28th Senate District

Sam Singh is a Democrat running for the Michigan State Senate for the 28th District. He previously served as a state representative for the 69th House District and as mayor of East Lansing.

Singh is committed to public service and committed to preserving and defending the American Dream. Throughout his career he’s been a staunch supporter of union and worker rights, investments in public education, and civil rights. He has been a champion on issues facing working families, K-12 education, veterans, and climate change.

Singh is endorsed by four of our partners: Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter, Michigan Education Association, and Equality Michigan.

Singh is running against Republican Daylen Howard. Howard is anti-reproductive rights and holds irresponsible right-wing views on guns.

Sam Singh is the most progressive choice in this race.

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

Mark Zacharda is a Democrat running for the Michigan House of Representatives for the 71st District. Zacharda was the first member of his family to attend a 4-year university program, graduating from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. Zacharda has also received a teaching certificate from Saginaw Valley State University. He worked in construction and taught high school biology and now works in partnership with his parents operating their family dairy farm.

Zacharda’s priorities include creating economic opportunity through environmental responsibility by pushing investment in projects such as community solar power initiatives, supporting unions to protect the rights of workers, and incentivizing environmentally sound and sustainable farming practices in partnership with farmers. Zacharda will also push for more funding for schools and curricula that include more practical skills, and affordable higher education.

Zacharda is endorsed by five of our partners: Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, Michigan AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers Michigan, Michigan Education Association, and Equality Michigan.

Zacharda is running against Republican Brian BeGole. BeGole is a member of a far-right extremist organization of constitutional sheriffs and does not support common sense gun legislation. He is endorsed by the anti-choice organization Right to Life Michigan and the DeVos-backed Michigan Freedom Network.

Mark D. Zacharda is the most progressive choice in this race.

Learn more: https://votemarkz.com

Julie Brixie is an incumbent Democrat running for her third term in the Michigan House of Representatives in the 73rd District. Before serving as a representative, Brixie served on the Meridian Township Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning and was elected to the Meridian Township Board where she served for 18 years.

Brixie’s priorities include protecting our Great Lakes and shutting down Line 5, fully funding our public schools and making college more affordable, and fighting to make sure that common sense gun laws pass in Michigan. Brixie is also passionate about making sure that marginalized communities are recognized and safe, and securing a Medicare for All system in Michigan to make sure everyone has access to safe, affordable, and comprehensive health care.

Brixie is endorsed by seven of our partners: Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, Michigan AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers Michigan, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, Michigan Education Association, and Equality Michigan.

Brixie is running against Republican Norm Shinkle, who sought to not certify the 2020 election as a member of the Board of State Canvassers. He is endorsed by the anti-choice organization Right to Life Michigan and the DeVos-backed Michigan Freedom Network.

Julie Brixie is the most progressive choice in this race.

Learn more: http://www.juliebrixie.com/

Kara Hope is an incumbent Democrat running for her third term to the Michigan House of Representatives. Prior to being elected to the Michigan House in 2019, Hope served as an Ingham County commissioner. She received a law degree from Cooley Law School and previously worked as a defense attorney, law professor, and ran her own private practice.

Hope’s priorities include stronger schools, continuing to help Michigan recover from the pandemic, and fighting for equality and justice. She will fight for more resources for teachers, paid sick leave, and stronger unemployment benefits. Hope is committed to protecting access to abortion, fighting to reduce inequalities in heath and education, and protecting the right to vote.

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

Hope is running against Republican Jennifer Sokol. Sokol supports right-wing extremist positions founded in conspiracy theories.

Kara Hope is the most progressive choice in this race.

Learn more: https://www.votekarahope.com/index.html

Penelope Tsernoglou is a Democrat running for the Michigan House of Representatives for the 75th District. She has a law degree from Michigan State University and has worked as a victims advocate for survivors of sexual violence, a defense attorney, and an Ingham County commissioner, where she served three terms. She is also active with many community organizations.

