, I truly believe reducing the influence of money in politics is necessary to rebuild trust in government.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: For me, delivering results starts with relationships, trust, and being willing to engage with people across political and ideological lines. Throughout my career, whether as Chairman of the MICRC; where I had to work with our republican members to get maps passed into law; or through my nonprofit and advocacy work, I have had to work with people who strongly disagreed with each other and still find ways to move forward.
I also understand that good policy alone is not enough. One of my biggest frustrations from the last legislative term was watching important reforms pass the Senate but fail in the House because leadership could not get them across the finish line. I do not want to be the type of elected official who simply says the right things. I want to help build the coalitions necessary to actually deliver results.
My campaign is centered around community, and I believe that approach matters now more than ever. As someone who comes from a more politically mixed and often conservative Chaldean community, I have learned how important it is to have difficult conversations, correct misinformation respectfully, and build trust with people who may not initially agree with you.
No matter the political landscape, I will continue advocating for the commitments I have made here and use my relationships, advocacy experience, and community centered approach to move these issues forward.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: 1) Community Assemblies. 2) Proportional Representation. 3) Universal Healthcare
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: Whip votes in my community via Community Assemblies to ensure that my base is informed and supportive.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Whip votes in my community via Community Assemblies to ensure that my base is informed and supportive.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: Power needs to come from the community so it can empower the community. Accepting corporate donations means I’m another politician that can be influenced by interests outside of the community.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: Whip votes in my community via Community Assemblies to ensure that my base is informed and supportive.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I will be strongly opposing it, and have already discussed it with residents in my district. The current systems in place are already incredibly effective and preventing voter fraud, especially because you already have to present proof of citizenship to register to vote. I’ve explained to people who were supportive or unsure of the proposal that the new rules would make it significantly harder for everyone to vote.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: I strongly support Money out of Politics and have canvassed for it. Allowing campaign contributions from interests that aren’t representative of the community and its voters means that politics is muddled by interests outside of the community.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I plan to organize my community from the ground up with regular Community Assemblies. This will keep my base informed, active, and united behind our goals. When the people form a consensus, it creates growing momentum. An informed and passionate community provides the necessary outside pressure to achieve real, no matter which party is in power.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: 1) Keeping a democracy; voting rights/election law; 2) Civil Rights; 3) Affordability
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: Flip the State House Democrat, keep the Senate and Gov. and SoS and AG Democrat. Sponsor or co-sponsor legislation. Work with “stakeholders” in crafting legislation and advocating for it.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: The legislation has been passed by the State House and State Senate. I’ve been lobbying for the Republican held House to advance it to the Gov. for her signature. I will continue to fight for this legislation and its reintroduction if necessary.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I accept donations from businesses and PACs, but not utilities.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 3 – Neutral
Explain your response.
Answer: I agree that we need to get big money out of politics, and am fine with state matching funds, but I don’t know what a voucher program is.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: Because we need 56 votes to pass a bill. With the Republicans walking out, that left the Dems with a one vote majority. The Speaker determines the priority of what bill goes up for a vote and when it goes for a vote. So timing is part of the problem. Also, that one Dem decided she’d had enough of working and walked out — leaving over 200 bills to die. Also, the Senate Republicans required that each bill be read out loud and in its entirety. With a 29 hour session, they were unable to act on some bills. It was a mess and it appears it was not enough of a priority for it to move.
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes. It’s bullying and a targeted attack to discourage and disenfranchise (would be) voters in the Republicans’ fight for an autocracy (on its way to totalitarianism). It aims to further weaken the finances and resources of people with lesser finances and few resources. Voter i.d. laws already exist and are strictly enforced.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes. I’m unsure if I’ve signed a petition. I believe I’ve signed on to a letter in support of similar legislation, written by my colleagues ,and attended a press conference about getting corporate money out of politics. I’ve cosponsored legislation addressing campaign finance law.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: Being in a majority doesn’t guarantee that your bills will pass — trying to convince fifty-five other people that this benefits their constituents as well as yours isn’t easy regardless of being in the same political party and in a majority. However, I will continue to work on legislation regardless of whether or not I believe it will pass the House, the Senate, or even be signed by the Governor. I’ve come to realize that for me, the work is “eyes on the prize” — work that is about more than just writing legislation, but that is about working with constituents and other “stakeholders” (like VNP), and rallying them to advocate. I’ve worked on legislation with constituents who have come to me with ideas (enrolled 3 bills yesterday based on constituent proposal), and the same with organizations (most recently AARP).
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: As a lawmaker I will continue my lobbying work to ensure small businesses have better support systems, because we have learned that we can not depend on big businesses, things like access to state grants, technical assistance, marketing support and guidance that helps businesses grow and stay open long term. When small businesses succeed, neighborhoods succeed. Another thing I care deeply for is our youth. Through my involvement in the community and through my leadership as a 5th grade teacher at now closed Wilkins Elementary in Detroit City Council District 3, a Girl Scouts troop leader, my girls mentoring nonprofit Cultivate Detroit, and within the Detroit Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, I’ve had the opportunity to work with and mentor young people in our community. My third priority would be the environment and quality of life of all Michigan residents. Communities like Warren and Detroit’s east side have lived alongside industrial and transportation corridors for decades. While industry brings jobs and economic activity, residents have also raised real concerns about air quality, pollution, and the long-term impact on families’ health.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 2 – Require and expand the jurisdictions that must translate election-related information into languages other than English to ensure that language minority groups in our state have an equal opportunity to participate in the voting process
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: If elected, I will work to build a broad coalition of legislators, advocacy groups, disability rights organizations, language access advocates, and community leaders to move a strong Michigan Voting Rights Act forward. I will support hearings, co-sponsor legislation, and use my platform to keep voting rights a priority. My focus will be protecting every voter’s access to the ballot and ensuring our democracy is fair, accessible, and inclusive for all.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 2 – Somewhat Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: If elected, I will support and help advance legislation that extends FOIA to Michigan’s executive and legislative branches because transparency is essential to public trust. I will work with colleagues, good-government advocates, and community groups to build support, push for hearings and votes, and use my platform to make accountability a priority. The public deserves open, responsive government.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I am not accepting campaign donations from corporate donors because I believe elected officials should be accountable to the people they serve, not special interests. My campaign is powered by residents, workers, and grassroots supporters, so voters can trust that my decisions will be guided by community needs, not corporate influence.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 2 – Somewhat Support
Explain your response.
Answer: If elected, I will work to build support for a small-donor public matching or voucher program by partnering with reform advocates, community groups, and colleagues who believe government should be accountable to people—not big money interests. I will support hearings, co-sponsor legislation, and use my platform to show how these programs expand participation, strengthen grassroots campaigns, and give everyday residents a stronger voice in our democracy.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes, I will be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal. I oppose the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal because I believe our elections should be focused on expanding participation, protecting voter rights, and strengthening trust in democracy, not advancing unnecessary measures that risk confusion, division, or barriers to the ballot. My priority is making sure every eligible voter can participate in a fair, accessible, and secure election.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: I support the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal because our democracy works best when voters have confidence that elected officials answer to the people, not wealthy special interests. Reducing the influence of big money, increasing transparency, and strengthening accountability are important steps toward a fairer political system. I would publicly support and encourage voters to vote yes because campaigns should be powered by communities, not corporate influence. My campaign values align with that mission, and I support reforms that give everyday residents a stronger voice in our elections.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: Results should never depend solely on which party holds power. If elected, I will approach this role with the understanding that voters expect leadership, persistence, and accountability in every political environment. The people of Michigan need progress on affordability, public safety, housing, education, and transparent government regardless of who controls the legislature. My first commitment is to stay focused on issues that directly impact everyday lives. I will continue advocating for lower costs, stronger schools, good jobs, safer neighborhoods through prevention, and government accountability. Those priorities do not disappear because the political landscape changes. Second, I will build relationships across lines of difference where common ground exists. Delivering results often requires coalition-building with colleagues, local leaders, advocacy organizations, labor partners, and community groups. I believe there are opportunities to work together on issues like infrastructure, public transparency, workforce development, small business support, and protecting access to basic services. Third, when cooperation is not possible, I will still use every available tool to move issues forward. That means introducing legislation, co-sponsoring strong bills, pushing for hearings, speaking publicly, organizing community support, and using the platform of the office to keep pressure on issues that matter. Progress is not only measured by final votes, it is also measured by building momentum and keeping promises in front of the public. Most importantly, I will remain accessible and accountable to the people who sent me there. I will communicate regularly, report honestly on what is being blocked and what is advancing, and continue listening to residents so my work reflects their priorities. My approach is simple: no excuses, no disappearing, and no blaming the system. I will show up, work hard, build partnerships where possible, and fight consistently for the commitments I made to Michigan voters.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: literacy at elementary education levels; transparency in government, including making legislature subject to FOIA; breaking down partisanship that creates a gridlocked, ineffective government
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: would introduce, co-sponsor and advocate for legislation as needed.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: as a former journalist, would be honored to introduce, co-sponsor and advocate for this necessary legislation.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: Yes
Explain your response.
Answer: Assume the question means PACs. I don’t believe moderate donations commit a legislator to vote against their principles. That said, at this point I have neither been offered nor solicited corporate contributions. I will not lock myself into the position of refusing the purchase of a fundraiser ticket by a PAC by answering “no”
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: would introduce, co-sponsor and advocate for legislation
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Oppose, because it seeks to add barriers to voting, and uses fear and anti-immigrant (“citizen” is their code) sentiment. Legal resident non-citizens are only allowed to vote in limited circumstances, and should be able to vote on local municipal and school issues, like taxation, that affect them.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Support, because money has too much influence on our politics. I believe I signed the petition.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: Being effective in the minority relies on developing relationships across the aisle and working together to find common ground. If in the minority, I could still work toward the policy goals discussed in this questionnaire, but success might come incrementally — to celebrate smaller victories that move us in the right direction, that show progress. Achieving policy goals, even in the majority, often requires give and take within the majority caucus.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Lowering costs and expanding economic opportunity for working families by supporting small businesses, creating pathways to good-paying jobs, and making it easier for families to afford housing, healthcare, and everyday necessities. Investing in public education by ensuring schools, teachers, and students have the resources they need to succeed, while strengthening career readiness and workforce development opportunities for young people. Delivering real infrastructure and quality-of-life improvements for our communities, including flood mitigation, neighborhood investment, environmental health protections, and safer, more responsive public services.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: If elected, I would support legislation that strengthens voter protections, expands language accessibility in elections, and safeguards voters from intimidation or deceptive practices. I would also work collaboratively with advocacy organizations, local election officials, and community leaders to ensure voting systems are equitable, accessible, and trusted by the public. Protecting the right to vote should be a nonpartisan priority, and I believe Michigan must continue working to strengthen public confidence and participation in our democratic process.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I support extending FOIA requirements to Michigan’s executive and legislative branches because transparency and accountability are essential to maintaining public trust in government. Residents deserve access to information about how decisions are made and how public institutions operate. If elected, I would support legislation that brings Michigan in line with the vast majority of states that already extend FOIA to these offices. I would also advocate for implementation that is timely, accessible, and practical for the public while ensuring appropriate protections for sensitive constituent and legal matters. Increasing transparency should be part of a broader effort to make government more open, responsive, and accountable to the people it serves.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I made the decision not to accept corporate PAC donations because I believe elected officials should be accountable first and foremost to the people they represent. My campaign is rooted in community support and powered by residents, small-dollar donors, and local advocates who want to see responsive, people-centered leadership. I want voters to know that my priorities and decisions will be guided by the needs of working families and the community, not corporate interests.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I support small-donor public matching programs because they help amplify the voices of everyday residents and encourage more community-driven campaigns. If elected, I would support efforts to create a fair and transparent system that increases access to running for office and strengthens public trust in government.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I would publicly oppose the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal because I believe voting rights should be protected and accessible for all eligible citizens, and I am concerned about policies that could create confusion, unnecessary barriers, or undermine participation in our democratic process.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: I would publicly support the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal because I believe reducing the influence of large donors and increasing transparency in campaign finance helps strengthen public trust in government. My campaign has already committed to rejecting corporate PAC donations, and I support efforts that make elections more accountable to voters rather than special interests. While I have not formally circulated the initiative, I support its goals and broader mission of increasing transparency and trust in our political system. I have also signed the petition to support this initiative.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I believe leadership is about showing up consistently, building relationships, and continuing to advocate for your community regardless of the political landscape. Too often, people feel disconnected from government because they only hear from elected officials during campaign season or when it is politically convenient. If elected, I intend to remain accessible, transparent, and actively engaged with residents throughout my term so that advocacy does not stop after Election Day.
Even when serving in the minority, elected officials still have the responsibility to organize around shared priorities, communicate honestly with constituents, and continue pushing important issues forward. Delivering results is not only about passing legislation, but also about coalition building, public engagement, amplifying community voices, and creating pressure for meaningful action. I believe progress often happens through persistence, relationship building, and a willingness to work collaboratively while still standing firm on core values.
As a first-time candidate, I entered this race because I believe residents deserve leaders who are present in the community and grounded in the realities people face every day. Whether it is lowering costs for working families, supporting public education, improving infrastructure, or strengthening transparency in government, I will continue advocating for the commitments I have made regardless of which party is in power. My approach will always be rooted in accountability, accessibility, and putting the interests of the community first.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Welfare reform, reduce taxes and increase funding in roads
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: Explain the 14th amendment to the constitution to the public
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Tell voters Michigan public office leaders books are open and why
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: Yes
Explain your response.
Answer: I would if I support their cause
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: Only rich people can get elected and that should change
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: No leadership to push the agenda
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Vote yes because showing up in person with if is important to keep elections fair
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes a lot of money is spent to keep out candidates speaking the truth
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: Push my agenda still win or lose
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: My top three priorities are affordable healthcare, housing, and restoring revenue to our cities. Healthcare shouldn’t be a luxury. People should be able to go to the doctor, fill a prescription, and not worry about how they’re going to pay for it. We also have to address housing. People deserve safe, stable, and affordable places to live, and right now too many families are being priced out. And lastly, we have to fix how we fund our cities. I’ve seen what happens when communities are underfunded, we fall behind. If we want strong communities, we have to invest in them.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: This is about making sure every eligible voter has a fair and equal opportunity to participate. That means protecting against voter suppression, expanding language access, and ensuring voters with disabilities have the support they need.
There is no place for intimidation or deceptive practices in our elections.
If elected, I will support and advocate for this legislation, work with my colleagues to move it forward, and make sure residents understand their rights and feel confident participating in the process.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: If elected, I will actively support and advocate for legislation that brings greater transparency and accountability to state government. The public deserves to know how decisions are made and how their tax dollars are being used.
I will work with my colleagues to move this forward and be consistent in my own office by operating with openness and accessibility. Transparency shouldn’t be optional, it should be the standard.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: Yes
Explain your response.
Answer: Running a competitive campaign requires resources, and the reality is that new candidates are often at a disadvantage when facing opponents with larger war chests. Until there are stronger laws that address corporate PAC influence, this remains part of the current system.
That said, I am intentional about who I accept support from. For example, I have chosen not to accept contributions from DTE because of my concerns about their impact on residents. My priority is always to serve the people, and no contribution will influence the way I advocate for my community.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 2 – Somewhat Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I support the idea of small-donor matching because it helps everyday people have a stronger voice in our elections.
At the same time, I think we have to be realistic about how campaigns are run today. Until there are broader reforms to the system, candidates, especially new ones, are often navigating an uneven playing field.
I would support a program that is fair, transparent, and actually helps level the playing field, while making sure it doesn’t unintentionally disadvantage candidates who are working hard to build competitive campaigns.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes. Non-citizen voting is already illegal, so this proposal does not solve a real problem. What it does do is risk creating unnecessary barriers for eligible voters, especially seniors, working families, and long-time residents who may not have easy access to documentation.
My focus is making sure people can participate in our democracy, not making it harder. We should be protecting both the integrity of our elections and the ability of every eligible voter to have their voice heard.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: We all know the current system puts a lot of pressure on candidates to raise significant funds just to be competitive. That reality can make it harder for everyday people to run for office and for voters to feel like their voices carry the same weight as large donors. Efforts that increase transparency and elevate small donors are steps in the right direction.
At the same time, I believe any reform needs to be implemented in a way that is fair, workable, and does not unintentionally disadvantage candidates who are operating within the current system. I have not been directly involved in circulating or organizing around this initiative, but I support the broader goal of creating a system that is more balanced and centered on people, not just money.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I understand that being in the minority can present challenges, but it cannot be an excuse for inaction. The people I represent still expect results, and they deserve someone who shows up and does the work every day.
I have built my career on collaboration. As a local leader, I’ve worked with people across different perspectives to secure funding, move projects forward, and deliver real results for my community. That same approach will guide me in Lansing. I will build relationships, find common ground where possible, and stand firm where it matters.
At the same time, delivering results is not just about passing legislation. It’s about advocating, educating, and making sure my district has a voice at every table. I will continue to communicate openly with residents, push for policies that reflect their needs, and hold myself accountable to the commitments I’ve made. No matter the political landscape, I will show up, speak up, and work to get things done.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Tax stabilization and cost of living relief, Healthcare Access and Senior Support,Youth and Workforce development.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I’ll work to gain bipartisan support, partner with community leaders, and push the bill forward in committee and on the floor because protecting voting rights requires both policy and real coalition building.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Build a Bipartisan coalition, working with leaders who believe transparency and accountability is key. Support and advance legislation as well as engage the public and stakeholders.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: Because I want to be accountable to everyday people.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: If elected I would push for a hearing on this matter as a bipartisan issue. Asking community and constituents there opinions as well
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: When it comes to this specific proposal, I think it’s important to look at whether it actually solves a real problem or if it creates confusion or unintended consequences. My focus will always be on policies that both protect the vote and make it easier for the right people to participate in our democracy.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: I will publicly support this. I’ve signed a few petitions regarding this.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I’m not running to make promises, I’m running to deliver outcomes the people deserve. I will stay focused on what moves the needle in my district no matter who’s in power at the moment. Those things are lowering the cost of living for tax payers, creating a better work force environment, and improving public safety.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: I’m Jason Morgan, proud to represent Michigan’s 23rd District, and I’m committed to making government work for everyday people again. Too many families in Michigan are doing everything right but still find it hard to make ends meet. My top priorities focus on making life more affordable, expanding opportunity, and making sure government works for real people. First, making life more affordable means taking on the real drivers of high costs, housing, utility bills, and corporate price gouging. I’ve worked to expand affordable housing, push back on unfair utility rate hikes, and support policies like free school meals that put money back in people’s pockets. We need to keep building more housing, hold utilities accountable, and stop corporations from taking advantage of people just trying to get by. Second, expanding opportunity means making sure everyone has a real shot, no matter where they start. That means strong public schools, affordable college and job training, and pathways to good-paying jobs so people can build a future here in Michigan. And third, making government work for real people means getting money out of politics and holding powerful interests accountable. I’ve taken on corporate influence and pushed for more transparency, because if we don’t fix that, the system will keep working for those at the top. Without this piece, we will continue wondering why we elect new people yet still don’t see major change – we can fix that, together. At the end of the day, if you’re doing your part, our economy should work for you. That’s what I’m fighting for.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act to address barriers to voting by preventing suppression and intimidation, expanding language access, and strengthening protections for voters with disabilities. In a moment when voting access is being debated nationwide, Michigan has an opportunity to lead by ensuring its elections are fair, inclusive, and accessible rather than rolling backward. We also must ensure full funding to implement the Michigan Voting Rights Act upon passage.
I would prioritize building a diverse coalition of legislators, advocates, and community stakeholders to move this legislation forward. As the Recruitment Chair for the Democratic Caucus, it has been my responsibility to find and work with candidates in competitive seats to help us regain the Democratic Majority, a needed step to pass this critical legislation. In addition, I would engage directly with the public to raise awareness about why these protections matter and help generate the momentum needed for passage.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I believe government transparency is essential to a healthy democracy, and Michigan should join the rest of states that apply FOIA to both the executive and legislative branches.
I’ve already supported efforts to expand FOIA, and if re-elected, I will continue to push for legislation that brings real transparency and accountability to state government. That includes working with colleagues to move FOIA expansion, building support within the caucus, and making it a priority in broader ethics and transparency reforms.
This is about restoring trust. People deserve to know how decisions are made and how their government is operating. If we expect accountability from others, we should be willing to meet that same standard ourselves.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: Yes
Explain your response.
Answer: One of my top priorities is banning corporate money in politics. I’ve worked to move that forward by supporting efforts like putting MMOP on the ballot, introducing Taking Back Our Power, and pushing for stronger ethics, transparency, and accountability laws to ensure Michigan government answers to real people rather than powerful interests.
At the same time, there are a small number of groups in Lansing that would likely fall under corporate PACs and contribute modest amounts to most lawmakers, often totaling a few hundred dollars a year. I have accepted some of those contributions.
I’ve also been intentional about where I draw the line, especially when it comes to industries that directly impact people’s costs of living, like DTE or Consumers.
But the bigger issue is the system itself. It’s set up in a way that gives outsized influence to money, and that needs to change. I will keep working to reduce and ultimately eliminate the role of corporate money so regular people have the strongest voice in our democracy.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I strongly support small-donor public financing because it helps level the playing field and makes it possible for more people, not just the wealthy, to run for office. And it will allow us as legislators to spend more time doing our actual jobs.
Right now, our system puts too much weight on large donors and not enough on everyday people. A matching or voucher program would amplify small-dollar contributions, encourage candidates to engage directly with their communities, and help build a more representative government.
This is also a key step toward reducing the influence of corporate money in politics. If we’re serious about making government work for people, we have to change how campaigns are funded. I support moving Michigan toward a public financing system, and I’m committed to working toward that goal.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: The Michigan Voting Rights Act didn’t pass because we didn’t have the votes. We had a narrow Democratic majority, ineffective House leadership, and Rep. Karen Whittset and House Republicans didn’t show up.
When margins are that tight, you need every vote and strong coordination. We didn’t have that, and the bill died. The takeaway is simple: we need bigger, more reliable Democratic majorities and stronger leadership so critical priorities like voting rights can get done. That’s why I’m focused on expanding our majority and making sure we can actually deliver.
We also need to ensure the funding is there for it and it is able to be implemented effectively, as that was a concern some members had back at the time.
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I will absolutely oppose this proposal and encourage voters to reject it. The measure addresses a problem that is already covered by existing safeguards and risks introducing confusion or unnecessary barriers to voting. My focus will remain on improving access and participation for eligible voters.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes. I am publicly supporting and urging voters to vote “yes” on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics proposal. We must get big corporate money out of our politics. I’m actively working with MMOP on this effort. I’ve been working to get more legislators to endorse the proposal, personally collecting signatures, and pushing every day to get this on the ballot. I’m fully committed to getting this passed.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: If re-elected, I’ll continue to measure my work by outcomes, not who’s in charge. I’m proud that Michigan’s recent budgets – both when I was in the majority and the minority – have reflected several of my priorities, including significant investments in public education and infrastructure improvements. We have to continue to introduce meaningful legislation, build diverse coalitions, and work directly with advocates and community members to maintain momentum on the issues that matter. We can’t exclusively rely on being within the majority to get things done on behalf of Michiganders.
Every day, people don’t care about process, they care about whether things are getting better. My job is to keep showing up, keep pushing, and keep finding ways to get things done, no matter what the political landscape looks like.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Education, Protecting our resources, employment
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: Voter rights are the backbone of our democracy. We should be encouraging more voting, not adding barriers.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I would vote yes on issues that promote transparency and legislative oversightI would vote yes on issues that promote transparency and legislative oversight
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I am not for sale. My vote belongs to my people.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I believe that it will give the everyday voter a louder voice. My concern is where the money to match comes from. We would have to take a serious look at the source of funding
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I am against policies that create additional barriers for eligible citizens exercising their right to vote. I believe election integrity and voter access should work together, and I do not support measures that make participation more difficult for lawful voters. Protecting the voting rights of citizens while maintaining confidence in our elections should remain the priority.I am against policies that create additional barriers for eligible citizens exercising their right to vote. I believe election integrity and voter access should work together, and I do not support measures that make participation more difficult for lawful voters. Protecting the voting rights of citizens while maintaining confidence in our elections should remain the priority.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Absolutely. Elected officials should never be selling their vote or placing special interests above the people they serve. The vote and the trust behind it belong to the people, and representatives have a responsibility to act in the best interests of their communities, not for personal gain
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I would get things done regardless of who is in power by standing firm on my convictions while reaching across the aisle and focusing on what we agree on. I believe leadership is not about choosing party over people; it is about building relationships and finding practical solutions that improve lives. I understand not every issue will bring complete agreement, but there is often more common ground than people realize. I will stay accessible, listen to my district, work collaboratively, and remain accountable to the commitments I make. I also believe trust is built through consistency, transparency, and showing up even when conversations are difficult. My responsibility is to the people I represent, and I will work to deliver results regardless of the political landscape
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Balance Budget; Transparency of all branches of Government; Return Power to the family
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 5 – Oppose
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: this is a fraudulent question. Your real question is will I support the takeover of our elections by foreign agents. the answer is NO
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I will address this based upon Michigan constitution and the US constitution.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I run on self imposed limits, I am not looking for donations. If they come they come but for the last 20 years I have run, I have taken NONE
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 5 – Oppose
Explain your response.
Answer: NO State tax dollars should be used in elections. Tax payer dollars stay with tax payers.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: We need to have honest elections and that begins with identifying who is voting and that they are citizens of the State of Michigan and the United states and are Legally allowed to vote. This can only be done with ID. You need it to get a Job, to buy Beer or Cigarettes. Why not to also Vote.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: This is another smoke screen issue. Money from the left has been streaming into politics for years. And not just from corporate donors but from Out side of this state and country.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: By telling the truth, which you have a tendency not to.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Schools, housing, and criminal justice reform
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I’m happy to work with VNP to get the Michigan VRA passed, it is even more important now that protections at the federal level have been ripped to pieces.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: It’s vital that the secrecy end and that voters are able to make decisions with clear and accurate information available to them. While the truth might be hard to take, the secrecy fuels mistrust even if there were no skeletons in the closet.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I am not accepting donations from corporate sponsors. For one, they aren’t eager to support candidates like me. And the amount of money they offer to Black candidates in poor districts is only enough to undermine your integrity and reputation.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I’m happy to work with VNP and others to build a path toward passage of such a program.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: Like many, I was frustrated by the collapse of the work that needed to be done in lame duck, but also by the amount of work put off until lame duck. Leadership across the board during the trifecta was more conservative than the people who elected them wanted.
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes! The proposal is nothing more than voter suppression that seeks to undermine our right to vote. It is wasteful, dishonest, and offensive legislation that will only do more harm if passed. While I don’t believe it will pass, I know that it is also a PR tool of division and will publicly oppose it for that reason, as well.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: YES! I have signed and encouraged others to sign as well. I fully support the MOP initiative and will encourage voters in my district to support it with their votes, as well. I am happy to work with VNP and my campaign team to work on a plan for my district.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: Being in the minority is very difficult, but I have found that there is work we can do together. Republican colleagues have been supportive of my claw back bill aimed at getting the $100 million tax break for the University of Michigan and Los Alamos data center project planned for Ypsilanti Township. They have also been supportive of much of my criminal justice legislation.
