State of Michigan 26th District State Senate
The 26th District of the State Senate includes the City of Kentwood along with all of Allegan and Van Buren counties. For a district map, click here.
Three candidates are running in the Nov. 6 General election to replace term-limited Republican Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker. They are, in alphabetical order, Libertarian candidate Erwin Haas, Democratic candidate Garnet Lewis and Republican candidate Aric Nesbitt.
Erwin Haas — Candidate (L) MI State Senate 26th District
Name: Erwin Haas
Party: Candidate, Libertarian
Occupation: Retired medical doctor and former Kentwood City Commissioner
Why did you decide to run for the 26th District State Senate seat?
I see a lot of disfunction, a lot of programs that are outdated, badly thought-through, badly administered, and operate contrary to the public interest.
If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?
Education, the roads, healthcare. The war on drugs, specifically. I think that the (recreational) marijuana thing is going to go through and the Republicans are going to try to block it, no matter what. They hate people doing what they want to do.
Garnet Lewis — Candidate (D) MI State Senate 26th District
Name: Garnet Lewis
Party: Candidate, Democrat
Occupation: Retired university administrator and real estate business administrator
Why did you decide to run for the 26th District State Senate seat?
We need a representative for the district who is going to represent everyone, and will actually listen to what all the constituents say.
If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?
My number one issue is education, school funding, then environmental protection, there are all the clean water issues alone. Then healthcare. Medicare, Medicaid expansion and, if possible, expansion so that everyone can can have access … we really need to do a better job of that.
Aric Nesbitt — Candidate (R) MI State Senate 26th District
Name: Aric Nesbitt
Party: Candidate, Republican
Occupation: Public Service. (Former cabinet member for Gov. Rick Snyder; former State Representative)
Why did you decide to run for the 26th District State Senate seat?
I want to fight to lower the cost of auto insurance, continue to pay down our longterm debt in the state, and rededicate ourselves to making sure we fix our roads and bridges. our infrastructure.
If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?
In the long term, I want to continue to pay down our debt. And what I hear most, when I knock on doors, is the cost of auto insurance and the condition of our roads.
State of Michigan 28th District State Senate
The 28th District of the State Senate includes the City of Wyoming as well as the cities of Walker, Rockford and Cedar Springs. For a district map, click here.
In the 28th District State Senate race, three candidates are running in the Nov. 6 General election. They are, in alphabetical order, Democratic candidate Craig Beach, Libertarian candidate Nathan Hewer, and Republican incumbent Peter MacGregor.
Craig Beach — Candidate (D) MI State Senate 28th District
Name: Craig Beech
Party: Candidate, Democrat
Occupation: Retired public-school teacher
Why did you decide to run for the 28th District State Senate seat?
As a public-school teacher, I have been frustrated with government in the treatment of public education, especially the lack of perspective. I want to bring an insight into education, which is what is needed. I believe education is the foundation that provides to our middle class. … America is a great country and the adults should be able to deal with this issue.
If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?
I have four platforms: quality of public education, people before profits, protection of our national resources, and Michigan was recently rated by a non-partisan group as the last for government accountability and transparency and I want to change that.
Peter MacGregor — Candidate (R) MI State Senate 28th District
Name: Peter MacGregor
Party: Incumbent, Republican
Occupation: Michigan State Senator, previous small business owner
Why did you decide to run for the 26th District State Senate seat?
Running for reelection because we have moved the state from one of the worst states in the country (to do business) to one of the top 10, and I think there are still a few more things we can do to be the No. 1 state in the country.
If elected, what issues do you want to focus on?
I still think we need to focus on our skilled trade training, on that education part. It is something that I talk to a lot of business owners who are struggling to fill the positions. To make it from No. 9 or 10 to No. 1, we have got to fill that employee gap.
Note: Libertarian candidate Nathan Hewery was invited but did not participate in the We the People candidate profiles.