Tsernoglou’s priorities include everything from infrastructure and public education to fighting extremism and working for criminal justice reform. Tsernoglou will work to protect the environment and hold polluters accountable, address the teacher shortage and increase funding to public schools, and ensure Michiganders have access to paid sick and family leave. She will support rural Michiganders by advocating to expand both health care and broadband into rural areas. She will fight to protect access to abortion, implement criminal justice reforms, protect the LGBTQ community, and curb right-wing extremism.

Tsernoglou is endorsed by six of our partners: Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, American Federation of Teachers Michigan, Clean Water Action, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, Michigan Education Association, and Equality Michigan.

Tsernoglou is running against Republican Chris Stewart. Stewart is anti-reproductive freedom and is endorsed by the anti-choice organization Right to Life Michigan.

Penelope Tsernoglou is the most progressive choice in this race.

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

Emily Dievendorf is a Democrat running for the Michigan House of Representatives for the 77th District. Dievendorf graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in social relations and has over two decades of experience in public policy and civil rights work. She was a staffer for the Michigan House of Representatives, former executive director of Equality Michigan, and continues to serve as co-chair of the Michigan Advisory Committee to the US Commission on Civil Rights.

Dievendorf’s priorities include ensuring all Michiganders are safe in public spaces, are paid a living wage, have access to a well-funded public education, and have their right to vote protected. She will fight for racial equity and justice, reproductive rights, environmental justice, LGBTQ equality, and to invest in community mental health services and small businesses.

Dievendorf is endorsed by six of our partners: Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, American Federation of Teachers Michigan, Clean Water Action, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, Michigan Education Association, and Equality Michigan.

Dievendorf is running against John Magoola. Magoola is a MAGA Republican with right-wing extremist views rooted in conspiracy theories.

Emily Dievendorf is the most progressive choice in this race.

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

Jeffrey Lockwood is a Democrat running for the Michigan House of Representatives for the 93rd District. Lockwood was born and raised in Saginaw, where he currently works as a union pipefitter. 

Lockwood’s priorities include fighting for a government that works for everyone, including a fair tax system that doesn’t just benefit big business. He will work to improve education in Michigan, including investing in school infrastructure and expanded mental health programs. Lockwood will also fight for workers’ rights and support collective bargaining. 

Lockwood is endorsed by two of our partner organizations: Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigand and the American Federation of Teachers Michigan.

Lockwood is running against Republican Graham Filler. Filler is anti-reproductive freedom and supports restricting voting rights. He is endorsed by the anti-choice organization Right to Life Michigan and the DeVos-backed Michigan Freedom Network.

Jeffrey Lockwood is the most progressive choice in this race.

Learn more: https://jeffreylockwood.com

Catherine Lynn Lippert is a Democrat running for her first term on the Clinton County Commission. She is the treasurer of the Clinton County Democratic Party.

While we cannot speak to the progressive bonafides of Lippert due to a lack of publicly available information, Lippert is running against Republican Kenneth Mitchell, an incumbent who is endorsed by the anti-choice organization Right to Life Michigan.

Based on this information, we recommend voting for Lippert.

John Andrews is a Democrat running for his first term on the Clinton County Commission. Andrews served in both the U.S. Army and Michigan National Guard and worked as an anthropologist. He is also active with the Clinton County Democratic Party.

Andrews is running against Republican Brian J. Ross, current chair of the Clinton County Department of Public Works.

Given the limited information we have about both candidates, we are unable to determine whether either candidate could be considered progressive to any degree, but at this time we are recommending voters consider Andrews over Ross based on the information we were able to find.

Dr. Dwight Washington is a Democrat running for re-election to the Clinton County Commission. He works in natural resources and is passionate about the environment, and has called to shut down Line 5.

Washington is running against Republican Adam Stacey, also an incumbent, who works as legislative director for State Sen. Doug Wozniak. Stacy is endorsed by the anti-choice organization Right to Life Michigan.

Dr. Dwight Washington is the best choice in this race.

John Salyer is a Democrat running for his first term on the Ingham County Commission. He is running against Republican Randy Maiville, an incumbent running for his sixth term. Maiville is an engineer by training.