I have built and maintained good relationships with my colleagues wherever possible. Political grandstanding can look and feel good, and it can get money and clicks on social media, but it prevents working together when and where we can on legislation that serves Michiganders.
While I can’t honestly promise any particular outcome, I’m comfortable working across the aisle in support of good legislation.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Healthcare, Housing, Labor
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: Simply put, voting is a right in our democracy. Everyone should be able to vote without intimidation, and that means providing accommodations to those who speak other languages, have disabilities, or otherwise can’t get to the polls on election day. I proudly voted for the ballot initiative to cement no-reason absentee ballots in our Michigan constitution. I will do everything in my power to protect voters from intimidation, whether that’s from outside groups or even from our own government trying to use ICE as an intimidation tactic.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Absolutely, I’d personally like to know who’s bankrolling Matt Hall and his refusal to bring the bill to the floor. I would co-sponsor any legislation that extends FOIA requests to legislators and executive offices.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I am a people-over-profit candidate that fights for the working class and not the millionaires and billionaires. I refuse to take corporate PAC money and want to tax the rich.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I want to move towards publicly-funded elections to get corporate influences out of politics and help grassroots campaigns.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I have personally been loosely involved in dispersing Decline to Sign literature that opposes the Americans for Citizen Voting initiative. There is zero evidence that Michigan elections are anything less than free and fair, including a Republican-led Senate investigation that found no widespread fraud in the 2020 election.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: I signed (and resigned) the Money Out of Politics petition as soon as I could. I have personally canvassed for Money Out of Politics (and Invest in MiKids) twice, once at a public event in my district and once door-knocking in Kalamazoo with the Democratic Socialists of America. As a member of DSA, I also voted to support the Michigan for the Many campaign, which included ranked choice voting, Invest in MiKids, and Money Out of Politics ballot initiatives.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: Politics is about coalition-building, and that’s what I intend to do. I will work with legislators like Carrie Rheingans and Laurie Pohutsky to pass legislation that helps the working class. I have already begun building the connections with several organizations, local leaders, and other progressive candidates across the state so that we can hit the ground running if we are voted in. Additionally, I will support and endorse any candidate that puts people over profit, from the smallest local election up to the largest national election.
Most importantly, I will always show up. Whether my constituents need me in the legislature fighting for their rights or in the streets putting my body on the line alongside them, I will always be there. Most of all, I am a candidate FOR the people and BY the people, so I will gladly step aside if I am unable to effectively legislate.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Affordability (health care and housing), Public Schools, Holding Corporate Polluters Responsible
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I would work across the aisle to try to remind the Republicans that voting rights should not be a partisan issue and that fair and equal voting for everyone will help them as well. I will put my name on any legislation that expands voting rights. I will work to make election day either a holiday or require employers to allow their employees paid time off to vote.I would work across the aisle to try to remind the Republicans that voting rights should not be a partisan issue and that fair and equal voting for everyone will help them as well. I will put my name on any legislation that expands voting rights. I will work to make election day either a holiday or require employers to allow their employees paid time off to vote.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: As WMU’s former FOIA Officer, I have a unique, experienced perspective on FOIA. MI should not be an outlier in this area. If legislators are doing their jobs correctly and well, they should not in any way feel threatened to allow the voters to see that (subject to legally protected privileges). I will champion expanded FOIA access, revise antiquated statutes that were written before electronic communications and storage were common place, and make it harder for public institutions to deny FOIA requests.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: There is entirely too much money in politics. I will not be beholden to corporate donors at the expense of accountability to the voters.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: Public office should not be limited to the rich. I will champion current bills aimed as keeping utilities from buying elections; however, I want to see this expanded to all industries who profit off of democratic processes. I will work to find a way to over turn Citizens United in our state in a way that will pass Supreme Court muster.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes. I spent four years fighting to expand voting rights and access in Michigan. I will never work to undo the hard work of the thousands of people who helped us succeed.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8:Yes. I have signed the petition to keep money out of politics. I have also signed the LCV pledge to not take utility money. Last year, I also directed people to VNP and the MOOP initiative as they were looking for ways to be politically active in the off-year.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I will work with whatever political party is in power to protect voting rights. By building trust and relationships across the political spectrum, I can ensure that my voice will be heard. If that does not work, I will be present and vocal in opposing any efforts to limit voting rights. I will use my coalition building skills to keep up the fight for as long as is necessary.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Affordability for Working Families, Healthcare for All, A Sustainable Future
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: Voting is profoundly important to me. I have voted in nearly every primary, general and special election since turning 18. I take my children with me to vote as an important demonstration of their civic responsibility to participate when they grow to voting adults.
Our Democracy is under attack, and Michigan is not doing enough to protect it. Weak political leadership missed the opportunity to advance meaningful protections in 2024 and this must not happen again. I would work with Voters Not Politicians and other interest bodies to sponsor or co-sponsor such legislation in my first term (or any term needed until passage). I refuse to stand idly by and watch as our future is stolen from us by morally bankrupt oligarchs that undermine our free and fair elections.
Prior to being elected as State Representative I will help to fight for candidates in marginal districts who openly support protecting voting rights through the general election, bringing along my volunteer base to assist. I grew up in House District 44 and will focus attention on supporting a pro-democracy candidate in that district in particular. We need a majority of such legislators to protect our rights and ensure legislation will advance. Once elected, I will hold members accountable to move such legislation quickly for a vote as a top priority in the first 100 days of the term. I will use my organizing skills and network to help to galvanize activists to ensure the legislature takes the needed action. I will champion this cause.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Part of protecting our democracy is restoring the trust in our institutions that have been stolen from us by those that benefit from disenfranchisement. Requiring our executive and legislative branches to comply with FOIA requests is an easy step in working to restore institutional trust, but it does not go far enough. We need additional reforms, like expanding personal financial disclosures, lobbying disclosures, and stronger “revolving door” limitations like HB 4062-4064.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I made a pledge in February to not take a single donation from corporate donors. That being said, in my first filing at the end of December I received 3 donations from executives (or a spouse) of local housing developers that receive government contracts. I have turned these donations back, and this will be reflected in my next campaign finance filing.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I support a program similar to Arizona’s public funded elections policy. It opens the door for candidates that, through systemic inequalities, otherwise would struggle to break into our system. If we truly want a Michigan for the people, we need to work towards ensuring that the people can run for office. As a working-class single mother running for office I deeply understand these very barriers. When elected, I will work with Voters not Politicians and other interested groups to sponsor/cosponsor the legislation required to move a similar program forward.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A – I am deeply disappointed by the political failure that occurred by those in office in 2024.
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes. The Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal is a solution in search of a problem. It is election fearmongering, a part of an ecosystem that is designed to generate distrust in our elections. Michigan’s elections are fair, free, and safe. I have already ensured that Kalamazoo County government passed a resolution in opposition to Americans for Citizen Voting, being one of few counties to do so in the state. I will ensure that I carry available literature when I canvass in my community or other districts for the general election. I would welcome any further messaging assistance on this from Voters not Politicians.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes. Similar to my position on corporate donations to my campaign, I am deeply concerned about money in Michigan’s Politics. MMOP would address some of the systemic issues that have led to this crisis. Not only have I signed the petition, but I have ensured that my staff has as well. I am running in a safe Democratic seat, and so after my primary, I will work to advance the voices of the MMOP coalition to ensure that this ballot initiative is passed. We cannot build a Michigan for the people without protecting Michigan from corporate influence. I will carry literature with me in the district for this measure.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: Firstly, I am running in a safe democratic seat, and plan to run across Michigan post-primary to support our Democratic candidates.
That being said, I am a strong believer that remaining uncompromised in my values of human rights and dignity brings people together. I have demonstrated my ability to work with politicians on the opposite side of the aisle through my work on the Kalamazoo County Commission, even receiving unanimous support from my Republican colleagues for my reappointment as Chairperson this last January. Building bridges is hard, and I will not settle for simply the easiest bridges. I do not shy away from telling hard truths to members of my own party, and I did that vehemently when I felt that local redistricting efforts were eliminating the majority minority district in Kalamazoo County unfairly. I stood firm even when that meant spending political capital and challenging members within my own party. In this current legislation session in Lansing, we’ve seen bipartisan support for reforms expanding FOIA to the executive and legislature passing 33-2 in the Senate, and being introduced by a Democrat and Republican. I will be yet another voice in this fight for election reform in the House, and will follow in the footsteps of this bipartisan cooperation because the fundamental commitment to democracy is simply too important to turn away from.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Worker Rights / Consumer Rights / Government Transparency
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I will advocate for our MVRA to anyone who will listen. We, as Dems, have to push the advantage if we win in November and take back the trifecta. This is one of the bills needed to harder encode our rights.
I want to be the leader that pushes the party to do the right thing and I believe we need more people in the party who are willing to raise their voice and explain who and what is holding up the processes of actual progress.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I would sponsor any bill or introduce one that finally opens our government to FOIA. The people all around the state are tired of the wall that keeps them in the dark and leads to distrust of the government.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I can’t be a first time candidate and advocate for affordability and working class rights AND take corporate money. It’s definitely harder but it’s worth it to only be beholden to people.
On top of this, companies should not be counted as people.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I think all races should be publicly funded and campaigns get substantial rate reductions on broadcast and ad space because of how perverse money is in politics.
It is extremely disheartening that people I talk to on the phones are all being texted and emailed multiple times a day asking for their dollars that we are all fighting for because there are several elections in the area at the same time.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes I oppose this initiative because anyone who requires proof of citizenship and an ID also needs to make a system where the state provides that for free to each person in Michigan.
Regardless of that fact, illegal votes cast are such a non issue that it’s using a made up problem to push racist and sexist ideologies to disenfranchise voters.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes I do support it.
I have signed it twice, due to the extension, and have publicly told people to sign it, pushed for the endorsement of it at the Kalamazoo Democratic Party meeting, and endorse it in my own campaign.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: Yes, while I don’t support bipartisanship for the sake of bipartisanship, I will work with anyone who wants to make the working class life better and wants corporate money out of politics.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Strengthen the Economy, Support Small Businesses, education and training
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: Voting is a fundamental right, and the Supreme Court has been chipping away and creating cracks in the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Michigan needs to fill in those gaps where it can to protect everyone’s right to vote.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I’m not sure what the Republicans in the MI House are hiding. As a military officer, I was subject to FOIA laws for more than 20 years. It’s appropriate for our legislature to be subject to the transparency provided by FOIA. Our citizens have a right to know what’s going on in their capital.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I have only accepted campaign donations from individuals.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 2 – Somewhat Support
Explain your response.
Answer: small-donor public matching moves us in the right direction. However, we have a much bigger issue that needs to be addressed nationally if we want to make real change.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: I’m new to politics.
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: No, I would not be publicly opposed to urge voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizens Voting proposal. Any law that creates obstacles for citizens to vote, artificially represses the vote, and has no place in our state.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes. Money in politics has gotten out of control after the Citizens United ruling. We need to fix this problem before it undermines our democracy.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I’m a retired military officer. I chose my words carefully and live a life of integrity. The comments I made are not campaign promises. They are my beliefs.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: My top three legislative priorities are improving access to mental healthcare, supporting strong public schools, and responsible economic development.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I strongly support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act. This would ensure every citizen’s right to vote is protected, and furthermore increase participation from groups often neglected by the political process. I would use my platform as a state representative to publicly promote the MVRA and would engage fellow representatives to support its prompt passage, and would be willing to sponsor or co-sponsor this legislation.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I will engage fellow representatives to support its prompt passage upon taking office, and would be willing to sponsor or co-sponsor this legislation myself. We need to increase transparency in our legislature and executive offices, and extending FOIA requests to them would give citizens greater oversight on our political process.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: Yes
Explain your response.
Answer: At this time, I will not be fully rejecting corporate contributions. Due to the extremely competitive nature of my race, I do not want to reject fundraising opportunities from organizations that would like to support the campaign. However, I do have strong standards for organizations that donate to this campaign. I will wholeheartedly reject any contributions from corporations or organizations that face unfair labor practice charges or any other anti-union activity, and additionally have no plans on taking money from corporate utilities. I fully believe that corporations do hold too much power over our political system, and will commit to reigning in their influence upon taking office.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: Small-donor matching or voucher programs will promote a much healthier political process. This evens the playing field for candidates who do not have the backing of a super PAC or any other corporate sponsors. I would support advocacy efforts to raise awareness about these programs upon taking office.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I will be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal. This ballot proposal would create discriminatory and undue restrictions on voting rights, and stems from blatantly false allegations of voter fraud in Michigan in past elections.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: I have signed the ballot proposal, and will publicly support its passage. Corporate utilities such as DTE and Consumers have long held too much influence on our legislature through their financial support of candidates, and this ballot proposal will help create real transparency in our political process.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: Delivering results, especially in a divided government requires a genuine commitment to collaboration. In these circumstances we have a responsibility to work harder to build relationships, find common ground and move meaningful solutions forward. The work begins early by bringing stakeholders together as well as community voices to shape policy that is thoughtful, informed and responsive to real needs.
The primary way forward is to prioritize collaboration over partisanship. My expertise as a social worker and non-profit executive has prepared me to lead this way. I ask questions, I listen closely, and I center the voices of those most impacted by decisions. That approach does not change based on which party is in power. It is how I have built programs, led teams, and delivered outcomes throughout my career, and it is how I will serve as a legislator.
The biggest lapses in judgement by our legislature occur when they are beholden by a special interest, and legislators make decisions that actively harm their own communities for campaign contributions. I vow to keep the interests of working Michiganders first in any decision I make, and would engage my fellow legislators to do the same. We need to create real transparency in our political process, and that starts with reminding ourselves of the people we serve.
I pride myself on my ability to find practical, common sense solutions. I hope to bring this sense of balance into the legislature to make real progress for working people in my district and across Michigan.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: The environment, Healthcare, and affordability
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: Last term, we got close to passing Senate Bills 401-404. These bills unfortunately did not get voted on by the full House before the end of the term. I will continue to work with my colleagues to support these bills when they move through the legislative process because we must protect the right to vote here in Michigan. During my time in the legislature, I have voted yes on critical pieces of legislation to ensure implementation of Prop-22, and I have consistently stood steadfast in my opposition to attacks on voting rights like HJR B, which is Michigan’s version of the Save Act.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Transparency is critical. Michiganders have a right to know that laws and issues are being handled in the correct way.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I have not taken money from corporations like DTE, Consumers, or BCBS since 2024. Additionally, I have taken MLCV’s no utility money challenge.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 3 – Neutral
Explain your response.
Answer: I believe that we should reform our campaign finance laws because Michiganders support it and an overwhelming number support getting money out of politics. However, we currently have strong rules against using taxpayer dollars and resources for campaigns here in Michigan. If we were to pass a program like this we would need strong guardrails in place to protect and ensure that taxpayer funds are being used correctly. It takes money to run a successful campaign and we need change to ensure that all candidates are supported and everyone has the same access to running a campaign.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: The Michigan Voting Rights Act, SB 401-404, passed out of the House Elections Committee on party lines and was referred to the House floor for a full vote. Unfortunately, at the end of the term, House Dems were working on passing a multitude of critical pieces of legislation that did not make it over the finish line due to a wide variety of priorities that members wanted to accomplish, and being unable to come together to get more things done. Instead, we finished the term with fewer accomplishments than I expected us to have.
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes. We have no evidence of widespread voter fraud by non-citzens, and ensuring that U.S. citizens only vote is already a requirement.. I will continue to oppose proposals and legislation that try to address problems that do not exist and simultaneously make it more difficult to vote for Michiganders.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes, I have taken the Michigan League of Conservation Voters No Utility Money pledge, and I am supportive of expanding campaign finance law to ensure Michiganders have transparency. I will continue to support initiatives that put Michiganders first.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: If I am re-elected to office, regardless of whether Democrats are in the majority or the minority, I will continue to do my best to introduce and support legislation that relates to my campaign promises and my comments made here. Earlier in this form, I mentioned that my top priorities are healthcare, the environment, and affordability. I am working on legislation to lower prescription drug prices, which will help make things more affordable for Michiganders who rely on insulin and inhalers by capping the cost of their medication and making their copays consistent. I have worked on capping the copay on insulin during my almost 4 years in office which consisted of one term in majority and one term in minority. My insulin legislation died in the House after two years of hard work and advocacy, but the result did not deter me from continuing my work on the legislation this term.Similarly, I have now introduced legislation two times to provide funding and resources for farmers affected by PFAS. I have continued fighting for these priorities to be accomplished no matter the political makeup of the House, and I will do so next term as well. The fight never stops to ensure we are working towards a stronger Michigan for all Michiganders.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Education, Health Care, Healthy Planet
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: Voters need to be informed and educated. I will support legislation promoting voter rights and oppose legislation that denigrates voter rights.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: FOIA has built-in protections, whereby personal and sensitive material is protected. Openness breeds trust; we need transparency. I will support legislation extending FOIA to legislative and executive offices.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I am not expecting to accept corporate donations, though I maintain prerogative to carefully consider specific cases. My vote cannot be bought. I won’t accept donations from entities not supporting my positions.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 3 – Neutral
Explain your response.
Answer: I don’t feel I have a full appreciation of the potential pros and cons of small donor matching.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I will publicly oppose Americans for Citizen Voting. This is a veiled attempt to disenfranchise voters, to subvert rights of voters and to manipulate outcomes for one party. The label is misleading. There is no support for theories of widespread fraud in voting; this fact is incontrovertible.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes. I support the Money out of Politics ballot. I don’t have all the answers right now, but we need reform in how politicians finance campaigns. This is a clear conflict of interest. When utility companies and health insurance entities donate to political campaigns, there is tacit expectation of return on the investment.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I understood many years ago that doing the right thing will almost always create consternation in the group benefitting from the status quo. The responsibility that goes with leadership is seldom easy. I was the associate superintendent of a public school district in Wayne County for nearly ten years. Every decision I made was met with support by some and opposition by others. I concluded early on that, while listening to both sides, in the end my decision had to be the one I believed in my heart was correct. There was significant union and financial strife during that period. I led the district through these controversial times – moving the district out of decades of deficit spending to fund balances (still) in the millions of dollars. Positive change rarely occurs in a status quo environment.I understood many years ago that doing the right thing will almost always create consternation in the group benefitting from the status quo. The responsibility that goes with leadership is seldom easy. I was the associate superintendent of a public school district in Wayne County for nearly ten years. Every decision I made was met with support by some and opposition by others. I concluded early on that, while listening to both sides, in the end my decision had to be the one I believed in my heart was correct. There was significant union and financial strife during that period. I led the district through these controversial times – moving the district out of decades of deficit spending to fund balances (still) in the millions of dollars. Positive change rarely occurs in a status quo environment.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: 1. Reducing household costs. We need to encourage more housing construction, take on insurance and phacompany price gouging to reduce the cost of health care, take on DTE and Consumers Energy to reduce the cost of utilities, and reduce the cost of child care, nursing home care, and in-home care. 2. Investing in high-quality education. Michigan’s public education system needs a significant funding boost to reduce class sizes, hire more literacy coaches and special educators, enroll more children in our free pre-K program, and make the free breakfast and lunch program permanent. To support each of these investments, I would support closing certain corporate tax loopholes, creating a graduated income tax, and creating new “sin taxes” on sports betting and digital advertising. 3. Restoring trust in government, which is the foundation of successful democracies. Many Michiganders doubt that their state government truly works for them. To remedy this, I would support expanding the Freedom of Information Act to the Legislature and the Governor’s office, ending the use of secretive “nonprofit organizations” that fund lawmakers’ personal expenses, and many reforms discussed in this questionnaire.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I would strongly support this legislation, and if re-elected I would advocate for the legislation publicly and within the House Democratic caucus. The right to vote is the bedrock of the democratic process, and anyone who attempts to limit an eligible voter’s access to the ballot should face harsh consequences. This issue is especially important to me as the Chair of the legislature’s Disability Caucus, and as a Representative for a district with a significant ESL population.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I have been a major critic of Speaker Hall’s refusal to take up legislation expanding FOIA to the Legislature and the Governor’s office. No matter who the next Speaker is, I will hold them to the same standard. Any candidate for House Democratic Leader who does not support FOIA expansion will not earn my vote.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: Yes
Explain your response.
Answer: The vast majority of my donations, both the total number of donations and the amount of money raised from them, have come from either individual donors, labor union PACs, or pro-democracy organizations such as the Michigan League of Conservation Voters PAC. I have accepted some corporate PAC donations, but they have been far and few between and they have not influenced any votes I have taken. This cycle, I proudly took the MLCV’s “No Utility Money” pledge.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I would support creating a small-dollar public matching program for state and local candidates. In Michigan’s political system, candidates who are not personally wealthy or connected to wealthy individuals have a harder time raising funds. Such a program would reduce the influence of the wealthy and corporations on political outcomes and make it easier for working-class candidates to attain public office.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: Had House Republicans and Representative Whitsett not walked out of the House during the lame duck session, denying the House a quorum, House Democrats would’ve had the ability to pass the Michigan Voting Rights Act. However, we should not have waited until lame duck to pass the legislation in the first place. I am proud of the many accomplishments we passed through the House with a one-seat majority, but we should have been less cautious. All political actions create backlash, and it could be argued that any one of the wonderful bills we did pass generated the backlash that lost us the House. If we regain the majority this fall, I will advocate within the Democratic caucus for the swift passage of the Michigan Voting Rights Act.
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I have already done so, and I will continue to do so, both in my public social media posts and as Chair of the Legislative Disability Caucus. I have also written, on social media and in my legislative newsletter, about my opposition to similar anti-democratic legislation introduced by Representatives Posthumus and Woolford. Plain and simple, this ballot initiative is an attempt at voter suppression, motivated by the idea that certain classes of people should have less of a say than others.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: I proudly support the ballot initiative, and I will be urging my constituents to vote for it. If successful, the initiative will reduce the influence of DTE and Consumers Energy, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and other monopoly corporations over Michigan’s political system. Elected officials should govern in the interest of their constituents, not these corporations. Further, the disclosure requirement for issue ads would make vital campaign information more accessible to the average voter, empowering the electorate at the expense of campaign consultants.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: An elected official’s responsibility to serve their constituents does not change depending on whether they are in the majority or the minority. Despite being in the minority this term, I have continued to introduce legislation, meet with my constituents, and hold public events. And while legislators in the minority have no formal ability to pass legislation, they do have the ability to throw sand in the gears of the majority in various ways. The most effective way for them to do this is by using their platform to draw attention to the majority’s actions, which I did when I gave a floor speech condemning Representative Woolford’s voter suppression bill. No matter the political makeup of the House, I will continue speaking up in favor of pro-voter legislation and against voter suppression efforts.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Affordability, Education, Healthcare
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I strongly support all efforts to expand and protect access to the right to vote and to ensure the fairness of the electoral system. The right to vote is the most fundamental of all rights in any democracy. If elected, I would co-sponsor and champion the Michigan Voting Rights Act and all other measures to expand and protect access to the right to vote and to ensure the fairness of the electoral system.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I strongly support government transparency and, if elected, I would co-sponsor and champion extension of Michigan’s FOIA law.I strongly support government transparency and, if elected, I would co-sponsor and champion extension of Michigan’s FOIA law.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: Money in our politics is a scourge. Getting big/dark money out of politics is a top priority for my campaign and I believe we must live our values.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I am supportive of efforts to ensure election fairness and to level-the-playing field in terms of money in politics. However, in my opinion, small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates are band aids that do not go far enough to get money out of our politics. Citizens United was wrongly decided. Money is not speech. Corporations are not people. The first amendment ought not be weaponized to protect big/dark money in Politics. That is a far better solution, but in the meantime I am supportive of all efforts to make elections more fair.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I will publicly oppose the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal. In Michigan, only citizens can vote now. This movement is designed to scare and confuse. The only purpose of these types of initiatives is to make voting harder for already disadvantaged communities. All of my effort will be devoted to making voter easier and fairer.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes. Every effort must be made to get money out of politics. Money is a scourge in our politics. Regulated monopolies in Michigan are some of the most egregious offenders. It is only right to end this and I will be a vocal supporter.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: We must do everything in our power to work “across the aisle” and to build support for pro-democracy, pro-voter agendas, regardless of party. I would start by seeking support from individuals in the majority party to see if compromise could be made. I would follow-up by encouraging constituent support for pro-democracy, pro-voter agendas in the districts of legislators that I viewed as persuadable. I believe strongly that these issues are popular with voters and if we educate and mobilize voters, they can pressure legislators to change positions. Finally, I would work to make non-partisan issue space available, allowing supportive but hesitant legislators to come on board without requiring them to adopt every single element of policies they may not agree with.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: 1. Affordability. 2. Safe communities. 3. Real accountability — money out of politics
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: Voting is the key to democracy. It’s what makes this all possible, but with federal voting rights protections recently weakened by the Supreme Court and under continuing attack at the federal level, states have to step up. The Michigan Voting Rights Act is long overdue. In a democracy, voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression should never be something that governments get away with. Also, Macomb County is home to growing Spanish, Bangladeshi, Albanian, Chaldean, and Arabic-speaking communities. If election information is only available in English, we are quietly telling those neighbors their participation is optional and doesn’t matter. It’s also the same for voters with disabilities. Too many polling places still aren’t fully accessible, and assistance protections need to be clear, enforceable, and respected so that all people can easily access polls. When voter turnout increases, we have a strong democracy, which is why intimidation and coercion are also unacceptable. We’ve seen voter intimidation tactics, deceptive mailers, and threats against poll workers in recent cycles, and state law needs to be able to regulate this to protect our democracy.
If elected, I’ll cosponsor a Michigan Voting Rights Act and do what needs to be done to get it across the aisle and into legislation.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Michigan is only 1 of 2 states in the country where the legislature and the governor’s office are exempt from public records requests, and it’s been a deliberate choice to protect the powerful from accountability to the people they’re supposed to serve. Again, this is exactly why I’m running. If Voters can’t see who is meeting with their state representative, what they’re working on, or what’s being negotiated behind closed doors, then they can’t decide if decisions are being made for them or for those who have the bigger check. Transparency is super valuable to me. If elected, I’ll cosponsor legislation to extend FOIA to the legislature and the governor’s office, with reasonable exceptions for genuine personnel and constituent-privacy concerns.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: No corporate PAC money has been a campaign priority from the start. My campaign tagline says it: funded by people, not corporate PACs. I’m running on the belief that working families across HD-58 are getting squeezed because the people writing our laws are listening to corporate donors instead of constituents. I won’t take that money in this race, and I won’t take it once I’m in office. The only people I want to be accountable to are the people I’m running to serve.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: Statehouse races cost millions of dollars in Michigan now. That’s one of our biggest problems. That money could be so much more useful elsewhere in our government, spent on things that actually make our society more equitable and workable. Not only does the kind of fundraising make public office inaccessible to the everyday people who represent most of the communities here in Michigan, but also, without that public matching, most candidates can’t raise the kind of money it takes to win without taking the big checks from corporate PACs or coming from wealth, which is why we keep getting the same results over and over again. A small-donor matching or voucher program changes that.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes. I’ll publicly oppose this and urge voters to vote no. Macomb Defenders Rising is currently working on a small issue advocacy bifold to pass around to educate our neighbors about this ballot proposal and the negative impacts it will have. The Americans for Citizen Voting Amendment is a voter suppression proposal. Noncitizen voting is already illegal under federal and Michigan law. Only about 40% of Michigan citizens have a valid passport. The voters who will get hit hardest are seniors, married women whose names don’t match their birth certificates, college students, working-class voters without vital documents on file, tribal citizens, active-duty military, and Black Michiganders. Macomb has fast-growing Bangladeshi, Albanian, Chaldean, and Arabic-speaking populations, many of them naturalized citizens, future neighbors and constituents of mine, who would suddenly have to produce specific paperwork to prove what they already are. That’s a tax on voting, and it’s not ok.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Getting money out of politics is one of the main reasons I’m running for office. I think it’s at the heart of what’s preventing real change in our legislature and I’m committed to making it happen here in Michigan. I’ll publicly support Michiganders for Money Out of Politics, and I already have. I signed the petition way early on and have shared about it on my social media. Macomb Defenders Rising has hosted MMOP signature gatherers and presenters at our meetings consistently, and we’ve co-sponsored events with MMOP, including a Money Out of Politics protest last year.
