Updates About Elections

As Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) reaches her term limit in District 29, three Grand Rapids Democrats are emerging as frontrunners for the upcoming primary:

• Ivan Diaz: Former progressive Kent County Commissioner
• Rep. Phil Skaggs: Current Representative for House District 80 and former legislative director to then-Rep. David LaGrand (now Mayor of Grand Rapids)
• Rep. Kristian Grant: Current Representative for House District 82 and Grand Rapids-based real estate developer

In neighboring District 30, incumbent Sen. Mark Huizenga (R-Walker) is preparing to defend one of West Michigan’s last Republican-held Senate seats in a district that leaned narrowly Democratic in 2024. While Rep. Carol Glanville (D-Grand Rapids) is frequently mentioned as a potential challenger, she has not filed. The only declared Democrat so far is Richard Kreuzer, a former member of the State Board of Nursing.

Congressional races in Michigan are beginning to take shape as incumbents prepare for re-election and challengers enter key battleground districts. In Michigan’s 8th Congressional District, U.S. Representative Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) has her first Republican challenger in Amir Hassan, a Navy veteran and former federal law enforcement officer. Hassan, a Flint native, has launched a campaign rooted in his personal story and conservative values, positioning himself as a political outsider ready to take on what he calls a “broken system.” The district, which includes Flint, Saginaw, Bay City, and parts of Genesee and Midland counties, is expected to be one of the more competitive races in 2026.

Meanwhile, in the neighboring 4th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland) announced he will not run for U.S. Senate in 2026, but has yet to confirm whether he will seek re-election. His decision opens the door for a potential reshuffling in what has been a reliably Republican district. State Sen. Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo) has already jumped into the race, joining two other Democrats vying for the seat. With Huizenga’s plans still unclear, the district could see a more competitive race than in recent cycles.

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald has publicly launched her campaign for Michigan Attorney General, adding a high-profile Metro Detroit voice to the growing Democratic field.

Known statewide for her landmark prosecution of the Oxford High School shooter and his parents, McDonald is emphasizing her experience as a former judge, an educator, and mother in a campaign focused on protecting public safety, defending civil rights, and tackling complex legal challenges like gun violence and human trafficking.

Her career includes establishing Oakland County’s first Conviction Integrity Unit, a Hate Crimes Unit, and a Trafficking Unit, along with a commission aimed at reducing gun violence. McDonald now accompanies Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit and former U.S. Attorney Mark Totten in seeking the Democratic nomination.