My campaign doesn’t take corporate PAC money because I’d rather be accountable to my neighbors here in HD-58 than to DTE, Consumers, or Blue Cross.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: Again, this is part of the reason I’m running. I’m tired of hearing politicians say, “We’re in the minority, so there’s nothing we can do until we get the majority.” My seat is one of the seats that could flip the House to a Democratic majority, but I’m going into this knowing that I could get elected and still be in the minority. That’s just the reality of politics, and it’s not an excuse to skip out on doing the actual work it takes to move legislation. I’ll keep introducing the bills I’m running on every session, even when the votes aren’t there, because that’s how you build the record for the moment the conditions are ready. I’ll make sure I work with organizations outside of Lansing and communicate about my bills publicly because public support is crucial to getting legislation to move. I’ll organize and persuade my colleagues because that’s the job of getting votes on a bill, and I’ll work with Republicans when there’s agreement, but walk away when compromise means gutting the reform. I built MDR over the past year, doing exactly this. I know I’ll be able to do it in Lansing too.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Single-Payer healthcare; Protecting and lifting up underserved communites such as women, people of color, disabled, LGBTQIA+, those with socioeconomic hardships, etc.; Campaign finance reform to keep businesses and corporations from buying our elections.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: As with any of my legislative goals, I will band together with the other members of our legislative branch and make sure these points are included in the legislation we write up.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I would work with fellow legislators, and likely discuss our options with our Attorney General as to how we get this done. I’m not going to know every facet of the legislative process, but I will find those who know what I need to know and learn from them to make progress happen.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I’m not accepting campaign donations. I am asking the voters to hire me to make their lives better. Corporate involvement in our elections is already a huge problem, and I will do whatever I can to discourage that. Additionally, in these times when we are all struggling financially, I can’t, in good faith, take anyone’s money to hire me. If they like my message, they can spread the news in their communities that I am looking out for them. They can save their money to put food on the table, pay the increasing DTE costs, and care for their loved ones. I don’t want it.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I want to pass legislation which will allot a set amount of money for each individual for each election cycle to spend towards candidates of their choosing. That will ensure that the people (not corporations and lobbyist groups) are the ones funding the campaigns.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I will absolutely be opposing that. First off, there are citizens without photo ID. This already disenfranchises those who have not been able to obtain one. Next, the framing of the purpose is already assuming that if someone is voting illegally, that it’s for a Democratic candidate. This is a disingenuous statement which shows the true nature of proposal. Only citizens will be voting, but not all citizens have photo ID.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes. I will absolutely support and urge voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics proposal. I’ve signed this petition and it’s a core issue for me. Money does not belong in politics. I can demonstrate that based on my willingness to run a campaign without asking for money from others. I practice what I preach.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: There are so many communities that need our help. I’m Autistic and advocate for the Autistic community and for disability rights. What a great place to find common ground with my Republican colleagues. Certainly that is a place we can start. This illustrates our ability to come together where we can. I think it’s perfectly reasonable to keep Michigan tax-payer money right here in Michigan instead of sending it to Israel to commit their genocide. Let’s use that money in Michigan. Much of the Conservative base has been screaming for years about how we send money elsewhere instead of spending here, so let’s do that. Let’s fund our own communities. Single-Payer healthcare would help small businesses because now they can retain employees without having to worry about how they’re going to provide those benefits. It really is a ripple effect. We help our most vulnerable communities, and it helps everyone from the bottom up. Making these kinds of cases again and again to our colleagues with common sense policies, and making sure that they see how their constituents will truly benefit from delivering on these will make fulfilling these promises easier. It’s going to be hard work, but that’s the job. Gather the data, make the case, and find your team to push through what we can to help Michigan.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Water infrastructure, Housing, Healthcare
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I will use my position to advocate for fair and safe voting for all citizens. I will vote in favor of the Voting rights act and protest any attempt to weaken it.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I have voted for increased transparency through FOIA and will continue to advocate that Michigan Representatives, Senators and Executive branch officers be subject to FOIA
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I took pledges with MLCV to not accept corporate monies. NO DTE or Consumers.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: Take the money out of Politics!!!
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: Because one democrat joined the republicans in walking out so there was no quorum. That lone democrat was promised benefits for her community because we already knew republicans would take the House.
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: This proposal throws up too many barriers to citizens. According to the Michigan Department of State in the 2024 general there were 5.7million voters. 15 appear to be non citizens. That’s .00028%. There is no crisis of inaccurate or false voting. And all 15 have were not shown to have maliciously voted.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes! Money out of Politics! I have talked with a petition circulator and will sign on. I have said for quite a while that candidates squaring off for one position should have the same amount of money for campaigning. Then it becomes about your words, your actions and your deeds. Not about cash.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I have said repeatedly that democrats aren’t always right and republicans aren’t always wrong. People at home just want us to listen to each other, talk to each other and make good decisions that benefit them at home in their communities. I will continue to reach across the aisle and try to work with my all my colleagues. I have handed over good bills to republicans because I know that as a democrat in the minority I won’t get a bill past committee. I have a recreational passports bill that benefitted Veterans. It was sent to committee to die. So instead it got handed to a republican Veteran who got it across the finish line. It doesn’t matter that I didn’t get credit from the public. The bill was passed. Michigan Veterans benefit. And a Veteran got the credit. I can live with that.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Commitment to community, bringing integrity and transparency to the voters. Representing the community interests on legislation passed or denied. Bringing business into Macomb county and create more jobs.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I support voter rights with no interference or intimidation. I would oppose anyone trying to deny legal voters rights
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 2 – Somewhat Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I would need to look more into it and how it’s impacted other states
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I havent accepted corporate donations and have no plans to
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 2 – Somewhat Support
Explain your response.
Answer: Would need to look into implications, but generally support it
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I have to look into this proposal. If it’s a new Id or costs then I wouldn’t support it. Restrictions have been discouraging on real ids and other similar programs. I will have to read the proposal to give a definitive answer. That is all I have on the matter at this time.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes, it’s has gotten out of hand in politics. I would like to see more candidates come forward with leadership experience before running for office. We need more leadership based on past experience and merit versus who is brings in the most financial backing.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: My actions in office can’t be bought or compromised. My stance is with my constituents and I plan to represent to the best of my ability. Influence can’t be pushed on me financially through organizations or corporations. I only care about the options of the community I represent and making Macomb county a better community. I’ve lived in this community most of my life. I have the same concerns and want the same things as my neighbors. We are all looking for honest and transparent answers representation in government and often we are left disappointed after the election. People should believe in there representatives they vote for to be in office and be excited for the future being created. It’s time for elected officials to be held accountable and gain the trust of their voters again. It’s time to put honest, hardworking people in office with integrity.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Education, housing and energy
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I will support any legislation that allows for a free and fair election. There should be no barriers
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I’ll sponsor that legislation
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: Corporations should not be able to control our elections with their money
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 2 – Somewhat Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I’ll sponsor and vote in support of
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I will not support fixing a problem that doesn’t exist It makes no sense to spend time, money and valuable resources on nonsense.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes! I’ve worked on the signature collection. Corporate donations should not be allowed in our elections. Once you accept corporate contributions you are beholden to them. A representative should work for his/her constituents, not big money corporations.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I haven’t taken any PAC money, nor do I intend to. I want to support legislation prohibiting corporations from donating to political campaigns in the state of Michigan. Hawaii has already passed similar legislation.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Taking steps towards universal healthcare, expanding access to affordable and accessible childcare and dynamic housing reform.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: As a government teacher, I instill in my students one of the most important duties a citizen can have – to vote. At the same time, we have studied the structural barriers that disenfranchise those who are eligible to vote. As a representative, my goal is not only to protect our democracy but to strengthen it. Strengthening by ensuring that every eligible voter can vote.
As a state representative, I will support legislation that addresses these barriers, including the Michigan Voting Rights Act. I will support an increase in funding to purchase the necessary resources our county clerks require to ensure that everyone, even just one person, has access to the ballot box. I will protect our constitutional guarantees to absentee and early voting. I will also oppose any piece of legislation that aims to restrict or make voting more difficult – such as the recent Michigan version of the SAVE Act.
As the son of immigrant parents, I have seen firsthand how language can be a barrier to new voters. I have also seen firsthand the pride of my family in being able to access a ballot box and have a say in their government. Across my district, we have thousands of immigrants. Many of whom have gone through citizenship and are ready to be active participants. As a legislator, I will work with our immigrant community and their organizations to ensure that their right to vote is protected and supported.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: This should be common sense. Our constituents have a right to request public information from their legislators and the governor. I am shocked that this legislation hasn’t already passed. As a state representative, I will support Senate Bill 1 and Senate Bill 2 if reintroduced in the next legislative session. I will also support laws such as the BRITE Act, which strengthens our financial disclosure laws, especially when it comes to dark money. Our constituents deserve to know who is donating to our campaigns – directly or indirectly.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: As someone who wants to be a fresh face in our politics, I need to show my neighbors that I am here to represent them, not large corporations. The decision in Citizens United has been disastrous to our representative democracy, and our constituents see it. Many have little trust in their government in actually representing them, and a lot of times it’s the truth. I want to show my constituents that I am here to represent them. Hence, I have pledged not to take money from corporate donors. As a legislator, I will also support legislation that will enhance transparency when it comes to financial disclosures.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 3 – Neutral
Explain your response.
Answer: I am really interested in this idea. I am always looking for creative solutions to address issues, especially when it comes to fostering fairer elections. As I was doing some research on this, I’m excited to see that many other states and municipalities have enacted some version of small-donor public marching or voucher programs. I would be interested in a discussion on how we can expand our current public funding of campaigns. My primary concern is where the revenue to fund a program like this would come from.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I will be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the American for Citizen Voting ballot proposal. This is nothing more than a ploy to restrict access to the ballot. Michigan has been a leading state in expanding access to the ballot, and I hope Michiganders will see through this attempt to rip away people’s voting rights. As a candidate for office, I will be more than willing to have myself and my canvassers discuss the ballot proposal and urge constituents to vote no.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: I will be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michigander for Money Out of Politics ballot initiative. Corporations like DTE and Consumers Energy, which hold monopolies over our utilities – including communities in my district – should not be bankrolling elected officials. I have taken the pledge not to take any money from utility companies and I will be doing my damndest to make sure that their money is out of our politics. I also support the initiative’s ban on companies that hold or seek large state or local contracts from funding political campaigns. Again, companies should not be bankrolling elected officials to secure contracts meant to serve the people.
I have signed the petition and have been encouraging my friends and family to do the same. I would also be willing during my campaign to have my canvassers and I discuss this ballot initiative to voters and encourage them to vote yes.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: Elections matter. Who controls the chambers and the governor’s office matters. To get my priorities and commitments accomplished, we need a legislature that is willing to enact these changes. I will work with any member in the legislature to advance the commitments I’ve made in this questionnaire. I will always support progress while being committed to the end goal. However, I have my reservations that members of the opposite party will flatly reject our proposals, especially if they’re in the majority. Here’s a promise I can make, though: if our party is not in the majority, I will be working to build up the support in the public, not just in my district, but across the state. I will support citizen-led ballot initiatives. I will work with local municipalities to enact versions of my commitments at the local levels. I will work to spread the information and build coalitions of voters who demand these changes.
If we’re in the majority, I will hold firm in my commitments. I may be a member of the Democratic Party, but I will be the representative of over 80,000 residents who will have elected me, knowing that I will secure access to the ballot box, get corporate money out of politics, and enhance government transparency. I will hold my party accountable to bring up legislation that does this. I will push my party and work with my colleagues to get this across the finish line. If, after two years, you are dissatisfied with my work, I encourage you to hold me accountable. I encourage you to challenge me. I encourage you to let my constituents know. I’m running because we deserve politicians who are willing to fight for us, not just for a party or corporation.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: 1) Voter Accessibility 2) AI Regulations 3) PFA’s Regulations
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I will continue to advocate to move it through committee, get a vote on the floor, and talk to members to get the votes to pass it. I have co-sponsored the current bills.I will continue to advocate to move it through committee, get a vote on the floor, and talk to members to get the votes to pass it. I have co-sponsored the current bills.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I will co-spondor and advocate to pass this legislation.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: Yes
Explain your response.
Answer: I am accepting all legal PAC donations.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I love this idea. I will sponsor or co-sponsor and advocate for passage.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: We had to make several changes to the Senate bills as the clerks were initially opposed and so were several House members. Once these changes were made and the clerks became neutral we were still short one vote and then one of our caucus members left. After she left, we ran out of time to vote on this and many other critical pieces of legislation. It was a sad time.
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes. I have publicly spoken against the corresponding SAVE Act legislation and worked with partners to introduce the SANE Act. This was my floor speech:
HJRB takes us down a dangerous path. Over the past 2 years, we worked hard to make Michigan the #2 state in voter access and democracy. Now, the first chance they get, our new Republican legislature is trying to make it harder for every single American citizen to vote and telling us that this is the only way to make our elections more secure.
We can always do MORE to make our elections more secure and we should. I will continue to pursue my goal of making Michigan elections #1 in the nation, not only in accessibility, but in security as well.
And here’s the thing, we don’t have to make it harder to vote to make our elections more secure. We don’t have to make people find their long lost birth certificates, because let’s be honest here, if I asked everyone in this chamber to produce their birth certificate tomorrow, a good number of you would come up short. And while many of us do have passports, many of us don’t. For those of us who do, we don’t carry them around unless we’re on the way to the airport and we shouldn’t be expected to. And for the 80 percent of women who took their husbands names when they got married, this one doesn’t apply to me, who would take on a name like Tsernoglou if you didn’t get that one at birth, well guess what, you’re husband’s name isn’t on your birth certificate, so that’s not going to count. I guess you go get a new one.
Anyway, let’s not do that. Let’s make government continue to work for the people, not make the people have to do extra work to access their voting rights. To my colleagues across the aisle, lets talk! I have pro-voter solutions that don’t inconvenience American citizens to address all of your concerns.
How about having our department of state do more audits, before the elections, not after! And using existing records to check new registrations on a rolling basis. Adding bold, not to be missed signage at every polling place, laying out the consequences of voting as a non-citizen. And lets put it in some different languages that reflect the population of the district to avoid any potential language barriers. How about working with public universities to register all incoming students that are American citizens. And here’s one of my long term goals, which is to get photo ID’s from the Department of state securely accessible to our elections workers on election day and thus alleviate the need for voters to even bring their own photo ID. With new technologies available every day, the things we can do to increase the security of our elections are limitless. We are ready to offer real solutions.
So let’s not turn back the clock and put onerous burdens on everyday American citizens in the name of election integrity. Let’s keep moving forward and address every challenge with bold new ideas that promote democracy, accessibility, and security all at the same time.
I will be voting no on today’s resolution in favor of better, smarter, less burdensome ideas and I encourage my colleagues to join me. Don’t make it harder to vote. Make it harder to cheat. Thank you.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: No. I have not been involved with this ballot proposal. However, I certainly support the concept of getting money out of politics. We spend so much time fundraising that it takes away from other things we could be doing. I think the whole system is really broken. I don’t think the ballot proposal will fix that entirely, but it if passed, it could take away the perception of undue influence from corporate donors.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: First, having first been part of the Majority and now in the Minority, I can assure you it’s no “”excuse”” when we tell you we don’t have the power to accomplish all the things we want to do. On a personal note, I had every intention of working in a bipartisan way this term. I even managed to pass a bipartisan bill to ban explicit AI generated images early on with a Republican partner. Shortly after, I had my name taken off election bill packages by one of our resident election deniers simply because I had been an advocate for voter accessibility. And if you didn’t know, there are very few Democrats that are “”allowed”” to pass bills. I am not one of them. I don’t say this as an excuse. Just simply an acknowledgement of reality as it stands. I was also not allowed to ask questions in my oversight committees for several meetings because my questions were hard and they made the chairs uncomfortable because I believe it is our job to ask hard questions and challenge the things we don’t agree with. And when I held a press conference to urge our Speaker to allow us to form a special committee to investigate Epstein’s ties to Interlochen, I was promptly removed from all of my committees.
With all of that said, I will continue to reach across the aisle, bring attention to issues that are important, help constituents, and do everything in my power to deliver results. And last year, I did successfully request funding for a much needed infrastructure fix in my district by working with my Senate counterpart.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Addressing affordable housing, increasing government transparency by subjecting the state legislature and the Governor’s office to the Freedom of Information Act, building passenger rail from Holland to Detroit
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I will publicly push for the Michigan Voting Rights Act, and support efforts to get legislation passed. That means having conversations with those who need it, and highlighting their stories. That also means pushing through social media and the media to lobby the legislature to pass it.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I have made government accountability a key component of my campaign, and I have promised to introduce legislation expanding FOIA to legislative and executive offices, once elected. I will keep my campaign promise and push for this legislation.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I am not accepting campaign donations from corporate donors on this campaign.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 3 – Neutral
Explain your response.
Answer: I need to learn more about how this program would work, but am absolutely willing to have discussions about its implementation. I need to learn more about how this program would work, but am absolutely willing to have discussions about its implementation.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes. The Americans for Citizens Voting ballot proposal limits Michiganders’ ability to vote. I am opposed to efforts limiting the right to vote, and the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal limits the ability to vote. I will be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes, the Michiganders for Money out of Politics ballot proposal is playing an important role in pushing for a better kind of politics, where money is not the end all be all of how candidates are elected, and representatives conduct business. I have signed the proposal.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I will always push to uphold campaign promises, regardless of the political landscape. One issue from this questionnaire which is particularly important to me is the expansion of Freedom of Information Act Legislation to include the state legislature and the Governor’s office. I have made this a central campaign promise, and voters are shocked to find out we are one of only two states in the nation that does not include the state legislature and the executive branch under Freedom of Information Act legislation. I pledge to introduce this legislation and continue to push for its passage regardless of the political landscape.
I will also continue to push for voting rights including by pushing for a Michigan Voting Rights Act, and to push back against attempts to limit Michiganders’ right to vote including through the Citizen ballot proposal.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Economic development/workforce training. I was a leader in this area during my first term, serving as the LEO Subcommittee Chair. This term, I’ve championed tax credits for West Michigan agri-business and food processors to grow our local economy. Every Michigander deserves a good job that can support them and a family. Affordability, particularly around housing, healthcare, and childcare. Education. A well-educated and well-trained citizenry is critical for a community’s success. I have worked hard to increase funding and accountability for community colleges, worked hand-in-hand with workforce development groups, and supported increasing funding around our growing literacy crisis.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I support efforts to strengthen voter rights and ensure that all eligible voters can participate fairly in elections. Expanding access, improving language support, and preventing intimidation are important steps toward a more inclusive democratic process.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 2 – Somewhat Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: The State Senate passed it over a year ago and speaker Matt Hall has still not even held a Committee Hearing. If and hopefully when it comes up, I will support this legislation as I have in the past.The State Senate passed it over a year ago and speaker Matt Hall has still not even held a Committee Hearing. If and hopefully when it comes up, I will support this legislation as I have in the past.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: Yes
Explain your response.
Answer: The most important thing in Michigan right now is to win back a Democratic majority in state government. The unfortunate reality of our politics is that we cannot win competitive races without proper funding. As long as we’re playing the game as currently designed we should not tie a hand behind our back while our opponents are using these resources. Because I represent a more Democratic seat, I plan to use my fundraising to support other pro-labor candidates and provide all the support I can. As an elected official, I’ve proven that I will always champion the working class people over corporate interests.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 2 – Somewhat Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I am supportive of the concept, and I would love to learn more about what the program would entail, how it would work, what the cost would be, etc. Raising the money needed today to run campaigns is tough and often forces out great candidates who don’t already have fundraising connections.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: It did not pass because the lame duck session was cut short after we lost a member who chose to walk out with the republican caucus leaving us with only 55 members preventing a quorum.
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I do not support this ballot initiative, but I also do not actively get involved in ballot initiatives and urge people to vote one way or another. When asked I will share my major concerns about the disenfranchising potential of the initiative. Additionally, I have repeatedly voted against HRJ 1 and any bills that seek to do the same thing.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: As stated previously, I don’t take public stances on ballot initiatives. I too share major concerns about how elections are financed and money raised, but I am afraid of the unintended consequences of this initiative and the way it could only further the influence of things such as 501c4 and 527 dark money accounts that are not traceable.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I have worked in both the minority and in the majority – I enjoy the majority far more because of the greater impact I can make. However, many colleagues on both sides of the aisle seem to prefer the minority. And I fully agree, being in the minority is often an excuse to be lazy and not fight as hard for the issues. I have a reputation for being a member who is willing to put in the hard work and compromise coming up with solutions that work. I think it is totally reasonable for groups like VNP to hold folks accountable. During the initial stages of the Dem majority, I was very proud of all the items from years of campaign promises that were accomplished. I also think candidates and groups have an obligation to be realistic with voters about what is possible in this current environment.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Housing, Healthcare and Enviromental Protections
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 5 – Oppose
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: Realistically? Get the majority, so that means supporting other Democratic candidates.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 5 – Oppose
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I’m proud of a lot of what Democrats have done in Michigan but when it comes to FOIA it’s absolutely shameful.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: You can’t take a dollar from a corporation and not consider their interests when going through the decision making process. It’s human to want to support those who support you, so it’s important to recognize that.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 5 – Oppose
Explain your response.
Answer: Yes, because that’s the path to removing money from politics.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I will. Our elections are safe and secure. Voter fraud is minimal and when the results are close, the votes get more scrutiny. Large scale fraud is near impossible. This law is voter suppression, full stop.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes. I’ve signed and encouraged others to do so as well. We will continue to support this
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: If we can’t get momentum on state level policy, we can act as strong public advocates for the endeavors we campaigned on. We can work with local leaders in our district, organizations that support the endeavors to create more education and understanding.
I’m not going to Lansing to figure out the next state flora or fauna, I’m trying to get people access to a house that won’t financially cripple them. State representatives can drive attention to issues if they commit to be strong advocates.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Local Control and Transparency, Protecting rural character, Affordability
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I would also prioritize transparency and public education to build trust and support for protecting and expanding voting access in Michigan.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I would also focus on making the policy workable, ensuring strong implementation and enforcement so that transparency is meaningful in practice, not just on paper.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: No corporate PAC donations or familes with dark money. Only answer to the people who elect me.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 2 – Somewhat Support
Explain your response.
Answer: Elections should be more community-driven and equitableElections should be more community-driven and equitable
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I support transparency in elections and government. Any changes to voting policy should be clear, accessible, and carefully evaluated to ensure they do not create unnecessary barriers for eligible voters or reduce fair access to the ballot.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: I believe reforms related to money in politics should strengthen public confidence, expand transparency, and reinforce the principle that elected officials serve constituents first. I remain committed to supporting efforts that promote accountability and fairness in the political system while ensuring that Michigan maintains a robust, inclusive, and accessible democratic process for all eligible voters.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I will focus on building bipartisan relationships and working with anyone, regardless of party, who is willing to put people first and get things done. I will stay closely connected to constituents through ongoing listening, community meetings, and direct feedback so that the priorities I carry forward reflect real lived experience across the district. I will pursue practical, incremental progress wherever possible, recognizing that meaningful change often happens step by step, especially when power is divided. I will remain fully independent from corporate PAC money and dark money influence so that my decisions are guided only by the needs of the community, not by donors or special interests. I will prioritize transparency, accountability, and consistent communication so residents can clearly see what is happening in Lansing, why decisions are made, and how I am representing them. No matter the political environment, I will stay grounded in service, integrity, and responsiveness to the people I represent.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Economy, Voting Rights, Transparency s and bridges enabling farmers to get their products to market faster, easier and cheaper. Implementing policies that restrict of prevent speculators from buying up lage tracks of land for investment purpose resulting in inflated home prices s and bridges to allow farmers to get their products to marker faster, enabling farmers to get their products
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I support the right for every citizen to cast an informed vote. I do not support the SAVE ACT which I see as a mechanism to disenfranchise certain members of the public. I support the right for every citizen to cast an informed vote. I do not support the SAVE ACT which I see as a mechanism to disenfranchise certain members of the public.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I will work to introduce and/or support legislation that requires all government offices to comply with FOIA. I would also like to review the current FOIA laws to see if they need to be strengthened, made easier to access and have stronger penalties for failure to supply requested information in a timely manner.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I am not and will not accept corporate donations, including but not limited to utility companies.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I am appalled by the cost of running an election, even in rural areas. This would be a great start, but I want to look into other possible ways to limit spending and level the playing field.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes. Our voting laws already require U.S. citizenship to vote and the voting process in Michigan is working just fine. Americans for Citizen Voting claimed to have identified 16 non-citizens as voting in the 2024 election. Even if true, this does not necessitate making legal U.S. citizens jump through hoops to exercise their right to vote.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes. My staff and I have signed the petitions currently being circulated and have supportive literature in our office. We have spoken to many constituents about this need and have not found one person in disagreement.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: There is no question that I will work to honor my commitments made in this questionnaire, because they reflect the beliefs and values I share with my supporters. I will work hard to establish trust and respect from my fellow representatives on both sides of the isle. When I speak or argue on behalf of or against a policy or any legislation, I will have done my homework in order to make my case clear and hopefully compelling. I also intend to keep in close touch with my constituency by keeping them informed about what we are doing and listening to how policies being considered by the legislature would affect their lives.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: My top priorities are lowering costs by increasing competition and taking on consolidation that drives up prices in housing, healthcare, and everyday goods, strengthening workers’ pay and rights by making it easier to organize and ensuring wages keep up with costs, and improving healthcare and life expectancy by lowering costs, expanding access, and focusing on better outcomes so people in Michigan live longer, healthier lives.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: Everyone should be able to vote without barriers, confusion, or intimidation. If elected, I will vote for it, and work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to help build support. I will also use my platform to keep my constituents informed on these types legislation so there is public pressure to get it across the finish line.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Transparency builds trust and there is no good reason these branches should be exempt
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I am not accepting corporate donations because I want my campaign to be accountable to people, not special interests. Large donors have too much influence in policy decisions. I would rather build support through individual contributions and community backing so my focus stays on what is best for the people I represent. Side note – DTE should not be making political contributions as a regulated monopoly
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: It helps level the playing field so regular people can run and compete without needing large donors. The more informed your constituents are on common sense issues, the easier it is to apply public pressure to the legislature. Too much influence comes from big money.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes. Only citizens should be voting in our elections and that is already the law. This does not solve a problem and will create confusion. It’s already confusing for people to be involved in the voting process. No reason to discourage people even more. We need to make it easier to access the voting process for people
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes vote. Our current system gives too much influence to big money, and this is a step toward leveling the playing field. Too many people are losing faith in the system because of money in politics. It’s creating an imbalance. I would like to see the states work together to overturn citizens united
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I will focus on getting results and not making excuses. I will work with anyone willing on practical solutions regardless of party. I will be staying focused on issues like lowering costs, improving infrastructure, increasing life expectancy, reducing traffic fatalities, increasing worker power by stretching unions, making sure AI technology benefits regular people .. not just the rich, and protecting voting rights. Even in the minority, there are opportunities to pass pieces of legislation.
I will also stay in communication with my constituents so they know what I am working on. Transparency is key. Public engagement matters. I will use my platform to keep people informed.
I will be consistent. I will show up, and follow through on the commitments I make. Results come from being able to work through differences in good faith for practical solutions that will benefit future generations.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: My top priorities are lowering costs for families, strengthening government transparency so it serves people instead of special interests, and supporting and improving public education for every child.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: When elected, I will work to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed by doing two things:
First, I will continue to actively communicate why this act is so important in protecting our rights and ability to exercise our constitutional right to vote.
Second, I will work with leaders on both sides of the aisle to make the case that protecting voting rights is a nonpartisan issue but a constitutional responsibility.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: The MI Senate has already passed this legislation, and it is stalled in the House. Matt Hall has said clearly that he will not move it forward for a vote. We need to retake the house so that Democrats can pass this legislation. I will be a Democrat that will vote in Favor of our legislature and governor being FOIA’d. This will bring a level of accountability needed in our state’s government. The endorsement of VNP legitimizes social media posts I have already made in favor of voting for this legislation.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I will not and have not accepted any donations from corporate donor or their employee PACs.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 3 – Neutral
Explain your response.
Answer: I need to investigate this further, in speaking with people of my district, they have communicated how overly taxed they feel and their concerns that their taxes are being used in manners that don’t help the people. I am not sure that using taxpayer funds to fund politicians will sit right with the people.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I have already opposed and spoke out against this ballot proposal. I have created social media posts against the proposal and spoke about it at meetings. Now, not only I am I sharing how we need to vote against this because it will be on the ballot, but I am communicating with people on what they need to do to be ready if this initiative passes.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes, Yes, and yes. I have signed the proposal twice because my first signature was prior to November of 2025. Members of my canvassing team have circulated this proposal with me when knocking doors and at events. I have created social media posts with links to MOP. We even have my opponent on record stating that he wouldn’t sign the proposal.. He takes money. I am setting the example by not taking money!
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I am committed to the issues discussed today, and I’ve been clear with voters about exactly where I stand. When elected, it will be because people supported me knowing my position and I intend to follow through. My stance won’t change with political pressure. If I end up being the lone Democratic vote on a reform that protects voters or reduces the influence of money in politics, then so be it. That is the leadership I will bring to Lansing.
I know how to persuade people. In my chats, I have found that voters from both sides of the aisle want money out of politics. They want a government that works for them, not special interests. There are people who are concerned about non-citizens voting. We can’t ignore their concerns instead; I remind them that our constitutional right to vote is more sacred than the small number of non-voters that have been caught. What threatens our vote is when eligible citizens, like my 96 year old grandma will now face barriers in order to vote. No American should lose their ability to vote because they can’t navigate how to get paperwork or transportation to register.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Economic Revitalization, Education Reform, Ethical Efficacious Government
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 4 – Prohibit intimidation, coercion, and deceptive practices of government and private actors with the intent or result that protected classes not be able to participate in the election. The action can be before, during, or after the election.
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I believe that requiring photo ID to vote is a good precaution and a reasonable requirement for the American populace. Providing translations and disability access is a necessary government function if such functions do not already exist.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 3 – Neutral
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I support transparency regarding government wherever possible. On my township, I have seen FOIA weaponized as well, so there needs to be limits against repeated, unreasonable requests
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: Yes
Explain your response.
Answer: Only ones whose purposes I can legitimately align with.
Specifically, I do not plan to accept money from Consumers/DTE, whose bilateral support is indicative of the desire for total leverage rather than propelling a specific agenda
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 3 – Neutral
Explain your response.
Answer: I’m not yet familiar with this program, its intended and likely benefits and costs
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I support this ballot, as explained earlier
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: I do support this Ballot
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: As a Representative, my job is to represent and wisely legislate for all of Michigan, not just those who voted for me.
George Washington’s final presidential address warned against the dangers of Factionalism, a recurring and present day reality. I hope to focus on issues that the Michigan public values, and find common ground that Democrats and Republicans agree on, and work together to pass legislation that puts Michigan back into Hope and prosperity.
As a junior legislator, I’ve no illusions I can make sweeping changes by myself. But I also know that if you put in the work, stuff happens, and I always put in the work.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Economics (Jobs and readjusting our approach to growing industries), Education (renewing our dedication to public education from early childhood through higher-ed), Housing (correcting the mechanisms that have allowed housing and construction to become wealth vehicles instead of a basic need that should be accessible to everyone)
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: Education and communication are the missing pieces here. There is no legitimate position that a democratically-elected official can take that justifies restricting access to democracy for any segment of our citizens. We are in this fight because we have been struggling to show voters why this is in their best interest and to call out loudly those who have been working to oppose it.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: First, set an example of transparency through open, regular communication and honest and clear responses to constituent questions. Just as important as educating voters on the merits of these efforts, we have to show other members of the legislature that this transparency is to the benefit of us all.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I come from a background in engineering. As a professional engineer, we are conditioned from early on in school to recognize and repel not only the blatantly corrupt manifestations of conflicts of interest, but the more subtle and nebulous ones as well. The potential for conflict can be damaging even if there is no intent as it undermines trust and brings motives into question. Obviously the real-world situation in American politics is far beyond the threshold for “conflict of interest”, and well into the range where it has poisoned us in some of the worst ways that corruption can. But that’s why it’s so important to avoid even the slightest nudge or potential that comes with accepting campaign funding from corporate donors. Once you dip your toe into that pool, it becomes a game of comparison where you say, “what I’m doing is nowhere near as blatant as what that other candidate is doing”, and it gives moral cover to the first steps toward outright corruption.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I think there are numerous ways to combat the influence of small concentrations of very wealthy corporate donors, but public-matching is a particularly good idea. This empowers democracy within campaign finance as it incentivizes appealing to a large number of smaller money donors rather than being satisfied with an appeal to a limited group’s interests.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes, I will continue to loudly oppose this proposal and all other efforts to restrict voting rights under the cover of election integrity. The idea that elections are or have been compromised by voter fraud in any way that would be remedied by requiring specific forms of identification at the polls simply has no data to support it – it’s a straw-man argument created as an excuse to use physical IDs as a means of excluding large portions of groups that have historically voted in a particular way.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Once again, I will continue to support and promote the factual assertion that campaign finance is a tool used by wealthy corporations and citizens to exert a disproportionately high force on the direction of our government and is a direct and imminent threat to the future of the United States of America. I have personally signed the MOP petition and will continue to promote this and any other form of resistance against the corrupting power of money in our politics.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I will admit that it is difficult to be specific having not been in office before. I understand and expect that there will be a gap between my intent to bring current and future legislators into the camp of avoiding any form of campaign support or funding that subjects them to undue pressure from corporate interests and the mechanisms that have moved prior supporters of this idea into a less principled position. But I do know that trust is earned over lifetimes and lost in seconds. I know that the conditions that have driven me to seek public office are largely the direct result of those before me compromising their values under the cover of necessity. I understand that there is always another way, even if it is a more difficult one. Hopefully, I can find and create allies in our government who share those beliefs and are willing to stand on them.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: K-12 Education, Rural Healthcare, and Transportation Infrastructure
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I will caucus with supporters of the Michigan Voting Rights Act and speak in favor of the Act at public engagements.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I will support that all day.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: Corporate donations are tantamount to soft bribery.Corporate donations are tantamount to soft bribery.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 2 – Somewhat Support
Explain your response.
Answer: As long as it isn’t too expensive for the budget, I support lowering the barrier to entry for people to run for political office.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: No. I believe that only citizens should be voting in our elections.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes. I have signed that petition. We need honest PAC money, not lobbyist corporate money that serves overly paid CEOs and stockholders.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I will always fight for a progressive tax code that ensures the rich pay their fair share and the poor are not unfairly hit with a high regressive tax like a sales tax.
I will fight for MI Medicare for all, which would create universal healthcare in Michigan.
I will fight for people being allowed to love whoever they want to love. Love should be cherished, not scorned.
I will always fight for women’s reproductive freedoms.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: I will build the coalitions necessary to pass this legislation. I have built support from many Detroit community organizations and organizers who were extremely frustrated by the lack of prioritization of the MVRA. I will make sure that movement voices and organizations are working side by side legislators to pass this legislation. This includes being available for community education efforts, lobby days, and meeting with VNP and other allies regularly to strategize passage.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I will build the coalitions necessary to pass this legislation. I have built support from many Detroit community organizations and organizers who were extremely frustrated by the lack of prioritization of the MVRA. I will make sure that movement voices and organizations are working side by side legislators to pass this legislation. This includes being available for community education efforts, lobby days, and meeting with VNP and other allies regularly to strategize passage.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I serve in the City of Detroit Mayor’s office and am subject to FOIA. I will work to build coalition of local government and community leaders demanding that MI join 48 other states to extend FOIA.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: No and I am the only candidate who has never taken corporate PAC money
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: This is central to democratizing our election process. As a candidate I see how much time call time takes up that could be spent engaging with voters at a deeper level. Our system is broken and until we get publicly financed programs (small dollar match in particular) our system will not produce outcomes that have the people’s interests at the core. I will encourage my colleagues and caucus to reject corporate pac money and make sure that they understand that small dollar public matching could allow them to be stronger public servants (and not just fundraising machines)This is central to democratizing our election process. As a candidate I see how much time call time takes up that could be spent engaging with voters at a deeper level. Our system is broken and until we get publicly financed programs (small dollar match in particular) our system will not produce outcomes that have the people’s interests at the core. I will encourage my colleagues and caucus to reject corporate pac money and make sure that they understand that small dollar public matching could allow them to be stronger public servants (and not just fundraising machines)
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A but I will say that though they deserve a lot of blame, Karen Whitsett and Joe Tate are not the only legislators who were responsible. The culture of chaos, corruption, and corporate capitulation that shaped the 2024 lame duck session falls on many, and certainly on legislators who held leadership positions beyond the former Speaker. My focus will be on staying true to my values, always keeping my word, and building coalitions to deliver
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes. I believe the ballot proposal effort is an attempt to use immigrants and false claims of fraud to suppress the vote, particularly in deeply Democratic communities like Detroit. Michigan has passed some of the best ballot measures in the country and this measure would simply undermine efforts we’ve made collectively to make it easier for folks to vote. There is a concerted effort to stop people from voting (women and minorities in particular) is no different.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: YES! I have supported the proposal because money and ethics is at the center of so many other issues that we must make progress on. Our ability to make life more affordable (utilities, healthcare, housing, insurance rates) and to invest in strengthening our neighborhoods instead of corporate giveaways hinges on having elected leaders who are not beholden to corporate interests (implicitly or explicitly). MOP up Michigan helps move us towards what I think should be our long term goal of small donor public matching program
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I got my start as a community organizer standing up to some of the largest corporate polluters in our state. I then went to law school where I remained engage as a member and law clerk for the UAW and as a senior advisor on the Voters for Transparency and Term limits ballot measure. I came back to Detroit to work for the City of Detroit helping small businesses who so often feel forgotten. I am a 4th generation Detroiter whose grandad worked as a municipal government worker the procurement department and told me the importance of ethics, honor, and keeping your word even when no one is looking. I say this to say, these issues are personal for me and I will use my background as an organizer, attorney, and Detroiter to deliver reforms that make our political system more honorable, more transparent, and free of corruption (whether explicit or implicit).
Even in the minority, I will organize year round . If we are in the minority, I will prepare legislation, request hearings and use every available tool to elevate issues and build public pressure for action. That means working closely with NVP and others to develop and push clear policy proposals and keep them in the public conversation so progress continues even before formal passage. I will also focus on building bipartisan coalitions around areas where there is real opportunity for agreement. Ethics reform, transparency, and campaign finance reform are not partisan issues to voters, and I will work across the aisle to advance meaningful legislation. When full bills cannot move for whatever reason, I will pursue amendments, budget negotiations, and administrative actions with state agencies to deliver real progress.
If we are in the majority, I will be ready with fully developed, community informed legislation that can move quickly. My approach no matter what will be to organize, legislate, and deliver regardless of the political landscape.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: My top priorities are focused on lowering costs and improving quality of life for working families. First, I will push for utility affordability and accountability. Families are paying more for unreliable service while monopoly utilities like DTE continue to profit. That is not acceptable. We need to hold them accountable and deliver real relief. Second, I will work to lower car insurance costs by ending the “zip code tax.” Where you live should not determine what you pay. Too many families are being priced out of simply being able to drive to work or take care of their daily needs. Third, I will fight for affordable childcare. Families should not have to choose between going to work and affording care. Supporting providers while lowering costs for families is critical to long-term economic stability. These priorities reflect what I hear every day from residents. The cost of living is the biggest pressure people are facing right now, especially across Detroit and Downriver.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I strongly support the Michigan Voting Rights Act and would vote to advance it in the first 100 days.
Protecting the right to vote is fundamental to any functioning democracy. At a time when we are seeing coordinated efforts across the country to restrict access to the ballot, Michigan has a responsibility to lead by expanding and protecting that access.
Every voter, regardless of race, income, language, or zip code, should have a fair and equal opportunity to participate in our democracy.
I have always believed that our democracy works best when more people are involved, not fewer. This legislation is an important step in that direction.
In the Senate, I will not only vote for the Michigan Voting Rights Act, but I will actively work to move it forward and ensure it is implemented in a way that truly protects and empowers communities across our state.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Too often, a lack of transparency in government has contributed to public distrust. Michigan should not be one of the few states where the executive and legislative branches are not subject to FOIA. That needs to change and there’s no good reason for it.
A more transparent government allows residents to better understand how decisions are made and ensures elected officials are held accountable to the people they serve.
If elected, I will work with my colleagues to pass comprehensive transparency and ethics reforms that extend FOIA to both the executive and legislative branches
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: No, I do not accept and do not plan to accept donations from corporate PACs. That has been my position since my first campaign, and it will remain my position.
I believe corporate PACs have too much influence in politics and do not represent the interests of working families or local communities. My responsibility is to the people I serve, not corporate interests.
I am running as a public servant, and I believe our politics should be rooted in people powered support, not corporate money or outside influence.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I strongly support a small-donor public financing system because it helps return power to everyday people and reduces the outsized influence of wealthy donors in our political system.
Right now, too many candidates are forced to rely on large contributions to run viable campaigns, which can create barriers for working-class candidates and distort priorities once in office. A small-donor matching or voucher system would level the playing field and allow more people to participate in our democracy. “”I strongly support a small-donor public financing system because it helps return power to everyday people and reduces the outsized influence of wealthy donors in our political system.
Right now, too many candidates are forced to rely on large contributions to run viable campaigns, which can create barriers for working-class candidates and distort priorities once in office. A small-donor matching or voucher system would level the playing field and allow more people to participate in our democracy.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: This was a challenging and, frankly, frustrating time in the legislature.
After securing a Democratic trifecta, there were missed opportunities in terms of preparation, coordination, and maintaining unity within the caucus. With such a narrow majority, just a single vote, it became increasingly difficult to move major pieces of legislation during lame duck.
A lack of alignment and consistent vote control ultimately made it difficult to advance priorities like the Michigan Voting Rights Act, despite broad support for the policy itself.
To be completely frank: the Speaker did not see it as a priority, therefore it was put in the back burner. It was only discussed in leadership meetings after I brought it up.
Moving forward, this underscores the importance of strong leadership, clear communication, and disciplined coordination to ensure that when we have the opportunity to act, we deliver. Candidly, I supported a different candidate for Speaker of the House which I believe under better leadership we may have delivered more.
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes. This proposal is voter suppression, plain and simple. It puts more obstacles in front of voters instead of making it easier for people to participate in our democracy. I’ll be publicly opposing it. While there are restrictions on direct advocacy if elected, I will continue supporting voter education efforts and policies that protect and expand access to the ballot box.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes, I support the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal and was proud to sign it.
Our political system should be accountable to people, not dominated by corporate interests or unlimited spending. Too often, large amounts of money in politics distort priorities and make it harder for everyday voices to be heard.
This proposal is an important step toward restoring trust in government and ensuring that elected officials are responsive to the communities they serve. Reducing the influence of money in politics helps create a more transparent and equitable system, where decisions are driven by people and not by financial power.
While there are restrictions on direct advocacy if elected, I will continue to support efforts that educate voters and advance reforms that reduce the role of money in politics.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I have served in both the minority and the majority, and in both roles I have kept my commitments and delivered for the people I represent.
While it’s true that holding the gavel creates more opportunities to move legislation, it is not the only way to make an impact. I’ve been able to pass meaningful legislation, secure resources for my district, and advocate effectively for my community regardless of which party was in power.
My approach is grounded in transparency and honesty. I communicate clearly with my constituents about what I’m working on, what challenges exist, and what progress is being made. I also prioritize building strong relationships and coalitions, because lasting results often require collaboration.
If elected to the Senate, I will continue that same approach: fighting for my priorities, working across differences where possible, and staying fully accountable to the people I serve. Regardless of the political landscape, my focus will remain on delivering real results and upholding the commitments I’ve made.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: 1. Working Families First (money out of politics, universal healthcare, universal childcare); 2. Dignity for our Elders (expanded investment in home care, nursing home quality, and economic security for seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities; strong protections against the AI-powered scams); 3. Safety on our Roads (road repair, pedestrian safety infrastructure, mass transit, and traffic calming measures)
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I strongly support a Michigan Voting Rights Act. Every provision in this bill comes down to one thing: every eligible voter in Michigan should be able to participate in our democracy without facing barriers, intimidation, or deception. Language access matters especially in my district, where we have large Arabic-speaking and Spanish-speaking communities who deserve to have election information they can actually read and understand. The gaps in state law right now leave too many of our neighbors exposed. As State Senator, I’m not going to be a passive vote for this. I’m going to work to build the coalition needed to move it, generate public pressure for it, and use what I learned spending years moving hard legislation through Congress to get it across the finish line. The way you get something like this done is by organizing inside the chamber and outside it at the same time. That’s how I’ve always worked and that’s how I’ll work in Lansing.I strongly support a Michigan Voting Rights Act. Every provision in this bill comes down to one thing: every eligible voter in Michigan should be able to participate in our democracy without facing barriers, intimidation, or deception. Language access matters especially in my district, where we have large Arabic-speaking and Spanish-speaking communities who deserve to have election information they can actually read and understand. The gaps in state law right now leave too many of our neighbors exposed. As State Senator, I’m not going to be a passive vote for this. I’m going to work to build the coalition needed to move it, generate public pressure for it, and use what I learned spending years moving hard legislation through Congress to get it across the finish line. The way you get something like this done is by organizing inside the chamber and outside it at the same time. That’s how I’ve always worked and that’s how I’ll work in Lansing.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Michigan is one of the only states in the country where the Governor’s office and the Legislature are exempt from FOIA, and that exemption exists for one reason: it’s good for the people who put it there. Closing it is a basic accountability reform. Most Michiganders would demand it if they knew it existed. I support extending FOIA to both branches, no carve-outs, no watered-down enforcement. In the Senate I’ll co-sponsor legislation to make that happen and push it through whatever committee assignments I have. I’ll also be loud about it publicly, because transparency isn’t a partisan issue and there are Republicans who know this reform is right. I’ll find them and work with them to get it done.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I’m the candidate in this race who has not taken and will never take corporate PAC money. That’s how I plan to govern. The industries that need the most accountability in Lansing, the monopoly utilities, the insurance companies, the pharmaceutical corporations, spend heavily on state races because it buys them results. I’m not taking their money because I’m going to take them on. My campaign has already shown this model works. I raised more in individual contributions through my campaign committee in the last reporting period of 2025 than any other state senate candidate in Michigan. You don’t have to choose between a well-funded campaign and one that’s actually accountable to the people it represents.I’m the candidate in this race who has not taken and will never take corporate PAC money. That’s how I plan to govern. The industries that need the most accountability in Lansing, the monopoly utilities, the insurance companies, the pharmaceutical corporations, spend heavily on state races because it buys them results. I’m not taking their money because I’m going to take them on. My campaign has already shown this model works. I raised more in individual contributions through my campaign committee in the last reporting period of 2025 than any other state senate candidate in Michigan. You don’t have to choose between a well-funded campaign and one that’s actually accountable to the people it represents.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: Here is the rewrite: Small-donor matching and voucher programs are one of the most powerful tools we have for shifting who actually has influence in our politics. When a $25 donation from someone in Melvindale gets matched at a real ratio, it starts to compete with a $2,000 check from a corporate PAC. That’s the kind of shift we need. In the Senate I’ll push hard for this. That means building a coalition with colleagues who want real reform, working with VNP and other organizations that can generate the public pressure needed to move it, and fighting for a program with high matching ratios that covers legislative races statewide.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A. I was not a member of the Michigan Legislature during the 2024 lame duck session.N/A. I was not a member of the Michigan Legislature during the 2024 lame duck session.
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes, I will publicly oppose the Americans for Citizen Voting proposal and urge voters to vote no. The communities I am running to represent know what it looks like when government uses paperwork as a weapon against people’s rights. I will say clearly and loudly that this proposal is voter suppression dressed up as election security, and I will urge every voter in Senate District 2 to reject it. Importantly, I believe we need to elect people who are committed to building out organizing infrastructure that defeats ballot proposals like this one. My intention is to win the August primary and then turn around and direct the organizing infrastructure that my campaign is building to reject this proposal that is fundamentally about making it harder for real, eligible voters to cast a ballot, including naturalized citizens, seniors, and low-income residents who may not have easy access to their documents. As someone who grew up working class, and as someone who would be the only naturalized citizen in the State Senate and only the second one ever, I know what’s at stake, and I will organize alongside VNP and others accordingly.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes, I have signed and publicly supported the MMOP ballot proposal because getting corporate money out of our politics is central to everything I am running on. We cannot fight for working families with one hand while taking checks from the industries you need to regulate with the other. That’s why I have frequently advocated for community members to sign the petition, including at speeches in Allen Park (data center protest) and Dearborn (No Kings rally).Yes, I have signed and publicly supported the MMOP ballot proposal because getting corporate money out of our politics is central to everything I am running on. We cannot fight for working families with one hand while taking checks from the industries you need to regulate with the other. That’s why I have frequently advocated for community members to sign the petition, including at speeches in Allen Park (data center protest) and Dearborn (No Kings rally).
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I’ve spent my career working inside institutions that weren’t built for people like me to win. As a congressional staffer, I sat in rooms where the votes weren’t there, where leadership wasn’t on board, and where the easiest move was always to find a reason to wait. I watched that happen over and over. I chose to work differently, and I have the results to show for it.
When we fought to extend the federal eviction moratorium in 2021, we didn’t have the votes. We didn’t have leadership. What we had was a clear moral argument, a network of people who were about to lose their homes and were willing to show up and make noise, and the willingness to use every tool we had at the same time, inside Congress and on the Capitol steps. We got it done. Eleven million people kept their housing.
When I worked to stop the deportation of Iraqi Americans during Trump’s first term, we were in the minority fighting an administration that wanted nothing to do with us. We built a bipartisan coalition anyway, drafted the bill, and moved it. We brought Jimmy Aldaoud’s remains home so his family could bury him with some dignity after he died following his deportation. None of that happened because conditions were favorable. It happened because we built the right relationships, had a strategy, and refused to let minority status be an excuse.
That’s what I’m bringing to Lansing.
Yes, governing from the minority is harder. But hard and impossible are not the same thing, and too many politicians use that confusion to justify doing nothing. There is real work a state senator can do regardless of who holds the majority: introduce bills and force colleagues to go on the record, fight for district resources through the appropriations process, find the Republicans on any given issue who know the right thing to do and build something with them, stay visible with constituents, use the power of the letterhead and the public platform, and keep the pressure on between sessions by partnering with outside organizations.
On the commitments I’ve made in this questionnaire, the Michigan Voting Rights Act, FOIA expansion, getting corporate money out of politics, I’m not waiting for a better political moment. I’ll introduce or co-sponsor the legislation, push for hearings, make the case publicly, and organize around it. On FOIA and small-donor financing especially, there are Republicans who will be with us if someone does the work to bring them along. I’ll do that work.
Lastly, I’m not planning to show up in Lansing, collect a paycheck, and call it public service. I’m running to fight. Whatever the political landscape looks like, that part doesn’t change.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: The top three legislative priorities my campaign is focused on are lowering the cost of living for Michigan families, strengthening local economic resilience, and expanding opportunities for community wealth-building. These issues are not isolated—they are deeply intertwined with many of the challenges our communities face, from housing affordability and public safety to education quality and health outcomes. By addressing these root economic conditions, we can create positive ripple effects across the entire community.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: Expanding and protecting voting access is fundamental to ensuring that working people and our communities have real power in our democracy. Too often, barriers to voting fall hardest on the same communities that are already struggling economically and politically marginalized.
If elected, I will work to move this legislation forward in several concrete ways. First, I would build and strengthen coalitions with labor unions, community organizations, and civil rights groups to ensure there is sustained political pressure and public support behind the bill. Second, I would actively engage with colleagues across the aisle and within my own caucus to identify areas of agreement and address concerns without weakening the core protections of the legislation.
We need to elevate this issue publicly—through town halls, community meetings, and ongoing engagement with constituents—so that there is consistent visibility and accountability around voting rights. And finally, I would treat this as a priority vote and a priority fight, not just another bill, because access to the ballot is fundamental to everything else we are trying to achieve for working families.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Transparency is fundamental to public trust, and Michigan should not be an outlier when 48 other states already provide broader access. Working people deserve to know how decisions are made, who is influencing them, and how public resources are being allocated.
With my background in economics, I understand that transparency isn’t just a value—it’s a necessity for functioning markets and accountable governance. Clear, accessible information helps prevent waste, reduces corruption, and ensures that public dollars are used effectively.
I will prioritize this legislation early on and work to build a broad coalition in support of it, including good government groups, labor organizations, and community advocates who depend on transparency to hold power accountable. I plan to also engage directly with colleagues to address concerns about implementation while making sure the core principle of openness is not weakened.
This not as a symbolic reform, but as a necessary step toward restoring trust in government and strengthening accountability at every level. At the end of the day, if we want people to believe the government works for them, they need to be able to see what the government is doing.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: No—I do not accept corporate PAC donations, because this is fundamentally about accountability and who our democracy is meant to serve.
For too long, corporate money has distorted policymaking, allowing private interests to shape public policy in ways that often leave working people behind. I believe public dollars must deliver a clear public benefit—not subsidize corporate profit. If a corporation receives state support, it should be required to prove measurable outcomes like good-paying jobs and community investment, with any incentives awarded only after those results are delivered—not based on promises.
This is also about protecting democratic integrity. We cannot meaningfully challenge corporate influence in redistricting, elections, or governance while being financially dependent on it. My campaign is accountable to voters—not corporations—and that independence is essential to restoring trust in our political system.
My perspective is grounded in both economic analysis and lived experience. Coming from a union family and having worked on a union shop floor, I’ve seen firsthand how policy decisions affect workers and communities. That’s why I believe strong guardrails, transparency, and independence from corporate money are critical.
If we want a government truly led by voters—not politicians or powerful interests—we have to start by ensuring our campaigns reflect that principle.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: Our current campaign finance system gives outsized influence to wealthy donors and special interests, which undermines trust in government and weakens the voice of working people. I understand this not just in theory, but from lived experience—I know what it feels like to be one of the “small guys,” where money can play a larger role than community support in who gets elected and whose voices are heard.
A small-donor matching system or voucher program is a practical way to rebalance that power. It allows candidates who are rooted in their communities—not backed by large donors or corporate interests—to compete on a more level playing field. It also encourages broader civic participation by making everyday contributions more meaningful.
I support passing this legislation and would work to build a coalition in favor of it, including reform advocates, labor organizations, and community groups that understand how important it is to reduce the influence of big money in politics. I would also engage with colleagues across the legislature to address implementation concerns while protecting the core goal of expanding democratic participation.
This is about making sure government is responsive to the people it serves—not just the donors who can afford to fund campaigns.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: My campaign is publicly opposing NO on Americans for Citizen Voting ballot. I believe voting rights should be fair and accessible, not narrowed by additional restrictions or changes that could create barriers.
In a democracy, participation is strongest when people are able to have their voices heard, and our current system already includes safeguards that makes voting difficult. Adding new requirements or additional barriers can lead to confusion or unintentionally discourage participation. I support keeping voting simple, inclusive, and focused on making sure every voter has the opportunity to cast their ballot without unnecessary obstacles.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Campaign finance reform isn’t abstract for me—it’s something I’ve actively participated in. I’ve signed the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics proposal, I’ve circulated petitions, and we collect signatures at our campaign events because this work has to be built from the ground up, not just talked about.
Yes, I support this initiative and I will publicly urge voters to vote yes.
The reason is simple: when money dominates politics, working people lose their voice. Policy gets shaped by donors and lobbyists instead of the communities living with the consequences. This proposal is a direct step toward restoring that balance by limiting the influence of concentrated wealth and strengthening democratic accountability.
My support is not symbolic—it’s consistent with how I run my campaign. We reject corporate PAC money, we organize directly with voters, and we treat civic participation as something ongoing, not transactional.
If we are serious about the government working for the people, then reducing the role of money in politics is not optional—it’s foundational.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: If elected, my responsibility is to the people who sent me to office—not party leadership, donors, or shifting political winds. I take these commitments seriously because they are grounded in concrete policy work that is already underway, not abstract promises.
My approach to policy is consistent: market-based solutions that expand economic opportunity for low-income and working-class families, while remaining fiscally responsible. These are not ideological experiments—they are structured to be revenue-neutral or revenue-positive, reducing long-term public costs while strengthening household balance sheets through wages, ownership, and asset-building. And importantly, these types of policies tend to attract broad, cross-partisan support because they focus on outcomes rather than labels.
We are already acting on that approach. My team and I have secured $500,000 from City Council to advance policies aimed at reducing property taxes by 12–25% while also lowering utility costs for families. We are also working to establish a resident-owned and resident-controlled sovereign wealth fund so that working people—not just large institutions—can benefit directly from local economic growth.
Delivering results in a divided political environment requires discipline, not alignment with whoever is in power. That means building coalitions across party lines when possible, staying focused on measurable outcomes, and refusing to let political gridlock become an excuse for inaction.
Just as importantly, it means maintaining direct accountability to constituents throughout the process—through transparency, ongoing communication, and making sure people can see not just what is promised, but what is actually being delivered.
My commitment is simple: stay focused on results, stay accountable to voters, and keep pushing policies that expand opportunity while strengthening public finances—regardless of the political landscape.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Protect Voting Right, Fund Schools Fully, Preserve our State’s Natural Resources
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I will help to whip members that I have any influence with to support the package.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I will support any transparency package that comes up
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: Yes
Explain your response.
Answer: I don’t let campaign donations impact my votes. If corporations are wielding their money as a weapon, I’m more than happy to take it and use it against them.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 2 – Somewhat Support
Explain your response.
Answer: Ideally, there isn’t any need for any type of donor in a perfect system, but I understand that isn’t viable anytime in the near future.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: We had attendance issues, to put it lightly.
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes, it is already the law that only Americans can vote. It will only serve to disenfranchise voters.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes. I have circulated the petitions, myself.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I have a long track record of finding avenues to get legislation passed, even in the minority. I have found that interpersonal relationships go a lot further than press conferences and public statements.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Tackle the affordability crisis , Accessible Affordable Healthcare , deliver equitably funded world class education
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I absolutely Support SB 401-404 aka the MIVRA. At a time when our voting rights are blatantly under attack from governmental overreach. The “”””Save act””‘ which aims to undermine our voting procedures and disenfranchise millions of democratic voters. We are at a pivotal moment where we must ensure voting is accessible for all Michiganders and proactive protections enshrined in our constitution.
As a legislator it is my job to be accessible, listen to our experts in the field such as VNP and gather information so that I can make the most compelling case at the house. Once we win back that house Majority we will still have a paper thin margin to pass a backlog of bills and the MIVRA. That is why we desperately need a candidate that will work to unite our Dems at the house and when necessary reach across the aisle and package complex ideas and policies in a palatable way for both sides, its the only way we consistently accomplish our agendas at the house level.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Yes, Absolutely . We must bring heightened levels of transparency to our government officials, their finances and communications. At a time when it is critical to restore good faith and strengthen our democratic party, extending The FOIA legislative and executive offices is a necessary step forward.
I support SB 1-2 introduced by Senator Moss and Chang in a bipartisan effort highlighting The need for a FOIA Coordinator at the County, House and Senate Levels and Governors Office. As a future legislator I would press our republican counter parts and unite our Dems in the house to press for the accompanying house bills to pass. Although given these efforts have been stalled, Realistically I will push to bring this proposal to the ballot box in 2026. I do not have faith the house is in a position to pass this proposal. “”Michigan failed in 10 of 13 categories, including public access to information, executive accountability, and legislative accountability.”” our public deserves to hold our Electeds accountable and to know what decisions are being made on their behalf. For far too long Michigan has fallen further behind in terms of Government integrity.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I commit to a robust grassroots fundraising campaign that builds community transparency and ensures our communities’ voices are represented. We deserve to know who is funding our politicians. I have endorsed MMOP (Michiganders for Money out of Politics). We also deserve to know that candidates are not taking money from special interests. If I’m not building this campaign on individual dollars and donors, then I have no business being elected.
We have a fully funded campaign from raising money over the past 5 months from individual donors, and we are proud to be supported by our community members.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: Yes, I do. I also Support MMOP ( and Have our canvassing staff circulate the petition door to door as we knock, I have also endorsed MMOP as a Candidate). We need to incentivize smaller donors and individuals that do not typically contribute to political campaigns and have their voices heard, individuals that contribute to a campaign are much more likely to turn out and vote.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A. I will note that once we flip the house we will still have a razor thin majority and must work together as Dems to unite our house members in a concerted effort to pass a back log of bills and bring actionable change for Michiganders. I am a candidate that will work tirelessly to unite our house Dems, reach across the aisle and package complex ideas in a palatable way to pass legislation post haste.
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes Absolutely !! This is an incredibly well funded ( By nefarious political elites) and deceiving proposal that snatches power away from Michigan voters, would block 700k voters lacking the documentation required under this proposal and works to undermine every facet of free, fair and accessible elections. I am grateful for the work and resources VNP has employed to combat these deceptive tactics. We must protect our elections, educate our voter base and safe guard them from predatory practices/proposals that are working overtime to undermine their ability to vote. Yes Absolutely !! This is an incredibly well funded ( By nefarious political elites) and deceiving proposal that snatches power away from Michigan voters, would block 700k voters lacking the documentation required under this proposal and works to undermine every facet of free, fair and accessible elections. I am grateful for the work and resources VNP has employed to combat these deceptive tactics. We must protect our elections, educate our voter base and safe guard them from predatory practices/proposals that are working overtime to undermine their ability to vote.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: As a candidate I have endorsed MMOP. I fully support this ballot proposal and several of our canvassers circulate petitions for MMOP. We have knocked over 4.5k doors so far. We have helped educate many voters on what’s at stake if we continue down the same path. We have seen in real time pre-convention and during the 2026 election cycle the illegal and blatant actions of smear campaigns, the tipping of scales in favor of candidates by Dark Money, corporate money, and private interests continuing to infiltrate and influence our supposedly free elections. No candidate should be elected if they are not directly supported by the community members who will vote them into office. I am fighting for a day when tipping the scales, creating dark money smear campaigns and funds is in the past. I fully support breaking down the barriers of entry into our elections and making a more supportive and accessible environment for candidates to run, and be supported by their direct communities.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: First and foremost party cohesion in a minority is essential to moving agendas and bills forward and stalling potentially harmful legislature.
Proactive measures include:
Bipartisan voting and negotiations. I will help facilitate the creation of coalitions within our minority and work to fracture the moderate voices of majority that will be potential allies. This is particularly useful to target majority members that are in purple areas or that won by a thin margin. I will Leverage media attention, direct messaging to their constituents and heightened transparency around how that specific Electeds decisions will influence their immediate constituency. We can leverage their communities and the potential negative impacts to them against majority members to force a vote. We can also work with our Senate to stop bills or introduce them with their majority. We have to think one step ahead and ensure that we are positioning our selves at the house to be receptive and take action with paper thin margins.
We can employ grassroots tactics to leverage the strength of our community both online and in person. We can introduce Shadow legislation that provides an alternative policy and building rapport for future sessions.
In a minority we need a committed full time State House Representative. I will be creative, leverage my strengths in the community and as a community organizer to think outside of the box, to employ tactics that foster community involvement and work to engage our general public. We will need all hands on deck and a candidate such as myself that can be 100 % committed to this role.
We can also position ourselves to stall potentially harmful bills to amend and delay legislation.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Housing & Renters Housing stability translates to economic stability. I have supported and secured funding for affordable housing development, rental assistance, and weatherization programs that lower energy costs for working families. I have backed tenant protections and investments that help keep people in their homes, prevent displacement, and ensure safe, stable housing across our communities. I plan to keep building on my successes and advocate further for accessible, affordable housing if elected to serve again. Education & Opportunity Public education is the foundation of workforce development and long-term economic strength. I helped secure record school funding and the highest per-pupil funding in state history, along with teacher retention incentives and universal school meals. I’ve supported expanded preschool access, literacy programs, and increased funding for in-school special needs and mental health support. I passed legislation requiring dyslexia screenings and interventions and have championed equitable funding formulas so students who need more support can get it. I plan to continue advocating for increased per-pupil funding, in school access to opportunities such as skills training and apprenticeships, developing truancy solutions, and making Michigan the top state to educate the next generation. Workers, Small Business, & Economic Opportunity I am committed to growing an economy that works for working people. I’ve secured funding for small business grants and entrepreneurship programs because small businesses are the backbone of our communities. I support workforce training, and partnerships between schools and local employers, investments in apprenticeship and skills training programs, and initiatives like Michigan Reconnect that help working-class residents build new career pathways. I’ve also supported efforts to expand access to capital for small businesses, especially for marginalized entrepreneurs who have historically been left out, helping workers build skills and small businesses create good-paying jobs. If I am re-elected, I will continue to build on this success, expanding workers’ rights and protections and access to good-paying jobs, bringing more union-friendly work to Michigan, and expanding economic opportunity.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I am deeply supportive of the Michigan Voting Rights Act. I was a co-sponsor of this legislation in my first term. This legislation is important now more than ever with the federal government threatening state-run elections and voter protections. As Chair of Michigan’s Legislative Latino Caucus, this is even more personal to me. Beyond just voting rights, I have used my office to make government accessible for the growing Hispanic community in Detroit including sponsoring Drive SAFE, Immigration Safety legislation, Equal Language Access, and more. We need a Michigan Voting Rights Act that protects ballot access, empowers marginalized voters, and leads the nation in effective election administration. If re-elected, I will continue to advocate for the Voting Rights Act with my colleagues and continue my work in legislation that protects our elections, expands access to the ballot box, and prohibits disinformation
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: During both the Democratic Trifecta and in this current session’s divided government, I have voted in favor of this legislation. Michigan is one of only 2 states in the country that have these blanket exemptions to record transparency, and I have seen first hand the corruption that results. In my efforts as a Senator, I’ve pushed for greater transparency and oversight over the MCCA, the MEDC, and for our legislative and executive branches. I will not waiver on this issue in the next term.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: Yes
Explain your response.
Answer: I believe in getting corporate money out of politics, however, while this money still exists in the system, a politician who is not accountable to their constituents’ interest will take it if I don’t. My voting and advocacy record across policy spaces reflects my commitment to the best interest of my constituents and Michiganders, regardless of who is giving to my campaign, and I will continue to support efforts to get money out of politics.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I support legislation that would create small donor matching in Michigan. Corporate donors have too much undue influence in our political system making it more difficult to pass people centered policy. My office has already done research citing New York, Seattle, Connecticut, and Arizona as model states with several types of small donor or public funding systems giving the money of the people more power in politics. If re-elected, broader campaign finance reform is something I hope to pursue, potentially introducing legislation to combat corporate spending and empower small dollar donors.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: The 2024 Lame Duck session resulted in the death of a lot of good policy, beyond just the Michigan Voting Rights Act. Being a member of the Senate, we committed to staying in session for over 24 hours to continue to vote and pass priorities but unfortunately, we cannot pass legislation without the cooperation of both legislative chambers and the executive. Ultimately, I think the reason that the Voting Rights Act along with more than 200 other great pieces of legislation did not pass boils down to 2 things. The first is that The legislature put too many time-sensitive (high) priorities to wait until the end of the session giving us not enough time to get them done. The other reason is that some members of our House Democratic Caucus were not living up to the values we commit to as the Democratic party, allowing caucus priorities to fail for a statement of personal priorities. We need to do better to elect democrats that uphold the values we represent.
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I am opposed to and will publicly oppose this ballot initiative. At the federal level the SAVE Act and this resulting ballot initiative are a blatant attack on democracy, creating unnecessary enforcement mechanisms for a problem that barely exists and we already have recourse to address. This ballot initiative is a modern day poll tax. The fact is the number of non-citizen voters in the 2024 election, 15 total in Michigan, is utterly incompatible with the 5.8 MILLION Michiganders who would have to get a passport to vote. That’s not even factoring in the $750 million it would cost to administer. It’s like using a nuclear bomb to kill a mosquito. This proposal only does harm, disenfranchising low-income individuals, LGBTQ individuals, rural people, people who have changed their name for one reason or another, and many more. The fact of the matter is that non-citizens don’t vote, and if they do, it is in very low numbers and there are already enforcement mechanisms to address it. Our elections are safe and secure.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: I plan to publicly support and urge voters to support the Money out of Politics ballot proposal. It is absolutely essential that we empower people and not corporations, and that wealth no longer determines the weight of your voice. Although I have taken corporate money to power my campaign, I stand by my strong record of people-empowering politics and the votes I’ve taken to enforce corporate accountability. I have signed and will continue that effort in the next term by continuing to support this proposal and other money out of politics legislation.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I have never used governing from the minority as an excuse. Serving in the minority in the House from 2021-2022, I was still able to introduce and pass legislation and advocate for my communities priorities in the budget. I was a strong champion for education support, criminal justice reform and civil rights, workforce development and labor protections, CDFI funding, and consumer and economic protections. Serving in the Seante majority during the Democratic trifecta from 2023-2024, we were able to build on the agendas already set and pass incredible legislation like repealing right to work, restoring the prevailing wage, creating an earned income tax credit, repealing archaic abortion bans, expanding access to the ballot box, and more. Now, serving in the Senate Majority with the House Democratic caucus in minority, I have been able to hold the line on bad policy while still delivering for my community. One piece of legislation I’m particularly proud of is PA 50 of 2025, the “Taylor Swift Bill”, which received nearly unanimous support in both chambers. This legislation empowers the Attorney General to enforce penalties against bot scammers that buy up event tickets. This commonsense legislation is the kind of pure, constituent oriented legislation I will push for whenever I’m in office.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: 1. Economy 2. Healthcare 3. Education
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 2 – Require and expand the jurisdictions that must translate election-related information into languages other than English to ensure that language minority groups in our state have an equal opportunity to participate in the voting process
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I support ensuring that all eligible Michigan residents—including voters of color, individuals with disabilities, and those with language barriers—have fair and accessible opportunities to participate in elections. Voting should be accessible, equitable, and inclusive for all Michigan residents.
At the same time, it is essential that Michigan maintains a secure and trustworthy election system. Strong security measures, particularly in light of advancing technology, are necessary to protect election integrity and maintain public confidence in the process.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 3 – Neutral
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I do not support a broad, one-size-fits-all approach to expanding the Freedom of Information Act without first understanding the reasons behind the current exemptions.
I do support transparency and accountability in Michigan government. However, any changes should be carefully considered to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect sensitive information, security concerns, and individual privacy.
A balanced approach is needed—one that increases transparency while maintaining necessary protections.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: Corporate donors are not part of my current fundraising plans. All donations will be documented on my financial statements.Corporate donors are not part of my current fundraising plans. All donations will be documented on my financial statements.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 3 – Neutral
Explain your response.
Answer: It is essential to implement initiatives that promote balance in electoral campaigns. Understanding the composition of groups involved in small-donor public matching or voucher programs is crucial for this purpose.It is essential to implement initiatives that promote balance in electoral campaigns. Understanding the composition of groups involved in small-donor public matching or voucher programs is crucial for this purpose.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I would need to understand the full scope of the proposal before making any commitment.
I support ensuring that all eligible Michigan residents—including voters of color, individuals with disabilities, and those with language barriers—have fair and accessible opportunities to participate in elections. Voting should be accessible, equitable, and inclusive for all Michigan residents.
At the same time, it is essential that Michigan maintains a secure and trustworthy election system. Strong security measures, particularly in light of advancing technology, are necessary to protect election integrity and maintain public confidence in the process.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: I would need to understand the full scope of the proposal before making any commitment.
I support financial transparency, ethical decision-making, and ensuring public clarity in how policies and funding influence government actions. The overall goal should always be to ensure Michigan residents have access to reliable and affordable energy.
Any proposal in this area should be carefully evaluated to ensure it strengthens accountability without unintended impacts on energy reliability or affordability for residents.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: As residents of Michigan, we are uniquely positioned at a pivotal juncture in our history. Our economy, healthcare system, and educational institutions form the backbone of our prosperity and well-being. It is imperative that we prioritize these critical issues to ensure a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future for all residents.
My campaign is founded on principles that transcend political party lines and popular proposals. I am not driven by political affiliations or the pursuit of fleeting popularity. Instead, my focus is firmly rooted in genuine service—dedicated to listening to the needs of Michigan’s residents and advocating for meaningful solutions that make a tangible difference.
In today’s complex world, facing challenges such as economic instability, healthcare disparities, and educational inequities, it is more crucial than ever to have leaders who are committed to substantive progress. I am committed to championing policies that foster economic growth, improve healthcare access and quality, and elevate educational standards across our state. These issues are interconnected and addressing them holistically will pave the way for a resilient and prosperous Michigan.
I believe that the strength of Michigan lies in its people—hardworking, resourceful, and resilient. It is our collective responsibility to create an environment where every resident has the opportunity to succeed and thrive. As your representative, I pledge to prioritize these critical issues and dedicate my efforts to advocating for policies that serve the best interests of our community.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Affordability, Property tax relief, Property Insurance and Car Insurance Reform 2.0
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: If elected, I would introduce the Michigan Voting Rights Act as formal legislation and work to build a broad coalition of support to secure its passage. I would also prioritize public awareness and bipartisan dialogue to help move the bill forward and achieve the majority vote needed to pass it into law.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: If elected, I would introduce FOIA Act as formal legislation and work to build a broad coalition of support to secure its passage
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I cannot say because I just started my campaign.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: This program would help ensure a level playing field for all candidates. Incumbents often benefit from greater access to resources, visibility, and established networks, while strong challengers may struggle to compete despite offering new ideas and leadership. If elected, I would advocate for this program by building legislative support, engaging stakeholders, and emphasizing fairness, transparency, and equal opportunity in our electoral process to help secure its passage.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes, because it places an unnecessary burden on a fundamental right of citizens to choose their leaders. I believe our focus should be on protecting and expanding access to the ballot, not creating obstacles for responsible voters. The bottom line should be that each person should have one vote.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes, I support the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal because it aims to reduce the influence of large donors in swaying our elections, I believe our democracy works well when voters, not money, have the strongest voice.
I have demonstrated my support by signing the petition, and I am prepared to publicly advocate for the proposal, encourage voter awareness, and work with community partners to help build the support needed for its passage.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I certainly agree with you and understand how you feel when it comes to honoring commitments. Voters deserve elected officials who take their promises seriously and follow through once in office. Nevertheless, it is also important to recognize that legislating is, by its very nature, a collaborative process that requires compromise. No single lawmaker, regardless of passion or intent, operates in isolation. Progress often depends on negotiation, relationship-building, and the willingness to find common ground. There are times when you must give up certain things in order to achieve broader, more meaningful goals that benefit the public.
For instance, being in the minority can be a difficult and, at times, frustrating position. It may limit direct control over the legislative agenda and reduce the likelihood of passing proposals exactly as envisioned. However, it does not eliminate the ability to lead, influence, and deliver results. If lawmakers focus on issues that resonate across political lines such as issues that affect everyday people regardless of their philosophy on governing, then they can still achieve meaningful outcomes. Whether it is access to affordable housing, lowering the cost of healthcare, improving education, or strengthening economic opportunity, these are concerns that cut across party affiliations. By centering efforts on these shared priorities, even those in the minority can play a important role in shaping policy and advancing solutions.
Again, as I have stated, the common issues we face as a society are far greater than the differences that divide us. Too often, political discourse emphasizes division rather than unity, disagreement rather than collaboration. Yet, when you step back and listen to the concerns of everyday people, a different picture emerges. Many of the most pressing “hot-button” issues of our time center around affordability. It’s about how families can make ends meet, how small businesses can survive and grow, and how communities can thrive in an increasingly challenging economic environment. These are not partisan issues; they are human issues.
Once these common concerns are clearly identified, the next step is to build partnerships that can effectively address them. This means working not only with fellow legislators but also with community leaders, advocacy groups, and everyday citizens who have a stake in the outcome. For example, organizations like Voters Not Politicians have brought attention to the influence of money in politics and the need for greater transparency and fairness in the electoral process. Addressing such concerns requires more than rhetoric, it requires action. By forming coalitions and engaging voters directly such as the recent petition signature collection efforts, we can work to enshrine reforms into law that reflect the will of the people and strengthen public trust in government.
Importantly, the responsibility for change does not rest solely with lawmakers. Real, lasting progress requires a broad-based coalition that includes all sectors of society. This means engaging labor unions, teachers, office workers, small business owners, community organizations, and everyday citizens. It is through this collective effort, i.e. this “all hands-on deck” approach, that meaningful reform becomes possible. When people from different backgrounds and perspectives come together around common goals, they create the momentum needed to overcome resistance and break through political gridlock.
We are at a point where many people feel that the system is not working for them, that money and influence often carry more weight than the voices of ordinary citizens. This perception, whether fully accurate or not, undermines confidence in our democratic institutions. It is high time to reaffirm that power in a democracy belongs to the people. Policies and reforms should reflect their needs, their values, and their aspirations not just the interests of lobbyists.
To move forward, we must focus on actionable steps rather than abstract ideals. This includes introducing legislation, building bipartisan support, engaging the public, and maintaining transparency throughout the process. It also means being persistent. We must continue to advocate for change even when progress is slow or you are in minority in power. Coalition-building across party lines is not just a strategy; it is a necessity. Without it, even the best ideas can fall apart.
If elected, I will commit to being a strong advocate for these principles. I will work to build bridges where there are divides, to listen where there is disagreement, and to act where there is need. Whether in the majority or the minority, my focus will remain the same: delivering results that improve the lives of the people I serve. By staying grounded in common values, fostering collaboration, and maintaining accountability, we can move beyond gridlock and create a government that truly works for all.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Healthcare, Education, Transparency
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: Democracy only works if every eligible voter can participate in it. As a physician, I have spent my career working with patients from every background and socioeconomic position. I see the issues immigrants, elderly patients, patients with disabilities, or patients who do not speak English face on a daily basis. These issues/barriers have to be deliberately removed in order for these populations to access the care they need. The same principle applies to voting.
If elected, I will build the broadest possible coalition to get this passed. Voting yes when it reaches the floor is the baseline, not the ceiling.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Transparency is not a partisan issue – it is the foundation of accountable government. If we expect private citizens and public institutions to operate openly, there is no rational reason why the executive and legislative branches should be exempt from the same scrutiny. Michigan is one of only two states that still shields its own government from FOIA requests.
As someone running on the idea that politics should serve people rather than protect itself, FOIA is a natural end result. If elected, I will support legislation closing this exemption.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I am not accepting donations from large corporate interests – insurance companies, utility companies, or the industries that have the most to gain from influencing policies that directly affect the people of Michigan. My campaign is funded by individuals who believe in what I am fighting for. Evaluating donations is simple: does this money come with strings that compromise my ability to represent the people of District 7? If the answer is yes, I don’t want it.I am not accepting donations from large corporate interests – insurance companies, utility companies, or the industries that have the most to gain from influencing policies that directly affect the people of Michigan. My campaign is funded by individuals who believe in what I am fighting for. Evaluating donations is simple: does this money come with strings that compromise my ability to represent the people of District 7? If the answer is yes, I don’t want it.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 3 – Neutral
Explain your response.
Answer: Michigan’s current campaign finance structure is a barrier to democracy. It favors incumbents who have spent years cultivating special interest relationships, and it deters qualified people (physicians, teachers, tradespeople, community leaders) from ever running in the first place. I have experienced this firsthand as a first-time candidate.
I believe that needs to change. I am not yet sufficiently versed in the specific mechanics of small-donor matching or voucher programs to commit to a particular model, but I am committed to the principle: campaign finance reform that levels the playing field, reduces the influence of special interest money, and makes running for office accessible to anyone with the drive to serve their community.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes. The framing of this ballot initiative as an election integrity measure obscures its real effect: making it harder for eligible Michigan citizens to vote. Only citizens can legally vote in Michigan – that is already the law. What this proposal actually does is add burdensome documentation requirements that will fall hardest on seniors, low-income residents, people with disabilities, and communities of color; many of whom live in my district.
I spent my career removing barriers between patients and the care they need. I will not support ballot measures that erect barriers between eligible voters and the ballot box. This is voter suppression dressed up as protection, and I will say so clearly and publicly
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes, I will publicly support this proposal and urge voters to vote yes. I have already signed the petition because this initiative reflects something I feel strongly about: when regulated monopolies like DTE and Consumers Energy can donate heavily money to the campaigns of the very officials who oversee them, ratepayers lose and corporate interests win. I have spoken publicly about this. Michigan families are dealing with rising utility rates and unreliable service while these companies post record profits – and their political spending is related to that outcome. That is pay-to-play, and it has to stop.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: Being in the majority is an opportunity, not a guarantee. I have watched majorities squander their moment by prioritizing political survival over the people who sent them there. I do not intend to do that.
The commitments I have made in this questionnaire are not campaign positioning – they are the reason I am running. I came to this race as a physician, not a politician. In medicine, you are directly accountable to your patient.
If elected, I will measure my success by outcomes, not effort. That means building relationships across the aisle where possible, holding firm where necessary, and being transparent with my constituents about what I am doing and why. I will report back publicly on where I stood on every issue raised here. If I fall short, I want voters to know it and hold me accountable.
The people of District 7 deserve a senator who treats this job as public service, not a career.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: 1. Protecting Democracy I will defend and strengthen our democracy by opposing efforts to restrict voting rights, particularly those that disproportionately impact women and minority communities. I will stand firmly against attacks on our Constitution and the integrity of our judicial system, because a healthy democracy depends on free and fair participation for all. 2. Advancing Civil Rights I am committed to protecting civil rights and ensuring all communities are treated with dignity and respect. This includes pushing back against overreach by federal enforcement agencies in our communities and standing firmly against all forms of hate, bias, and discrimination. Everyone deserves to feel safe and protected. 3. Housing Affordability and Sustainability As a housing expert, I will champion bold, practical solutions to address the housing and affordability crisis. This includes increasing attainable housing supply, addressing cost drivers like property taxes, and promoting energy-efficient construction to reduce long-term costs for families.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: Yes, I strongly support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that includes these protections.
As someone who deeply values democracy, I believe every eligible voter should have equal access to the ballot, free from barriers, intimidation, or discrimination. Prohibiting voter suppression, expanding language access, protecting voters with disabilities, and ensuring accountability for deceptive or coercive practices are all essential to a fair and inclusive electoral system.
If elected, I will actively advocate for the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act by working with legislative colleagues, community organizations, and advocacy groups to build broad support. I will use my platform to educate the public on the importance of these protections and push for their prioritization in the legislative agenda.
Protecting the right to vote is fundamental. A strong democracy depends on full participation, and I am committed to ensuring that every voice in Michigan is heard.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Yes, I strongly support extending the Freedom of Information Act to include Michigan’s executive and legislative branches. Transparency is fundamental to a healthy democracy, and the fact that Michigan remains one of the few states that does not require this level of openness speaks volumes.
If elected, I will advocate for legislation that expands FOIA to these branches of government and work with colleagues to move it forward as a priority. I will also use my platform to build public awareness and support, because accountability and transparency are essential to restoring trust in government.
Michigan residents deserve a government that is open, honest, and accountable to the people it serves.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I believe the current role of money in politics is deeply problematic. The vast sums spent on elections could instead be invested in services our communities urgently need. Even more concerning is the undue influence that large corporate contributions can have on public policy, often shifting priorities away from the needs of everyday people.
My campaign is committed to maintaining independence and accountability to voters—not corporate interests. I believe our democracy works best when elected officials answer to the people they represent, and I am committed to upholding that principle.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: Today, the cost of running for office creates an uneven playing field—candidates who can raise more money often have a significant advantage, regardless of the strength of their ideas or connection to the community. That dynamic discourages qualified candidates from running and limits the diversity of voices in our democracy.
A small-donor matching or voucher system would help level the playing field by amplifying the voices of everyday people and reducing reliance on large donors.
If elected, I will advocate for this reform by working with colleagues to introduce and support legislation, building coalitions with advocacy groups, and using my platform to highlight the importance of fair and accessible elections. Strengthening our democracy starts with making it more equitable and representative.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes, I am already publicly opposing this ballot proposal and urging voters to vote no.
I believe this measure is unnecessary and risks creating barriers to voting rather than protecting it. At a time when we should be making it easier for eligible citizens to participate in our democracy, proposals like this can lead to confusion, exclusion, and unintended consequences that disproportionately impact certain communities.
My priority is to protect and expand access to the ballot, not restrict it. That’s why I will continue to speak out against this proposal and advocate for policies that ensure every eligible voter can participate freely and fairly.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes, I am publicly supporting this ballot proposal and urging voters to vote yes.
I believe reducing the influence of money in politics is essential to restoring trust in our democracy. When large sums of money dominate elections, it undermines the voices of everyday people and creates an uneven playing field.
I have personally signed the proposal and strongly support its goals of increasing transparency and accountability in our political system. I will continue to advocate for reforms that ensure our government works for voters—not special interests.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I believe elected officials have a responsibility to deliver results, regardless of which party is in power. Too often, political gridlock is used as an excuse for inaction, and that has eroded public trust.
As a builder and real estate broker since 1997, my career has been defined by solving problems and negotiating solutions. Every project requires bringing different stakeholders together, finding common ground, and getting things done. That is exactly the mindset I will bring to Lansing.
I am not a career politician, and I believe that matters. Voters are tired of promises that are not kept and leaders who prioritize staying in office over delivering results. My commitment is to stay focused on outcomes—working across the aisle when possible, standing firm when necessary, and always putting the interests of the people first.
I will be accountable to my constituents, transparent in my actions, and relentless in pursuing the goals I have outlined—because delivering results is not optional, it is the job.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: The preservation of democracy and the voting laws that VNP and the Michigan legislature have passed are top of mind for me considering President Trump’s threats to overturn them. As the Chairwoman of the Education Committee in the Michigan Senate and the Vice Chairwoman of School Aid Appropriations, I am also mindful of increasing funding to schools in the most equitable way possible. I am also interested in preserving and furthering the goals of Michigan’s first Climate Plan, which we passed just a couple of years ago.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I would sponsor or cosponsor any legislation that would achieve these goals.I would sponsor or cosponsor any legislation that would achieve these goals.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I have voted yes on subjecting the governor and legislature to FOIA. It unfortunately has not passed the House. I will continue to vote yes until it is passed.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: Yes
Explain your response.
Answer: I have a few Lansing fundraising events a year, which are open to lobbyists who represent a variety of clients. I no longer accept donations from DTE to either my campaign account or my PAC, however.I have a few Lansing fundraising events a year, which are open to lobbyists who represent a variety of clients. I no longer accept donations from DTE to either my campaign account or my PAC, however.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I believe New York does this. I am open to supporting matching programs like theirs.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: I voted yes on the Michigan Voting Rights Act and was deeply disappointed that it died in lame duck due to the lack of support of one House Democrat and all House Republicans.
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes, I will publicly oppose and urge voters to vote no on this ballot proposal that will stifle our ability to vote.Yes, I will publicly oppose and urge voters to vote no on this ballot proposal that will stifle our ability to vote.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes, I support this concept and have said so publicly.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I’m happy to say that I have passed two bills into law recently by working across chambers with House Republicans. It is possible to pass laws in divided government, and I plan to continue trying to do so until this term ends.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: The cost of living: Groceries, fuel, housing, energy, it’s all going up while our wages have remained flat. I object to an economy that works for only a select few. Families and small businesses deserve a legislator who fights on their behalf. Infrastructure: Due to revenue sharing cuts and selective investment our roads and utilities are failing. I will fight for investment in infrastructure not just in name, but dollars and action. Education: I object to attacks on public education that make it harder for our children to compete and thrive. Teachers are underpaid and schools are understaffed. I will fight to fix that.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I support the Michigan Voting Rights Act. Voting rights form the basis for every other fight we have. Nothing else will matter if we are unable to choose who represents us. As an attorney I know all too well how the federal framework has been hollowed out by Shelby County and Brnovich progeny of cases. Michigan should join states like California, New York, Virginia, and others who have acted by legislating solutions in this arena.
When elected, I will co-sponsor such a bill and work to build the consensus it needs to pass. I will push in committee fight for remedies such as attorney fees as a sanction.
It is also a necessity to fund it appropriately so I will push for appropriations for the various departments and local city clerks, which I know from my work as a municipal attorney are the front line of this fight.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I support it, and this one is personal to me as a municipal attorney who has spent sixteen years filing and responding to public records requests. Michigan’s exemption of the Governor’s office and the Legislature from FOIA is indefensible.
When elected, I will sponsor expansion legislation in my first day in office. I will insist the bill cover both the legislature and the Governor’s office. I will fight to keep the exemptions narrow, limited to privacy concerns and active litigation, and to preserve a meaningful enforcement mechanism with attorney’s fees for requesters who prevail against improper and untimely denials. Additionally, the FOIA statute needs to be revisited and strengthened. The exceptions are too broad, and the fees requested of requesters currently are too steep. I’ll work to change and improve all of it.
Finally, I will hold myself to the standard I am asking of everyone else. I will treat my calendar, my meetings, and my office’s communications as public, whether or not the law requires it. I have lived under FOIA as an attorney for the last 16 years. I will continue to do so in the Seante as well.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: Money, obviously, is the crux of all our woes in the political arena. I will not be beholden to anyone or any group other than the People of the State of Michigan.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I think this is a great but nonetheless limited solution. We need systemic changes in this area. Until that comes, when elected, I will be happy to co-sponsor a small-donor matching bill with a match rate high enough to make participation competitive with PAC and utility money. I will work with Voters Not Politicians and other organizations to enable its passing. I will fight for a dedicated revenue source so the program cannot be altered by future legislatures, and I will pair it with the rest of the reform package I have already announced: things like overturning Citizens United legislatively, closing dark money loopholes, intensifying lobbying disclosure, and extending FOIA to the Legislature and Governor’s office.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes, I will publicly oppose the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal and urge everyone else to reject it. Noncitizens already cannot vote in Michigan, it is illegal under state and federal law, and audits prove noncitizen voting to be a non-issue. This proposal is racism and bigotry disguised as policy. It is manufacturing a fake issue to justify and disenfranchise eligible voters. The people it will affect are elderly voters, women, rural voters, naturalized citizens, and voters of color. That is: Minorities. I have represented enough people navigating government paperwork throughout the years to know exactly who gets shut out of policies of this sort and I won’t stand for it.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes, I am publicly supporting the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal and urging every voter in Senate District 9 to vote yes. I have already signed the petition myself and have been out collecting signatures for it both at our Troy Democratic Club events and in the community. This is not a position I am taking for a questionnaire, it is work I am already doing. I am of the opinion that one cannot deliver healthcare reform when lobbyists write the checks that elect the people writing the laws. Same with public education. Also, one cannot pass a Michigan Voting Rights Act, FOIA or build a small-donor matching program when money defines what is politically achievable. I am fortunate to not be beholden to corporate PAC or utility money. I’ll fight to extend to everyone else my good fortune.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: Elections have consequences. We are told this every day. But lately, it seems, the only consequence of electing Democrats seems to be that nothing happens, not just when we are in the minority, but when we hold the majority and control the entire political landscape in the state. That is unacceptable, and it is a significant part of the reason why I am running. Voters in this district have watched their party win and then fail to use their victory, and so have I. Our priorities get negotiated away before the other side has even shown up sometimes. Our democratic party and Clubs like the one I chair are not a social club. We are not here to build and/or advance careers. We are here to fight for our communities and our state and to achieve political ends and progress.
It may be naive, but I believe electing litigation attorneys is part of the answer. I have spent sixteen years in courtrooms throughout Michigan. As attorneys and prosecutors we do not get to quit when the other side has the better argument, the deeper pockets, or friendlier judges. We have to show up prepared, we have to fight every motion, we have to use every procedural tool, we have to build the record, and we can never stop looking for the opening. That is a mindset that has eluded Lansing, it seems to me. In the majority, it means actually moving bills, using the calendar, the committee structure, and the floor strategically rather than praying for bipartisanship. In the minority, it means forcing votes that put the other side on the record, amending from the floor, building coalitions, using oversight hearings aggressively, and organizing outside pressure through town halls and coalition partners to move what cannot be moved by vote count alone. Finally, it means understanding the rules of procedure.
When I first interned for Carl Levin in the US Senate, it was at a time when democrats used the rules effectively to call the other side out, shut down debate and get concessions though in the minority. In the ensuing 20+ years that has been exclusively the purview of Republicans. When elected, I will ensure that we have an appreciation, as a caucus, that the term legislature stems from Latin ‘to pass laws’ and in order to do so, to the extent a vote is required, that vote should not be granted without a concession. It is how minority parties uphold their duties, their communities and the constitution of this state.
I will be accountable to the public, keep a regular schedule, regular town halls, coffee hours, and events. It helps that I enjoy people and coffee. If I fail to deliver on something I committed to here, I will face the voters of Senate District 9 and explain what I did, tried, and what next. This being my first run for public office, I am making a series of commitments and offering my vision for the future. When running for reelection, I will be addressing only what I will have achieved. Reelection and/or running for a second office, as far as I’m concerned, is no time to start articulating a vision for the future. Rather it is the time to account for your time in office. That is a core belief of mine and it is what separates me from all my opponents, primary and general.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: While I care deeply about issues like quality public education, safe and secure fresh water, and enhancing public safety, the truth is there is really only one issue: Cost of Living, and it manifests in three ways: Housing: we’re at a crisis point with housing affordability. As the only renter on my County Board, I know that very well. We need to build more, cut through anti-housing red tape, and spur growth in our neighborhoods. Quality jobs: A good job with a dignified wage is the cornerstone of a strong economy. From forging college partnerships and career pathways to increasing wages and union membership, we have to provide the real opportunity for a great job. Everyday Expenses: Healthcare, childcare, prescriptions, utilities, car insurance, you name it – costs for all of these essentials have kept on rising, making it feel like you’re drowning just by staying alive. We have to reign in our for-profit utility companies, price-gouging healthcare companies, and increase access to consumer protections that will all help make the American Dream more real.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I will be sure to whip votes from my caucus as needed. I will write letters to encourage a floor vote and if it is in my committee I will encourage (or schedule) a vote. I can testify if is not in my committee.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 3 – Neutral
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Yes, but as a longtime staffer, I would be curious to see the details of the final bill before pledging support to those exact words. I support reasonable transparency of course, but I don’t for example think the calendars of every junior staffer should be made publicly available, no.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: Yes
Explain your response.
Answer: While I fully understand the desire to remove corporate PAC money from our elections (heck I think we should overturn Citizens United and address money in elections more broadly!), unilaterally disarming in swing seats like mine is a potentially dangerous move. Just being completely honest, I would much rather any Democrat in my district than no Dem at all, since at least I know the Dem is a probable yes vote on our shared priorities. Speaking for myself too, I know that I am a pragmatic, data-driven Millennial: I care passionately about public education, our water and natural resources, good union jobs, a transition to green energy, safety from gun violence, and more, and I am not prone to fearmongering from anyone, certainly profit-minded lobbyists. I have never felt remotely beholden to any donor thus far in my elected life, and I have absolutely no intention on changing that. Will I work on legislation banning corporate lobbying? Sure, yes, absolutely. I don’t like it either! But I will not fight for my neighbors to flip this seat with one hand tied behind my back.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I’m all for making structural changes that would benefit the system of democracy we live in here, and this is a good one. Heck, I would even sponsor it despite my would-be frontline district, not just vote for it!
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes. This Michigan version of the SAVE Act is a disingenuous way to stoke fear in our elections while seeking to disenfranchise valid Michigan voters. I will not have it. As people do ask me a lot about ballot proposals I will be sharing my opinion on this.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8:Yes – I signed the petition, will vote for it, and am speaking favorably on it at doors. I will be doing many thousands of doors this cycle, and folks do routinely ask my thoughts on ballot initiatives. Our constituents and voters opinions should matter in making legislation, not the wants of billionaires.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I have always been and will continue to be pragmatic. Most of the legislation that I worked on as a Legislative Director in Lansing has been bi-partisan. In fact, I am very proud that Representative Steckloff has in some ways been much more successful in minorities than when we had the trifecta. We have worked well in both minority and majority in the State House, and we passed meaningful legislation under both. The same is true of my time in Oakland County: I share my hometown of Rochester with two Republicans, and I am the only Democrat from the northern flank of the county. Everything I do is in partnership with them. I think it is imperative that we work across the aisle to make positive change and I will take this attitude to the State Senate.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: 1. Expanding access to affordable healthcare through protecting the provider-patient relationship from political interference, incentivizing more Michiganders to enter the healthcare workforce, combatting the use of AI and other technology in insurance claims, and preventing mergers and acquisitions that harm rural and urban communities alike 2. Fully funding public education, repairing our school facilities, and investing in training, trade schools, community colleges, and universities to grow and sustain a competitive workforce 3. Equitable taxation and investment, alleviating the burden on working families and promoting a strong economy that supports a growing middle class, bringing down utility costs through further investment in clean energy.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: The Supreme Court’s recent decision in Louisiana v. Callais made passing the Michigan Voting Rights Act more urgent than ever. The Voting Rights Act was enacted after a decades-long struggle of Black Americans to participate fully in their own democracy. Our country had proven, repeatedly and violently, that it would not protect the right to vote on its own. This Supreme Court’s decision is a profound betrayal of that history.
Restoring the VRA fully will require Congress to act. But we can’t wait for Washington. Michigan needs to use every tool available at the state level to protect voting rights, oppose discriminatory redistricting, and make clear that in this state, the right to vote is not negotiable. The Michigan Voting Rights Act is that tool, and passing it immediately when we control the legislature again is a moral imperative.
If Democrats don’t secure a trifecta this year, we can’t let the MVRA sit on a shelf until conditions are more favorable. I will work with my colleagues to push publicly and relentlessly, through rallies, press conferences, and constituent mobilization, to make the cost of Republican inaction impossible to ignore. I have spent this session governing from the minority and I know how to make noise that matters and how to exploit pressure points within the Republican caucus. Voting rights are not a back-burner issue, and I will not treat them like one.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Extending FOIA to the legislature and the executive branch is a top priority of mine, and I support using every available legislative tool to get it done, including tying it to the BRITE Act. Democrats have already attempted to force the issue by tie-barring FOIA expansion to other legislation, and I will continue to push that strategy. Voters deserve transparency from every branch of state government, and Michigan has waited long enough to join the rest of the country in requiring it.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: Yes
Explain your response.
Answer: I’m proud of the pledge I took to reject money from regulated monopoly corporations and companies seeking or holding government contracts, and I’ve maintained it. Keeping utility and insurance industry money out of my campaign is a top priority because those are the industries where the lobbying conflicts with my policy commitments are most direct and most consequential for working families.
I have accepted contributions from the Michigan Health and Hospital Association PAC, and I want to be transparent about that. The MHA represents a broad coalition of institutions including nonprofit and academic health systems, and I have judged it differently than utility or insurer money. I recognize others draw that line differently, and I respect that standard.
I also want to be clear about what any contribution to my campaign does and doesn’t mean. The MHA contributions are on the record, and so are my positions on hospital consolidation, nursing home accountability, and the need to put patients and workers ahead of corporate hospital networks. If those positions ever put me in conflict with MHA’s institutional interests, the contribution won’t change my vote.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: Small-donor matching and voucher programs are proven tools for reducing candidates’ dependence on large donors and broadening civic participation in elections. Michigan should absolutely have one. I would strongly advocate for passing a public financing program for legislative candidates, and I look forward to working with VNP and other campaign finance reform advocates to get it done.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: The Michigan Voting Rights Act did not make it out of House committee during lame duck because House Democratic leadership did not make it a priority when it counted. That’s a difficult thing to say about my own caucus, but it’s the truth. And the voters and communities who have waited decades for the protections the MVRA would secure deserve an honest accounting more than they deserve a diplomatic one.
We had the votes. We had the majority. But we did not have the will at the leadership level to spend political capital on legislation that was harder to move than it should have been. Instead, the session was too often preoccupied by dealmaking that served other interests, and the MVRA ran out of time. Not because opponents beat us, but because we failed to fight for it with the urgency it deserved.
I was vocal about this dynamic at the time, and I remain committed to making the MVRA one of the first priorities when Democrats reclaim the majority. The Supreme Court’s recent gutting of Section 2 of the federal Voting Rights Act has made that work even more urgent. We have to be ready to move the moment we have the votes and the gavel, and this time, actually use them.
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I am and will continue to be public with my strong opposition to the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal. Not only do voter ID requirements suppress turnout among eligible voters, and disproportionately seniors, low-income residents, and communities of color, but they also spread mistrust in our elections and undermine faith in our institutions without addressing any demonstrated problem.
Voter fraud is exceedingly rare in Michigan. Our elections are secure, our clerks are rigorous, and our ballot-tracking systems give voters real-time confidence that their votes are counted. Imposing new ID requirements would solve a problem that doesn’t exist while creating real barriers for people who have every right to participate. That’s not a tradeoff I am willing to make.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: I am proudly and actively supporting the Money Out of Politics proposal, and I have pledged myself to reject utility and private insurer money in my race. I’ve recruited signature gatherers, collected signatures myself, and made the initiative a regular part of my conversations at community events and on the campaign trail, highlighting it as a citizen-led effort that mirrors legislation I have co-sponsored in the House to ban contributions from utilities and government contractors. This proposal and that legislation work together, and I’ll keep making that case to voters through the November General and beyond.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: Minority status is undeniably a constraint, but it’s not an excuse. I have spent the last year and a half governing in the minority, and I haven’t been waiting for Democratic control to push forward my agenda. I split every bill I work on into bipartisan packages, ensuring that half the sponsorship comes from Republican colleagues. I’m in regular conversation with the Republican chairs of the budget submittees I serve on, and I invite my Republican co-sponsors into strategy conversations around bills we are pursuing. Even my legislative director has formed working relationships with his Republican counterparts in the offices relevant to my priorities. These aren’t symbolic gestures. They’re actions that allow me to build the relationships and coalitions that give legislation a real path forward regardless of who holds the majority.
I have also been willing to spend political capital in ways that are not always comfortable. I voted against my own caucus when leadership accepted compromises that fell short of what workers and voters were promised. I have pushed publicly for legislation, on FOIA extension, on utility money in elections, on voting rights, even when my leadership would have preferred to let those fights wait. That’s the clearest evidence I can give to show that my campaign promises are not just talking points.
VNP’s platform reflects values I have held since I was collecting signatures on doorsteps before I ever ran for office. Honoring these commitments means continuing to do what I have already been doing: building coalitions, demanding floor votes, refusing to let urgency be deferred indefinitely, and being honest with constituents when we fall short and why. That accountability runs in both directions, and I welcome it.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Balancing the budget without cutting essential services, Updating and modernizing our crumbling infrastructure, Improving reading scores that have dropped because of COVID
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I voted for the Michigan Voting Rights Act in 2023 and would vote for it again, should it come up. The Senate to pass legislation protecting and expanding the right to vote.I voted for the Michigan Voting Rights Act in 2023 and would vote for it again, should it come up. The Senate to pass legislation protecting and expanding the right to vote.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: The Senate has passed this legislation out of our chamber twice.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: Yes
Explain your response.
Answer: I have received PAC money that the employees of companies donate into. I would have no problem supporting restrictions on donations as long as everyone is living by the same playing field.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I would be open to cosponsoring legislation but I would like more information on the legality of such a bill given the US Supreme Court’s decisions on money in politics.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: It died in the House.
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes – we know that the reason for this ballot proposal is not to get rid of election fraud, but to suppress voting turnout. It creates a hardship for people who do not know where their birth certificate is. From the way I read it, it would also suppress mail in voting and would cause lawful citizens to decide to stay home rather than jump through unnecessary hoops.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: I support the concept but I have to acknowledge that I have received PAC money from these entities and I am not sure how that would be used against me if I actually campaigned for the initiative. I have absolutely no problem with a change of rules as long as everyone has to abide by them.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I’m always willing to reach across the aisle and work with anybody who is willing to pass good legislation. The Senate has repeatedly sent bills over to the House that are bipartisan in nature, and sometimes voted unanimously, only to have them be completely rejected by the House. We in the Senate continue to work in bipartisan fashion and even seek sponsorship from our Republican colleagues on legislation that is good for the residents. The Senate Democrats continue to pass legislation to make voting easier and remove barriers and we’ve done so without regard to whether or not we can get it past the House or get it signed by the Governor. We will continue to push our pro-people agenda and continue to do whatever we can to build relationships on the other side of the building so that we can get these bills passed.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: State Budget; Human Wellness; eliminate gerrymandering
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: Swing the legislative vote.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Swing it.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: My son personal funds.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: Swing it.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Urging.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Urging.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I’ll swing the swing.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Government ethics and transparency reform stopping public officials from owning companies that hold state contracts Water infrastructure accountability requiring plain-English public reporting on pipe conditions and rate impacts Community notification rights ensuring residents are informed before large commercial projects are approved in their neighborhoods
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I fully support the Michigan voting rights Act because access to the ballot is how you hold the government accountable. Once elected I will co-sponsor and actively advocate to pass this legislation, and I will work to ensure it is implemented correctly. This means pushing for clear and enforceable standards and that state agencies and local jurisdictions comply.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Once elected, I’ll push for FOIA to extend to both executive and legislative branches. Because I believe that transparency should be required in government. I’ll push for hearings and I’ll tell voters who blocked votes and why.Once elected, I’ll push for FOIA to extend to both executive and legislative branches. Because I believe that transparency should be required in government. I’ll push for hearings and I’ll tell voters who blocked votes and why.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: No, I believe that corporations shouldn’t be ale to influence votes for profits.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I support it because it gives everyday people like me a fighting chance to compete in elections. A small donor matching system allows candidates who come from the community to compete and be heard.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I will publicly oppose it and urge voters to vote no. we already have a system that verifies voters eligibility and there is no evidence of widespread non citizen voting. this will only make it harder for eligible voters to vote. Election security and voter access should go together, but this moves us backward.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes, I support it and will urge voters to vote for this. I signed this petition when was first told of it and I believe corporations have to much influence in politics. i feel that voters should be accountable to the people not big business. To often politicians take corporations money and obligated to them.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I didn’t run for office to explain why things can’t get done. I am running to make sure they do, if I make a commitment I hold to my word, not something that will change because of who tells me how things should be ran. I’ll keep my work visible social media and website update as often as I can. If something gets blocked I’ll tell the people and they will know why and who. I’ll work across the aisle where there is real agreement, work on transparency, FOIA reform, and getting money out of politics. I will not stay quite and use my platform to keep pressure on and make sure voters make sure they know what is happening. At the end of the day delivering results comes down to accountability. The political landscape might change but what I owe the people doesn’t.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Mental Health Care: As a practicing psychologist, I see up close how decisions made in Lansing affect my clients’ everyday lives — and I know we need more health practitioners making those decisions. I am proud to have championed legislation banning conversion therapy for minors, implementing mental health screeners for juveniles, and passing PSYPACT to expand telepsychology access. I will continue fighting to require insurance companies to cover out-of-network care when no in-network provider is available, use clinical standards when determining patient access, and ensure fair reimbursement for providers serving low-income clients. Equity & Economic Justice: Too many outcomes — from education quality to life expectancy — are disparate for Black and Brown Michiganders. Our criminal justice system plays a significant role in furthering these disparities. Our juvenile and adult justice system disproportionately impacts black and brown families, and Michigan holds more young people for status offenses than almost every other state. We need to do better assisting folks with reentry after incarceration and providing resources to prevent incarceration in the first place. Further, I created Washtenaw County’s first Equity Policy because I believe environmental protection and racial equity are inseparable. I supported the omnibus package to promote maternal health, worked to require insurance reimbursements for midwives especially relied upon by Black and Brown mothers, and helped secure $20 million in permanent supportive housing. Economic justice is inseparable from healthcare, education, and environment — and I am committed to working holistically across all of it. Cost of Living & Affordability: In 2023, I helped pass a historic expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit, putting hard-earned money back in the pockets of hundreds of thousands of Michiganders. I also helped make history by instituting free breakfast and lunch for all public school children without raising taxes, and rolled back the pension tax so working Michiganders weren’t penalized at retirement. I support ensuring fair pay for direct care workers, expanding public transportation options including light rail and rapid bus transit, and making college more affordable.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I strongly support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act. Every eligible voter deserves equal access to the ballot, regardless of race, language, disability, or background. This legislation would take critical steps to prohibit voter suppression and intimidation, expand language access, and ensure that voters with disabilities can fully participate in our democracy. At a time when voting rights are under threat nationally, Michigan must act to protect and expand access at the state level.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I support transparency. If elected, I will advocate for legislation that extends FOIA requirements to both the executive and legislative branches. Transparency builds trust, and I am committed to ensuring that Michiganders can hold their government accountable.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: Yes
Explain your response.
Answer: I am not accepting donations from utility or energy companies. My work has always been about the people, and I am nearly completely funded by individual donors. I am not accepting donations from utility or energy companies. My work has always been about the people, and I am nearly completely funded by individual donors.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I support the passage of small-donor public matching because I want to see everyday Michiganders have a stronger voice in our elections. This system reduces the influence of wealthy donors and makes running for office more accessible to a diverse range of candidates.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: The Michigan Voting Rights Act didn’t pass because of a spoiler within our House Caucus who didn’t show up to do the work during lame duck. Lame duck was an incredibly frustrating time and I am committed to helping develop stronger majorities who share our values and will put in the work accordingly.
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I will be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal. I believe that this proposal is unnecessary, undemocratic, and will deplete turnout by causing barriers and confusion for eligible voters. Michigan already has safeguards in place to ensure that only citizens vote, and we should be focused on expanding access for eligible voters instead of restricting it. I will be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal. I believe that this proposal is unnecessary, undemocratic, and will deplete turnout by causing barriers and confusion for eligible voters. Michigan already has safeguards in place to ensure that only citizens vote, and we should be focused on expanding access for eligible voters instead of restricting it.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: I will be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal because it represents an important step toward reducing the influence of big money in our elections and increasing transparency. I myself have signed the petition.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: As a candidate, former State Representative, and future State Senator, I am committed to working with my colleagues to advance policies that put Michiganders first. My experience sponsoring and co-sponsoring more than 1,200 bills reflects my dedication to building relationships across the aisle and delivering results regardless of the political climate. I passed bipartisan legislation while serving in the house minority, and I will continue to pursue bipartisan solutions in the State Senate. My career as a clinical psychologist has given me skills that translate directly to legislative work — listening carefully, building trust, and finding common ground even among people with fundamentally different perspectives. I do not believe that minority status is an excuse for inaction. Michiganders elected me to deliver for them, and that responsibility does not change based on which party controls the chamber. I will use every tool available — coalition building, constituent pressure, strategic amendments, and sustained public advocacy — to advance the commitments I have made here and to ensure that progress for Michigan families remains possible regardless of the political landscape.As a candidate, former State Representative, and future State Senator, I am committed to working with my colleagues to advance policies that put Michiganders first. My experience sponsoring and co-sponsoring more than 1,200 bills reflects my dedication to building relationships across the aisle and delivering results regardless of the political climate. I passed bipartisan legislation while serving in the house minority, and I will continue to pursue bipartisan solutions in the State Senate. My career as a clinical psychologist has given me skills that translate directly to legislative work — listening carefully, building trust, and finding common ground even among people with fundamentally different perspectives. I do not believe that minority status is an excuse for inaction. Michiganders elected me to deliver for them, and that responsibility does not change based on which party controls the chamber. I will use every tool available — coalition building, constituent pressure, strategic amendments, and sustained public advocacy — to advance the commitments I have made here and to ensure that progress for Michigan families remains possible regardless of the political landscape.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Economic Opportunities for my district, i.e. manufacturing, farming, tourism,. Environmental protection, Affordability and tax fairness.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: Work in a bipartisan manner to ensure the passage of the bill. I would co -sponsor any and all voter rights bills
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: If the Republicans keep the house I would target House Speaker Matt Hall with a public shame campaign and let everyone know that he, is the one currently blocking bipartisan Senate Bills 1 and 2 from receiving a House vote. If the Republicans keep the house I would target House Speaker Matt Hall with a public shame campaign and let everyone know that he, is the one currently blocking bipartisan Senate Bills 1 and 2 from receiving a House vote.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I will not accept any AIPAC money or large corporate donations. Big money equals bad politics.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 2 – Somewhat Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I dont know enough about it to give an educated response. I would have to see the proposal in total.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I have and will publicly oppose both versions of the AVC. This is a Republican dog whistle. We already require a drivers license or a picture ID to vote. Requiring a birth certificate is beyond the pale as it will disenfranchise, married women. No one needs to be registered in some shadowy federal government database. It is not American and should be illegal
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Companies like DTE and Consumers Energy have been making billions, delivering un- reliable power to Michganders while charging the highest rates in the Midwest! Utilities eventually need to be taken off speculation. Shareholders for these companies, make money on the backs of the community. Big money lobbyists who are working for health insurers and government contractors just hand out campaign cash or make sweetheart deals which, in the end, affects affordability for average folks. Some bills are killed before they even reach a vote.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: My campaign slogan is, Change Happens in the Middle. We’re going to do it like our parents did. We’re going to meet in the middle. If Reagan and O’neill could do it, so can we. It’s time for the left and the right to go back into their corners and hibernate for a while. The adults are going to come back into the room and we’re going to get stuff done. Nobody’s gonna get everything they want but everybody’s gonna get something they want. That’s how it’s done in a democracy. But I want it to make it very clear to the other side that I am a new democrat , not the old school Democrat. I’m not going to send you a strongly worded letter, i’m not gonna clutch my pearls. If you go high , I go high, but if you go low , I go low. I’m going to be an in your face democrat , because I think that’s what it’s going to take to push the fascists out of this current government. My campaign slogan is, Change Happens in the Middle. We’re going to do it like our parents did. We’re going to meet in the middle. If Reagan and O’neill could do it, so can we. It’s time for the left and the right to go back into their corners and hibernate for a while. The adults are going to come back into the room and we’re going to get stuff done. Nobody’s gonna get everything they want but everybody’s gonna get something they want. That’s how it’s done in a democracy. But I want it to make it very clear to the other side that I am a new democrat , not the old school Democrat. I’m not going to send you a strongly worded letter, i’m not gonna clutch my pearls. If you go high , I go high, but if you go low , I go low. I’m going to be an in your face democrat , because I think that’s what it’s going to take to push the fascists out of this current government.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Universal healthcare access, Protecting our land and water from Data Centers, and Getting money out of politics.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: My voice will always stand with the people of Michigan and protecting their right to vote. I will work tirelessly with other state legislators to ensure the VRA passes.My voice will always stand with the people of Michigan and protecting their right to vote. I will work tirelessly with other state legislators to ensure the VRA passes.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Transparency in our government has never been more important than it is now. I will support any legislature brought forth that requires transparency in our government agencies and its officials.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I believe that corporate donors have corrupted our political system. Politicians believe they are working for the corporations rather than the people who elect them. Its time to fix that.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 3 – Neutral
Explain your response.
Answer: I would need to look into this more before I would be comfortable speaking on it.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I will be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizens Voting ballot proposal. We already have legal requirements in place for ensuring only US Citizens are voting in our elections. There has been no evidence proving that our current laws are not sufficient.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: I will be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal. I firmly believe that our current politicians have been corrupted by big corporate money. They’ve forgotten that they work for the voters, and I think its time for them to remember. I will not be taking corporate PAC money.I will be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal. I firmly believe that our current politicians have been corrupted by big corporate money. They’ve forgotten that they work for the voters, and I think its time for them to remember. I will not be taking corporate PAC money.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I’ve never been the kind of person to be swayed by money or influential power. I stand firm in my belief that government officials work for the people of this state and this nation. Too many politicians have removed themselves from the people they represent, I plan to make myself accessible to the people in my district. Politics was never part of the plan for my life, but I’ve reached a point where I’ve realized that if every day average people don’t start to fight for these positions then we will lose the ability to protect the most vulnerable amongst us. We cannot lose that fight. I will spend every day I have in office listening to and fighting for everyone in my district and across this state. I truly hope to get a chance to prove myself to the people of Michigan, and to protect our state and all those who reside here.I’ve never been the kind of person to be swayed by money or influential power. I stand firm in my belief that government officials work for the people of this state and this nation. Too many politicians have removed themselves from the people they represent, I plan to make myself accessible to the people in my district. Politics was never part of the plan for my life, but I’ve reached a point where I’ve realized that if every day average people don’t start to fight for these positions then we will lose the ability to protect the most vulnerable amongst us. We cannot lose that fight. I will spend every day I have in office listening to and fighting for everyone in my district and across this state. I truly hope to get a chance to prove myself to the people of Michigan, and to protect our state and all those who reside here.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Worker Rights, Government Transparency, Education Justice
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: As a senator, I will work with VNP and clerks to craft legislation to codify protections for caps on precinct sizes, distances from precinct or ballot drop boxes for residents, pass bans on voter intimidation, coercion, and deception (like we have seen from ballot circulators for some campaigns) and ensure there are criminal or civil penalties for these actions. Every eligible voter should be able to vote, and it’s not though a “papers please” model.As a senator, I will work with VNP and clerks to craft legislation to codify protections for caps on precinct sizes, distances from precinct or ballot drop boxes for residents, pass bans on voter intimidation, coercion, and deception (like we have seen from ballot circulators for some campaigns) and ensure there are criminal or civil penalties for these actions. Every eligible voter should be able to vote, and it’s not though a “papers please” model.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I will bring forward a Michigan Sunshine Act which expands FOIA to every branch of our government.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: My campaign is grassroots and focused on working people. Corporations are not welcome in my campaign. Workers, farmers, families, unions, and pro-voter donations are welcome because their voice is the only one I care about. i will be a senator for the people, not for corporations.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I would bring forward a bill to create a Michigan Legislative Donor Fund which would be modeled after the gubernatorial match process already in place to incentivize smaller donations. I am also going to introduce the legislation to codify the MOP Up Michigan ballot language into out state campaign finance act. We know the power of codifying what is in our constitution so both need to be done.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I am adamantly opposed to the ACV ballot proposal because it actually hurts our election system. Voters Not Politicians did the hard work fix our system and put in clear protective guardrails to our voting system. And our system is absolutely secure. This proposal could cost nearly three quarter of a million voters in Michigan to be disenfranchised, and that is not democracy.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: I am a supporter of the ballot proposal and intend to sign it this weekend. I believe we need to get corporate money out of politics. As a teacher, I have seen first-hand the impacts of corporation and the elite buying elections to hurt our citizens and students for their own greed. However, I will also push to ensure this legislation does not impact the worker voice. I will fight to ensure that teachers, secretaries, construction workers, and laborers are not silenced because a union may have a state contract. I will be very clear on the campaign trail and as a senator that this legislation is for corporations and utilities not for workers and their unions.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: My job as a legislator would the same as my job as a union leader and teacher. I still have to go to work and do the job. i still have to advocate and speak out for what I believe in and policy that is best for everyone in the district and the state. But that also means working with some unusual partners. I am committed to work with whoever is willing to work on these issues, regardless of party.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: 1. making a exemption on the work requirements for snap benefits for single mothers with more than 1 kid. they get forced to work then you spend almost everything on daycare and still can’t feed their families 2.. making a domestic violence registry it will be modeled like a sex offender registry. If you commit domestic violence more than 1 time you get put on the registry the only way to get off it is 5 years of counseling,anger management then a panel of mental health professionals will meet and say if they think they should be taken off the list. 3. stop Data centers they drain resources, raise energy costs on the people and then hire a few people not worth it whatsoever. if it’s okay I would like to add 1 more. I will get rid of state taxes by auditing the government stoping all fraud and putting that money back in the budget.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I fully 100 percent support this. I will work directly with you to get this passed it’s a common sense issue. I will help draft the bill and push it in the Senate to be passed. I will gladly help and advocate with you. Honestly it should have been the norm in the first place. I fully 100 percent support this. I will work directly with you to get this passed it’s a common sense issue. I will help draft the bill and push it in the Senate to be passed. I will gladly help and advocate with you. Honestly it should have been the norm in the first place.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Absolutely this is something every single state should have. Elections should be the most transparent thing in the country. Absolutely this is something every single state should have. Elections should be the most transparent thing in the country.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I’m running 100 percent grassroots campaign. No corporate money no PAC money period. Because I will not have someone telling me what I can and can’t do that’s not how government should work at all
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I will bring it up for a vote in the Senate work with all of your people and advocate also. I will do anything and everything to make politicians accountable and transparent. Voting is the most important thing an American can do
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes. I will publicly oppose the proposal because Michigan law already limits voting to U.S. citizens, and this amendment is unnecessary. My focus is on protecting election integrity through clear rules, transparency, and enforcement. I support strong citizenship requirements, but I also believe in keeping our constitution clean, simple, and free from political clutter.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes. I support this proposal because Michigananders needs stronger transparency and limits on the influence of big money in politics. I believe voters deserve to know who is funding campaigns and ballot initiatives, and I support reforms that make our elections more accountable and less driven by large donors. I have supported this initiative because it aligns with my commitment to clean, transparent government. Because politicians should not be able to be bought. Accepting money from PAC and corporate donors means you don’t feel like you are serving the people only your interest. That’s what has caused all the problems in the government and in public. The division, the fear mongering it’s because they are being told what they can and can’t do Yes. I support this proposal because Michigananders needs stronger transparency and limits on the influence of big money in politics. I believe voters deserve to know who is funding campaigns and ballot initiatives, and I support reforms that make our elections more accountable and less driven by large donors. I have supported this initiative because it aligns with my commitment to clean, transparent government. Because politicians should not be able to be bought. Accepting money from PAC and corporate donors means you don’t feel like you are serving the people only your interest. That’s what has caused all the problems in the government and in public. The division, the fear mongering it’s because they are being told what they can and can’t do
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: The way I see it is this I’m not partison I will not be told what I can and can’t put up for legislation and the fact it’s more difficult means I work harder. I’m held accountable by the voters and if you endorce me held accountable to you as well. I don’t make promises like politicians that never follow through my campaign slogan is no promises only results. If I support something that becomes my priority. I will work with you on this and put everything I can into getting this passed and making elections what they should be fully transparent, not able to get donations and then be told what they can and can’t do. I will be your biggest supporter and ally. The way I see it is this I’m not partison I will not be told what I can and can’t put up for legislation and the fact it’s more difficult means I work harder. I’m held accountable by the voters and if you endorce me held accountable to you as well. I don’t make promises like politicians that never follow through my campaign slogan is no promises only results. If I support something that becomes my priority. I will work with you on this and put everything I can into getting this passed and making elections what they should be fully transparent, not able to get donations and then be told what they can and can’t do. I will be your biggest supporter and ally.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Access to affordable health care, infrastructure and housing, and environmental protection.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I support passage of the Michigan Voting Rights Act; I will uplift it with caucus leadership as a priority and speak publicly about the need for these important reforms. On the second point (translating election-related information into more languages), I think we should approach this with local nuance – it’s possible not every city or county needs to translate this information into all the same languages.I support passage of the Michigan Voting Rights Act; I will uplift it with caucus leadership as a priority and speak publicly about the need for these important reforms. On the second point (translating election-related information into more languages), I think we should approach this with local nuance – it’s possible not every city or county needs to translate this information into all the same languages.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I support including legislative and executive offices in the Michigan FOIA statute. I will uplift this issue with Democratic Senate leadership when I serve in the Michigan Senate.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: Yes
Explain your response.
Answer: I think we need comprehensive campaign finance reform which is likely best done at the federal level. Additionally, different people have different levels of what “corporate” means, and I am happy to have a conversation with VNP about your definition to understand more. Finally, I think candidates should have an even playing field and when one candidate does not receive corporate dollars and one does, that gives a different, uneven advantage.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I will help build a coalition of support within my caucus in the Senate.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: The Senate passed the Voting Rights Act (SB 401-4) and the package passed out of the House Elections Committee. The House ran out of time in lame duck, partly because all the Republicans walked out of session along with one Democrat, depriving the chamber of quorum.
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes. I will speak to people at doors when we start canvassing, making sure they understand their voting rights and that this proposal threatens those rights. I was the primary sponsor on HB 4570 of 2023, later signed into law, which requires the Secretary of State to maintain a web portal that allows qualified and registered electors to request an absent voter ballot.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: I think we need comprehensive campaign finance reform at the federal level as many PACs cross state lines. Additionally, I have partnerships with many labor groups who have concerns with this ballot initiative. I support a more comprehensive approach and am open to a conversation with VNP on this topic.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I just had my 12th Public Act signed; even this year under divided government and in the State House minority, and during the least productive legislature in Michigan history, I was able to get a bill signed into law (HB 4077 of 2025, Public Act 3 of 2026 – this law requires the punctual submission of death certificates to cut red tape for grieving families). I currently have many bills and bill packages co-sponsored with Republican lawmakers. Bipartisanship and productivity, regardless of whether I am in the majority or minority, are hallmarks of my work in Lansing, and I will continue to use this approach whether or not I am in the majority in the State Senate. Serving in the minority has never been an excuse for me to not get things accomplished in the legislature and I will not use it as an excuse in the State Senate.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Affordability,lifting up the working and middle class, giving power back to the people.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I think I am good at framing messaging to make both sides of the aisle feel welcomed into an idea. I would for sure work to strengthen voter equality and rights.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Work for legislation that would improve transparency, open FOIA to all positions in Government and lower barriers/costs to obtain them.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I’m not even seeking endorsements from many things I would normally support. I am pro business, but in a responsible capitalism way- where the government support only comes once cooperations are taking care of their employees and the communities they are in. You can also see the “worker capitalist” on TT. I’m not even seeking endorsements from many things I would normally support. I am pro business, but in a responsible capitalism way- where the government support only comes once cooperations are taking care of their employees and the communities they are in. You can also see the “worker capitalist” on TT.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 2 – Somewhat Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I think rather than matching- we already spend too much on elections. I would rather see a smaller limit set that would better match small donor and public voters. If we can’t get this done, a voucher program could be an option and I would be willing to hear more. What I don’t want to see is more government funds passed along to the already rich and powerful. I think rather than matching- we already spend too much on elections. I would rather see a smaller limit set that would better match small donor and public voters. If we can’t get this done, a voucher program could be an option and I would be willing to hear more. What I don’t want to see is more government funds passed along to the already rich and powerful.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I already have (I think I specifically talked about the SAVE act)- the way they are using it is for voter suppression, not voter security. Voter fraud is already very rare. If they were serious about this- the would make all documents free, easy to obtain, and set a longer time frame for people to do it…. oh and Michigan already requires a photo id.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes- you and RANKMIVOTE were 2 of the first things I followed and joined on my politics page.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I have respectful conversations across party lines. I even got Matt Maddock to ask me about my plans to restructure property tax. I believe when we frame things in the right way, we can get things done for the people of Michigan. I have respectful conversations across party lines. I even got Matt Maddock to ask me about my plans to restructure property tax. I believe when we frame things in the right way, we can get things done for the people of Michigan.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Affordability- including housing, education, healthcare, and wages. It’s an issue that has many facets that needs addressed. 2-rural communities sustainability- farm friendly policies that gives farmers more control over the products they produce and the markets they sell them in. Assisting farmers in diversifying their farming practices and creating their own markets. SD 25 is an ideal location for a true farm to table experience with creating a market for restaurants and farmers, cutting out the middle man on both ends, increasing the profits for the farmers and the restaurants. This would also include giving communities local control of their land, so no entity can come along and tell them they have to have a data center. Third, we have to look out for the most vulnerable amongst us- seniors, veterans, children, and those that are struggling- we need to better connect people with the services available to them and do what we can to create housing first initiatives to create the stability needed to improve lives and lift people up so that they can some day pay it forward. It also includes expanding access to mental health services and recognizing healthcare as a human right.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I am willing to sponsor or sponsor legislation
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Willing to sponsor/cosponsor legislation
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: Have not accepted any money from corporate donors
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 3 – Neutral
Explain your response.
Answer: I’d be interested in hearing more about this. I am an advocate of limiting campaign spending and leveling the playing field for all candidates
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Opposing. I’ve worked as an election inspector for many years. Our elections are within an acceptable margin of error Opposing. I’ve worked as an election inspector for many years. Our elections are within an acceptable margin of error
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: YES! We need to limit campaign spending and end the hold
Corporations have on politics. It’s supposed to be about public service not personal profits
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: Doing what is right is more important than partisan politics. I live in a red area. Every action I take will be scrutinized. I’m well aware of that. I intend to not only get elected, but to keep my word and do what’s best for the people so I’m re-elected.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Civil & reproductive rights; skills-and-knowledge-based economic growth, and renewable energy opportunity
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I will sponsor legislation with these provisions to protect voting rights for all Michigan voters. I have several family members with a variety of disabilities that can make voting challenging so I will work hard with fellow legislators to make electoral access available to all.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Throughout my career as a civil servant, making government records publicly available has been one of my top priorities. Having actual FOIA experience, I can craft legislation that will close all loopholes to make sure that legislative and executive offices have the same compliance requirements as other government agencies.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: My campaign is a grassroots cause that is working for the people not the powerful. I am not running to make other people rich, I am running so that everyone will have access to the rights they deserve.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 3 – Neutral
Explain your response.
Answer: I would need to see the actual language of such legislation before I would sponsor it, to make sure that government funds are properly used for campaign purposes. Some politicians have used campaign accounts as slush funds in the past, so proper enforceable guidelines would need to be established first.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I will definitely publicly oppose that proposal and work hard to inform voters of the dangers inherent to their own voting rights if the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal were to pass. To give one example, my relatives with disabilities would have their absentee ballot rights impaired or even eliminated. I will definitely publicly oppose that proposal and work hard to inform voters of the dangers inherent to their own voting rights if the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal were to pass. To give one example, my relatives with disabilities would have their absentee ballot rights impaired or even eliminated.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes, I will publicly support and urge other voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal because the corrupting influence of corporate money is bad for democracy. Up to this point I have not had the opportunity to particpate in the initiative.Yes, I will publicly support and urge other voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal because the corrupting influence of corporate money is bad for democracy. Up to this point I have not had the opportunity to particpate in the initiative.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: As a State Police auditor for five years, I have extensive experience working with Republican sheriffs and police chiefs to implement policies and procedures to better serve the public. My promises and comments will be honored and delivered by working with all of my colleagues – regardless of which party is in power – to see the impact of restrictions on voting rights on people they care about. Once we have achieved common ground, the path to mutual understanding of voting rights will be strengthened. I will also get involved at a grassroots level to directly reach out to voters of all parties to educate them on the importance of opposing restrictions to their own voting rights. I am a firm believer in your organization’s mission and you can count on me to work with you to carry out your vision.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Raise wages, lower costs, take on government corruption
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I will make it a priority and will withhold my vote on other bills that arent my priority to get it passed. I will also make it clear to the public who is standing in the way of getting it passed.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 5 – Oppose
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I will make it a priority and will withhold my vote on other bills that arent my priority to get it passed. I will also make it clear to the public who is standing in the way of getting it passed.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: Taking money from corporations or dark money not only violates trust between myself and voters, it fundamentally damages our democracy. I will not take a dime and will make it one of my top priorities to fundamentally change the system and move us toward publicly financed elections.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I will make it a priority and will withhold my vote on other bills that arent my priority to get it passed. I will also make it clear to the public who is standing in the way of getting it passed.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: Too many Democrats (& politicians generally) are bought and paid for by corporations and other wealthy billionaires. This is why we didnt get a higher minimum wage, the Drive SAFE bills, MiCare and other priorities passed during the trifecta.
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes, i will. I do think we need to have a broader discussion around reforming our electoral system but this initiative is not the way to do it.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes, i am supporting MMOP. I have signed (& rresigned) the petition, have circulated it, endorsed it and have had it on my website since the beginning of our campaign.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: Being an activist or organizer is one thing, governing is another. During the 2 years that I was on the Kent County Board of Commissioners, we were in the minority, but that didn’t stop me from getting things done. I was able to circulate a bipartisan letter getting 10 signatures from commissioners calling for the passage of the Drive SAFE bills and was also able to pass 2 initiatives from the minority, helping to put the county on a path to end landfilling and passing the Kent County Affordable Housing Revolving Loan Fund, and I will bring the same effectiveness to Lansing. My job will not be to constantly attack the Republicans or corporate Dems; it will be to work with them where i can and stop them when i disagree.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Free Childcare (we have to allow people to choose to BOTH a career and family), Paid Family and Medical Leave (families should be able to bond with new children and survive emergencies), and Post-Secondary Education (CTE job training and reimbursed tuition program to retain Michigan talent in our state).
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: Help when another Democratic Trifecta with larger majority margins.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I think the Moss bill should be a minimum. VNP and others will have to work with supportive legislators to pressure leadership.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: Yes
Explain your response.
Answer: I support Mop Up Michigan, but in the meantime I believe Michigan and America are threatened by a Trump Republican party that is not committed to continuing our democratic republic so I do not think it is wise to unilaterally disarm. Taking these donations has NEVER changed by vote: I voted against Data Center tax credits, against the RICE plants in the UP, cosponsored community solar, etc. So, I do take some umbrage at the idea that taking legal money makes me corrupt. I cannot speak for others. I do think that a a low dollar tax credit / voucher system would be a more likely response to the power of corporations and large donors.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I introduced such a bill in 2023 and will again soon.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: Tate, Whitsett, Republicans. The Senate did their job. I can’t speak to why Tate refused to put it on the front burner in the early days of lame duck.
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes. I think it’s both a poll tax, a voter suppression technique; and makes it harder for newly married women to vote. Yes. I think it’s both a poll tax, a voter suppression technique; and makes it harder for newly married women to vote.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes. I’m supportive, but I don’t know that anyone has asked me to endorse. I’d be happy to officially endorse, send me an email at [email protected] or call 6164462280.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: The key is who is in leadership: House Speaker, Senate ML, Governor. I’m supporting Jocelyn Benson and have from her launch because I believe she will push for the bills VNP has mentioned. I”ll also support a SML who supports. And then, I’ll continue to push leadership. But, to be clear and up-front: VNP is also going to have to do its part and have a more effective lobbying effort. I received very little support re Prop 1, county commission redistricting, or small dollar donations. I don’t remember anyone lobbying me on the MI Voting Rights Act. I want y’all to succeed, so I’m just telling you how I see what happened in 2023 and 2024. Republicans have no interest in any of your positions, so no Republican leader is going to bring up any of these bills no matter how hard anyone tries. That’s just the reality we live in.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: While my overarching priorities are broader, my first three legislative priorities (i.e., those that I think could get early traction and produce more immediate returns to everyday folks) are: Repealing Michigan’s current ban on rent stabilization policies to allow local jurisdictions to enact laws and ordinances to limit rent increases to predictable and manageable amounts Fixing recent changes to Michigan’s minimum wage and paid leave laws to pass a replacement “thriving wage” law that ties minimum wage to the median cost of housing to ensure that folks are able to earn enough to meet the 30% rule-of-thumb (i.e., no more than 30% of income is spent on housing). As the current average rent in Michigan for a 1-bedroom apartment is around $1,100, minimum wage under a “thriving wage” provision would be $21.15. Included in the law would be support provisions for small businesses to enable them to pay a thriving wage (rather than keeping the minimum wage low – even for large corporations who can easily pay higher wages) because of the very real pressures on small businesses Begin clawing back housing incentives focused solely on supporting large, wealthy developers to create small grants and/or block grants that incentivize and support small developers and individual homeowners to add affordable housing units (i.e., accessory dwelling units, duplexes, triplexes, etc) within established communities to build gentle density that opens access to desirable neighborhoods for new neighbors
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I will always do everything in my power to ensure full and free access to voting. I would willingly sponsor/co-sponsor the legislation necessary to introduce and pass the Act. I would work to bring my Senate colleagues on board, and I would build a robust communications and outreach strategy within my own district to educate and connect with constituents about the importance of the Act.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I will willingly sponsor/co-sponsor legislation necessary to extend FOIA to the legislative and executive offices. Transparency is essential to trust in government – I have no qualms about being subject to FOIA and don’t believe that any public servant should be excepted.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: Corporate money in politics creates clear conflicts of interest, whether real or perceived. It dilutes and drowns out the priorities and needs of everyday people and results in legislation and actions that benefit corporations, their shareholders and executives. I will never accept money from corporate donors because the perception (and reality) of honesty and integrity for a public servant is too important to compromise.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: Big money in politics restricts access to the ballot for candidates and unfairly limits choice for voters. It undermines the democratic process. I am fully supportive of public funding for elections in order to counteract this current reality. I will enthusiastically sponsor/co-sponsor legislation to provide public funding for elections; will work with my Senate colleagues to build support; and engage in robust dialogue with my constituents to educate and connect with them about the importance of the legislation.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Absolutely and unequivocally. I will always stand in opposition to that which restricts voter access and free and fair elections. This proposal is based on misinformation and lies about voter fraud. The requirement to show government-issued identification disproportionately affects Black, Indigenous and older and young voters who are eligible to vote but may face very real barriers to holding the required identification.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes! I’ve been a volunteer signature collector since last summer; I currently invite signature collectors to all campaign events; and I am a public endorser of the proposal. I am a strong supporter of getting corporate money out of politics, as it dilutes democracy and inhibits the prioritization of policies that support people.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: My responsibility as an elected official is to the people I represent first and foremost – not to party and never to political gamesmanship. Regardless of the party that holds the majority in the legislature, my commitment to transparency and open and candid communication with my community will always remain the same: they need and deserve to know what I’m doing and why I’m doing it. That may involve explanations of the political realities of why certain legislation isn’t passed – but it will never resort to an attempt to blame or score points against anyone else. That being said, I don’t believe in bipartisanship as a virtue unto itself – in other words, I’m not looking to work from the idea that “common ground” is the goal. But I am and will always be open to working with anyone where values and desired outcomes align – and will always do my best to work with every colleague in the Senate, regardless of political affiliation, and not further splinter the divide with public degradation or name-calling.
I believe that the majority of people want the same things: thriving wages, affordable housing, accessible healthcare, great public schools. I will never give up on policies that are designed to do the most good for the most people – there is always a way. I am committed to the hard work of finding solutions even – and especially – in the face of challenge. Everything that we want and need is possible – it’s a matter of will and work. I will continuously endeavor to harness the will that I believe exists in abundance and work to deliver on that which serves us.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Affordable Housing, Economic Justice, Environmental Protection
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I’ll sponsor it! In addition, I’d take the lead on explaining how our elections are already secure to my legislative colleagues, as I was the VNPEF employee who assisted in the election processes and voting rights training curriculum, and how protecting and expanding voting rights is vital to our democracy, especially in the midst of a growing American oligarchy. I’m best positioned to have this internal dialogue as the “Expert” on the technical aspects of the voting process. In December I will be graduating from law school, with adds another tool to my belt in effective advocacy to defend voting rights.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Absolutely. As a State Board Member, I am subject to FOIA. I have frustratingly requested records from the Governor’s Office on a matter, but they don’t need to comply. Matters that need to remain classified for valid reasons can remain classified, but stonewalling all matters is against our values of transparency and open government. I’d sponsor this bill.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: I don’t accept donations from corporate donors, including donations from utility companies.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I’d support this bill and be active in helping to craft the language with my legal background.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I am opposed to this and have spent my career opposed to this type of law. Our current voter registration process already ensures only eligible people can vote and ensures as many people as possible have this step complete prior to Election Day to ensure there aren’t backups or disenfranchisement on Election Day. Any additional steps or requirements on Election Day do not make our elections more secure, they just disenfranchise voters. Currently, if you forget an ID and fill out an affidavit, the criminal penalty is so severe for breaking the law that it dissuades people from doing so, which is why this is a nonissue and illegal votes are so rare. In my State Board Role, I have assisted the Attorney General’s Office in negotiating a settlement with a Trump Supporter who listened to his lies about the election and chose to “test:” the system by voting twice. As expected, she was caught and prosecuted and learned her lesson — a lesson that our elections are secure.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: I will support this whenever it ends up on the ballot and did sign the most recent iteration. In my role, both as a nonprofit Executive Director and as a State Board member, I have to submit an annual conflict of interests disclosure, and abstain from any matters where there is a conflict. It is ridiculous to me that state legislators can accept money from places like utility companies, and then proceed to vote on matters involving utilities. Since voting on matters is their job and abstaining could cause legislative gridlock, the alternative solution is to just take the money causing the conflict out of politics. Therefore, I support this proposal fully.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: As a nonprofit executive director, my work continues no matter which party is in office. When we have to pivot due to becoming the minority, we continue the work of coalition building, voter education, and getting as much done through compromise as possible. If we maintain the Executive branch, there are many things that can be accomplished through the regulatory rule making process (I’m on the Rules Committee of the State Board), and as a soon-to-be lawyer, we can also use the courts to weigh in on issues. We can also partner with local and federal entities to accomplish goals if we are gridlocked at the state level, potentially even using the private sector on specific issues. If the majority party is promoting bills that go against my policy priorities and states values, I will use all legislative tools available to defeat it, and to use voter engagement and media to fight back. My values remain no matter which party is in power, and I’m a proven fighter who is able to impact change no matter which party is in power. I’ll carry this same effort into the legislature.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: My top 3 legislative priorities are ensuring local control over land use, and making sure siting decisions are held at a township level and not in Lansing. I want to fix the broken revenue sharing, and advocate for a complete FOIA reform and respond to every constituent regardless of party.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: All 4 provisions are common sense. Voters deserve and need access to be free from intimidation and suppression. I will cosponsor and advocate publicly, and work to bring Republicans along.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: We are 1 of 2 states in the country without it. Embarrassing. There’s no legitimate reason why elected officials are exempt. We are 1 of 2 states in the country without it. Embarrassing. There’s no legitimate reason why elected officials are exempt.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: No corporate PAC money, and I took LCV No utility money challenge. I’m accountable to constituents not donors.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I’m running against better funded opponents right now so I’m living this problem. I believe matching programs make candidates talk to people and not big donors. I will actively push for it in Lansing.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I will oppose and urge a no vote because noncitizen voting is already illegal. This proposal solves nothing. The real purpose is confusion and intimidation of real voters.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes and I will support and urge a yes vote. I’m a constituent with everything I’ve said and done, no corporate money, no utility money. Dark money is the biggest structural problem that’s behind most of what’s broken in Lansing.Yes and I will support and urge a yes vote. I’m a constituent with everything I’ve said and done, no corporate money, no utility money. Dark money is the biggest structural problem that’s behind most of what’s broken in Lansing.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I won’t use minority status as an excuse because that’s the easy way out for most electeds right now. I will introduce legislation for these commitments even when votes are not there because public bills create public records and public votes. I will report transparently to all constituents on what is currently moving, what is stalled, and most importantly who is blocking it. I will find genuine bipartisan agreements where they exist, and FOIA and clean water are definitely not partisan. I will use my Tuebor podcast platform and my community presence to keep pressure on and hold myself accountable. My commitments are not answers to this questionnare, but they are why I got in this race.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: On the campaign trail, I will focus on housing, mental health care, and food security, particularly for children. We all want houses. We all want a strong and robust CMH system that takes care of our residents. We all don’t want kids hungry at school.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: In Michigan, there are currently two ballot proposals whose effect would be to remove voting rights from anyone who doesn’t jump through hoops to prove their citizenship. In Lansing, I will stand with those whose rights have come under attack from the right, and I will work to stop legislation that removes or blocks rights for any part of the population. My goal is to be sure Michigan laws are fair and equitable and offer equal protection, regardless of race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability.
Specifically, it’s important to me to listen to many voices and then share how the Michigan Voting Rights Act will be important to constituents here in West Michigan by protecting my constituents from unfair federal laws and ensuring transparency.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: It is vital that Michigan voters have access to information about their government and public servants. I will fully support passing FOIA in Michigan and promote the important role FOIA plays in governmental transparency to my constituents.It is vital that Michigan voters have access to information about their government and public servants. I will fully support passing FOIA in Michigan and promote the important role FOIA plays in governmental transparency to my constituents.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: Corporate money in politics has been proven without a doubt to be corrosive to our democracy and civic engagement. Win or lose, I have to face myself after this campaign, and I’ll not accept any donations that I feel will further corrode trust in a system I hold in the highest regard.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 1 – Support
Explain your response.
Answer: One of the reasons I’m running in this election is because the system isn’t set up for people like me to succeed. A small-donor public matching or voucher program would put more power into the hands of the people in areas like the 31st district where voter sentiment is slowly starting to change but entrenched local politics makes deviating from the historical norm (in our case, a Republican stronghold) difficult and slow.One of the reasons I’m running in this election is because the system isn’t set up for people like me to succeed. A small-donor public matching or voucher program would put more power into the hands of the people in areas like the 31st district where voter sentiment is slowly starting to change but entrenched local politics makes deviating from the historical norm (in our case, a Republican stronghold) difficult and slow.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes, the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal is designed to take power out of the hands of the people and instead give it to those already in power. In addition to making it even more difficult for people like me to get elected, the Americans for Citizen Voting proposal would remove fundamental voting rights from many Americans. One of my main goals, if elected, is to stand with those whose rights have come under attack from the right, and work to stop legislation that removes or blocks rights for any part of the population.Yes, the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal is designed to take power out of the hands of the people and instead give it to those already in power. In addition to making it even more difficult for people like me to get elected, the Americans for Citizen Voting proposal would remove fundamental voting rights from many Americans. One of my main goals, if elected, is to stand with those whose rights have come under attack from the right, and work to stop legislation that removes or blocks rights for any part of the population.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: I will publicly support the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics proposal, because it is what Michigan residents across the political spectrum want. If put in effect, this proposal would foster a political environment that I, as a public servant, believe is important. No one wants big corporations to control our government. I’ve already signed the petition as a private citizen.I will publicly support the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics proposal, because it is what Michigan residents across the political spectrum want. If put in effect, this proposal would foster a political environment that I, as a public servant, believe is important. No one wants big corporations to control our government. I’ve already signed the petition as a private citizen.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: Regardless of the political landscape, I will work to deliver results by continuing to be vocal about my support of the rights of the average voter. Likewise, if elected, I will use my legislative power to rally my like-minded colleagues to do what we can to block any legislation that would make it harder for Michiganders to exercise their voting rights. And I will support legislation that helps to ensure that each of my constituents has a voice as well as the means to hold their legislators accountable. Liberty and Justice for All is something we have to live, not just say. But every day we see certain factions trying to remove rights that we have been granted. I have committed my life to service — service to country, service to family, and service to community — and I look forward to serving my constituents in Lansing.Regardless of the political landscape, I will work to deliver results by continuing to be vocal about my support of the rights of the average voter. Likewise, if elected, I will use my legislative power to rally my like-minded colleagues to do what we can to block any legislation that would make it harder for Michiganders to exercise their voting rights. And I will support legislation that helps to ensure that each of my constituents has a voice as well as the means to hold their legislators accountable. Liberty and Justice for All is something we have to live, not just say. But every day we see certain factions trying to remove rights that we have been granted. I have committed my life to service — service to country, service to family, and service to community — and I look forward to serving my constituents in Lansing.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: No property Tax on ones primary resident – home NO Income Tax; Require photo ID to vote; Lobby for NO more Foreign wars; Make all retirement Income TAX free; Preserve our valuable farm land – and greatly reduce property taxs on farm land.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 5 – Oppose
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: What are protected classes?????
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: vote for it in the State Senate
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: Yes
Explain your response.
Answer: I’m not counting on any coming my way; however I will take – in most cases – there money
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 5 – Oppose
Explain your response.
Answer: I oppose goverment funding of candidatesI oppose goverment funding of candidates
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: I don’t know anything about it; and I was not in the State Senate in 2024
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Don’t know what its all about
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Don’t know anything about it
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: YOU will have to TALK to me once I’m elected ….
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Childcare, Healthcare, Education
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I would support any legislation, including the Michigan Voting Rights Act, that protects and expands access to the ballot and ensures every eligible voter can participate without barriers.I would support any legislation, including the Michigan Voting Rights Act, that protects and expands access to the ballot and ensures every eligible voter can participate without barriers.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I support extending FOIA to legislative and executive offices.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: Yes
Explain your response.
Answer: I will not ever accept donations from utility industry PACs. I have not accepted campaign donations from corporate donors. I believe there could be a case-by-case basis depending on the corporate PAC, how it receives it’s donations, and what it advocates for. One example is the Microsoft Political Action Committee, which is funded by voluntary contributions from employees and often supports candidates who prioritize issues like technology innovation, workforce development, and expanding access to education. I don’t believe all corporate PACs are created equally.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 2 – Somewhat Support
Explain your response.
Answer: I would support such legislation, as long as the tax dollars used were not diverted from our public schools or vital social programs. I would support such legislation, as long as the tax dollars used were not diverted from our public schools or vital social programs.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I oppose the Americans for Citizen Voting proposal because it would create unnecessary barriers to voting and make it harder for eligible Michigan citizens to register and cast a ballot.I oppose the Americans for Citizen Voting proposal because it would create unnecessary barriers to voting and make it harder for eligible Michigan citizens to register and cast a ballot.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes, I support the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics proposal because reducing the influence of big money in politics helps ensure elected officials are accountable to voters rather than wealthy special interests. I have signed the ballot proposal petition and have encouraged others to do so.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: If elected, I will follow through on my commitments regardless of which party is in power by staying accountable to constituents, working across the aisle when possible, and using every part of the legislative process to make progress.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: 1. Our children and their future must be the highest priority. My SB 1 Youth Opportunity Act invests 50 million dollars in teachers, trades, and mental health without new taxes so our kids get real skills and hope instead of bureaucracy. 2. Medical Freedom. Ban all mandates, audit hospitals from ER to morgue, and redirect waste to natural health and prevention. 3. American Energy Dominance. Deregulate offshore oil, gas, and shipbuilding to create 500 jobs and kill electric bills with Energy3. Mid Michigan First! Ready day one.1. Our children and their future must be the highest priority. My SB 1 Youth Opportunity Act invests 50 million dollars in teachers, trades, and mental health without new taxes so our kids get real skills and hope instead of bureaucracy. 2. Medical Freedom. Ban all mandates, audit hospitals from ER to morgue, and redirect waste to natural health and prevention. 3. American Energy Dominance. Deregulate offshore oil, gas, and shipbuilding to create 500 jobs and kill electric bills with Energy3. Mid Michigan First! Ready day one.
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 5 – Oppose
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: I fully support passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act with all four provisions listed. Every eligible citizen deserves a meaningful voice in our democracy without barriers. Prohibiting denial, dilution, and suppression of votes protects the fundamental right to participate. Expanding language access ensures our growing diverse communities, including Spanish, Arabic, and other language minority groups across Michigan, can fully engage. Strengthening protections for voters with disabilities removes unnecessary obstacles and upholds dignity. Finally, banning intimidation, coercion, and deceptive practices by any actor safeguards the process before, during, and after Election Day.
If elected, I will work across the aisle and with community partners to build broad legislative support. I will introduce or co sponsor the bill in my first term, testify at hearings, rally stakeholder backing from voting rights organizations and local governments, and push for timely floor votes. I will also engage the Governor’s office early to secure signature and defend the law against legal challenges.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 5 – Oppose
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: Yes. Michigan should join the 48 other states by extending Freedom of Information Act compliance to the executive and legislative branches. Transparency builds public trust, and no branch of government should operate behind closed doors.
If elected, I will immediately co sponsor legislation to close this gap. I will collaborate with good government groups, introduce the bill early in the session, and work to move it through committee with strong public testimony. I will also advocate for proper funding and staffing so agencies can respond promptly without unnecessary burden, while maintaining reasonable exemptions for security and personnel matters.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: No, and I firmly believe it should be illegal.
I do not accept corporate donations. Campaigns should reflect the will of everyday Michiganders, not special interests. I will rely on small dollar contributions from individual supporters across the district to keep my focus solely on their priorities.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 5 – Oppose
Explain your response.
Answer: I strongly support a small donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan legislative districts. Such a system amplifies the voices of regular citizens, reduces the influence of big money, and encourages more people from diverse backgrounds to run for office. It levels the playing field so candidates spend less time chasing large checks and more time listening to constituents.
If elected, I will prioritize this reform by co sponsoring or introducing enabling legislation in my first session. I will build a coalition with reform minded colleagues, present data from successful programs in other states, and work with legislative leadership to secure passage. I will also engage voters through town halls to generate grassroots pressure for enactment.
These positions reflect my commitment to fair elections, openness in government, and people powered democracy. I look forward to earning your endorsement through consistent action on these issues.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: Yes, I will publicly oppose this proposal and urge voters to vote no.
I am not a career politician. I am one of you, a regular Michigander who believes elections should be secure and accessible. Federal and state law already make it illegal for non citizens to vote. This proposal adds layers of bureaucracy, stricter ID rules that eliminate affidavit options, and complicated verification processes that could create long lines, rejected registrations, and barriers for everyday citizens, seniors, students, and people in rural areas. It does not fix real problems but makes it harder for legal voters to participate. We need common sense security without suppressing the voices of the people.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: Yes, I will publicly support this proposal and urge voters to vote yes.
As someone who does not take corporate donations, I stand with this effort because our government should work for the people, not big utilities or major contractors. This initiative bans political money from regulated monopolies like DTE and Consumers Energy, as well as large state contractors. It is a straightforward, citizen led step to reduce special interest influence and restore trust in our system.
I have endorsed this initiative, signed the petition, and will actively help circulate it and speak out in support across the district. Our democracy belongs to everyday Michiganders like us, not to powerful corporations. I am proud to back this people powered reform all the way to victory on the ballot.
These answers come straight from my heart as one of the people, fighting for fair elections and a government that puts us first. I look forward to earning your endorsement through honest positions and real action.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: I am not a politician, and I will never use divided government as an excuse. I am running as one of you, a regular Michigander who is tired of watching elected officials point fingers instead of solving problems. If you send me to Lansing, my loyalty will be to the people of our district and to the commitments I make right here, not to any party label. I will deliver results by focusing on principles that should unite us… fair elections, open government, and getting big money out of politics.
Here is exactly how I will get things done no matter who holds the majority
First, I will build relationships across the aisle from day one. I will sit down with colleagues who share even some common ground, whether they are Democrats, Republicans, or independents, and find areas where we can agree. Good ideas are not partisan. Protecting every eligible voter’s access while keeping elections secure is something reasonable people can support. Expanding transparency through FOIA and reducing corporate influence are issues that affect families in every corner of Michigan.
Second, I will bring the people with me. I will hold regular town halls and listening sessions in our district, not just in election years, and I will invite constituents to help shape legislation and hold me accountable. When a bill stalls, I will mobilize everyday citizens to contact their representatives and show up at hearings. Public pressure, organized and persistent, has always been the best way to move Lansing.
Third, I will be transparent and relentless. Every week I will publicly report on the status of the promises I made here, the Michigan Voting Rights Act, FOIA expansion, banning corporate donations in my own campaign, and supporting small donor public financing. If something is not moving, I will explain why and what I am doing to push it forward. I will not hide behind closed doors or partisan talking points.
Fourth, I will use every tool available. I will co sponsor strong bills, offer practical amendments that improve legislation, work with the Governor’s office regardless of party, and support ballot initiatives that give power back to the voters when the legislature is stuck. I will never vote for a budget or major bill without fighting for these priorities to be included.
The voters of our district did not send me there to make excuses. They sent me to show up, work hard, and deliver. I give you my word that I will honor every commitment in this questionnaire with integrity and determination. Governing from the minority is challenging, but it is no excuse for inaction. As one of you, I will treat this job as a service opportunity, not a career, and I will fight every single day for the results our communities deserve.
I am ready to earn your endorsement by living up to these words with action. Thank you for holding us all to a higher standard.
Question 1: What are your top 3 legislative priorities?
Answer 1: Rural Healthcare Accessibility, Mental Healthcare Expansion, Union Promotion and Growth
Question 2: Do you support the passage of a Michigan Voting Rights Act that would include the following?
Answer 2: 1 – Prohibit voter denial, dilution, and/or suppression
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to get the Michigan Voting Rights Act passed if you’re elected?
Answer: 1. I have had many conversations with our county clerks through the UP regarding the suppression of voters rights and they are just as frustrated as I am. Our county clerks believe our elections are secure, they work, and the incessant attack on them from the GOP has got to stop. Voter suppression based on fear needs to stop. Their integrity is being questioned at levels unseen and it is very difficult for our clerks.
2. Translation of election materials is just as important for voters as ADA compliance is. As we do not have an official language in this county, neglecting the needs of our foreign language speakers is not acceptable. I will advocate for this through and with my fellow Senators down state, as being completely honest, the Upper Peninsula is 89% Caucasian and 94% English speaking, it is not an issue I see in my District but for our state as a whole, this is very important.
3. As mentioned above, ADA compliance is extremely important to me. I have several friends with physical disabilities and visual impairments. Providing them with the same voting opportunities is essential. I will work with out Secretary of State’s office to ensure this issue is always being handled with care and respect, as to not fall behind.
4. Going back to our county clerks, I believe they do a good job protecting against intimidation and coercion. I have witnessed it first hand in Delta County, where law enforcement was always available and close by in order to quickly deescalate any problems. Allocating state funds for the protection of our elections is necessary. HOWEVER, I will NEVER advocate for ICE agents or any federal agents for that matter overseeing and “protecting” our elections.
Question 3: Should Michigan join the 48 states that require their executive and legislative branches to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests?
Answer 3: 1 – Support
Explain your response. If supportive, what will you do to ensure that Michigan joins the 48 other states that extend FOIA to legislative and executive offices once you’re elected?
Answer: I will continue the advocation of current Senate bills, potentially amending FOIA law PA442. The current bills are stuck in the House Government Operations Committee. If these bills come back to the Senate while I am in office, I will vote to support them, as they have received bi partisan support from the MI Senate.
Question 4: Are you accepting campaign donations from corporate donors?
Answer 4: No
Explain your response.
Answer: As stated earlier, I am running a People over PACs campaign and have also signed on with LCV to get Corporate money out of politics.
I see so many candidates make videos on social media asking people for DOLLARS but never asking for their VOTES. In the Upper Peninsula, money doesn’t win elections, votes do. And I have seen this happen. I am focused on a ‘do more with less’ and getting back to the basics.
Question 5: Do you support the passage of a small-donor public matching or voucher program for candidates in Michigan’s legislative districts?
Answer 5: 2 – Somewhat Support
Explain your response.
Answer: While I have reviewed the benefits of this program, I stand as a candidate who feels we need to be asking for people’s VOTES and not their DOLLARS. Our election system has become nearly ENTIRELY focused on fundraising and I jut don’t believe in it. I believe in having conversations, knowing your constituents and their needs, and being a helping hand. While I have reviewed the benefits of this program, I stand as a candidate who feels we need to be asking for people’s VOTES and not their DOLLARS. Our election system has become nearly ENTIRELY focused on fundraising and I jut don’t believe in it. I believe in having conversations, knowing your constituents and their needs, and being a helping hand.
Question 6: If you were part of the legislature during the 2024 lame duck session, please provide your explanation of why the Michigan Voting Rights Act did not pass at that time.
If you were not part of the legislature during this time, please put N/A.
Answer 6: N/A
Question 7: Will you be publicly opposing and urging voters to vote no on the Americans for Citizen Voting ballot proposal? Why or why not?
Answer 7: I will publicly oppose this, as my husband is a natural born Dutch citizen and before becoming a U.S. citizen, he did proudly cast votes in local elections. It’s personal for me.
Question 8: Will you be publicly supporting and urging voters to vote yes on the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal? Why or why not? To what extent have you signed, circulated, endorsed, or otherwise supported this initiative?
Answer 8: YES. As stated in nearly all my answers, I believe politicians need to be asking and earning VOTES, not dollars. I have advocated for signature collections and have allowed signature collections at my fundraising and campaign events. I have personally signed a petition as well.
Question 9: We understand that governing from the minority can be difficult. However, too often, that is used as an excuse by elected officials for failing to deliver results and thereby further deepening the political divides in this country.
If elected, regardless of which party is in power, Voters Not Politicians expects you to honor the commitments made in this questionnaire. How will you deliver results on your campaign promises and on your comments made here–regardless of the political landscape?
Answer 9: As the only Democrat on my County Commission, I continually work productively with my Republican Commissioners. In a district that voted 55% for Trump in 2024, I won 56% of the vote as a Democrat. I have now positioned myself as the Senate candidate who is not afraid to have the difficult conversation that need to be had. I have to stay true to my convictions and hold myself accountable for my promises. People are depending on me to bring the UP back to economic and social stability. Through the last 7 years in local government (both volunteering and being elected) I have a record of promises made, promises kept. I have advocated for higher wages for our county employees and made it happen while working with fiscal conservatives. I have advocated a new approach at the personnel level where employees are treated as assets, rather than liabilities, which has stymied employee turnover in our county offices. I have held boards and committees within our county accountable for their lack of work while formulating plans to move forward. I am a leader, not afraid to call out things, often being told, “I’m so glad you’re hear to say the things that needed to be said.”
I will say this— it’s not only SAYING you will do many things if elected, it’s having the PLANS and the collaborative approach to get them done. It’s about working. And no one will work harder than me. Our U.P depends on it.
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