Given the limited information we have about both candidates, we are unable to determine whether either candidate could be considered progressive to any degree, but at this time we are recommending voters consider Sayler over Maiville based on the information we were able to find.

Rita Vogel is a Democrat running for her first term on the Ingham County Commission. She has served on the Mason City Council since 2016 and she also organizes local cultural events with The Creative Collective. If elected, she promises to work to address the opioid epidemic and support the community’s farmers.

Vogel is running against Karla Ruest, who is endorsed by anti-choice organization Right to Life of Michigan.

Rita Vogel is the best choice in this race.

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

Chris Trubac is a Democrat running for his third term on the Ingham County Commission. In only his first term, he was chosen to chair the Commission’s Human Services Committee. He has worked as an aide to Register of Deeds Derrick Quinney and State Representatives Marilyn Lane and Kevin Coleman. Health, equity, and the environment are among his priorities. He is endorsed by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan and the Michigan AFL-CIO.

Trubac is running against Republican Mike Severino.

Chris Trubac is the more progressive choice in this race.

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

Todd Tennis is a Democrat running for his ninth term on the Ingham County Commission. He currently chairs the Human Services Committee for the County Commission. Throughout his career, he has been an advocate for unions, seniors, and the disabled. He is endorsed by the Michigan AFL-CIO and local labor groups.

Tennis is running against Republican Jack C. Jordan, an attorney, who we found little information on.

Todd Tennis is the best choice in this race.

Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/toddntennis

Myles Johnson is a Democrat running for his first term on the Ingham County Commission. He grew up in a single-parent household and became the first in his family to graduate from college, and is running for office to give people in Lansing’s Eastside a voice. Reproductive rights, food security, and entrepreneurship are among Johnson’s priorities. Johnson is endorsed by numerous local elected officials.

Johnson is running against Republican David Robinson.

Myles Johnson is the more progressive choice in this race.

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

Thomas Morgan is a former Democratic Ingham County commissioner running in the new 6th district. Morgan is a former watchdog journalist. Standing up for working people and government transparency are among Morgan’s priorities. As an Ingham County commissioner, Morgan authored the resolution to declare a climate emergency and worked to declare racism as a public health crisis in the county. He is endorsed by education and labor organizations, including the Michigan AFL-CIO.

Morgan is running against Republican Jim Schmidt.

Morgan is the progressive choice in this race.

Learn more: https://www.thomasmorgan.org/

Robert Orlando Peña is a Democrat running for his second term on the Ingham County Commission. He works as a civil engineer for the Michigan Department of Transportation and has advocated for improved bike transportation and food security countywide. He is a known progressive activist in his community. His personal interests include urban farming, being active in his church, and mission work.

Peña is running against Republican Evelyn Sue Davis.

Robert Orlando Peña is the more progressive choice in this race.

Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/bobforcommissioner

Ryan Sebolt is a Democrat running for his fourth term on the Ingham County Commission. Sebolt served as a staff member in the Michigan Legislature and for the AFL-CIO. He is endorsed by unions and progressive leaders across the county. He has a strong track record of standing up for progressive values. Sebolt advocated for American Rescue Plan funds to go towards public health programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, and is working to create a Housing Trust Fund and expand access to broadband internet.

Sebolt is running against Republican Terry L. Maag.

Ryan Sebolt is the progressive choice in this race.

Learn more: http://voteryansebolt.com/

Gabrielle Lawrence is a Democrat running for her first term on the Ingham County Commission. She is a lawyer and also serves as president of the Lansing School Board of Education. During her time on the Board of Education, she waived all library fees for students after an audit found students had limited access to books as a result of these fees, which was unanimously supported by the board.

Lawrence is running against Republican Scott Greenlee. Greenlee is a Republican political consultant and served as president of the organization that opposed the statewide marijuana legalization ballot initiative in 2018. Therefore, we cannot recommend Greenlee.

Lawrence is the more progressive choice in this race.

Mark Grebner is a Democrat running for his 20th term on the Ingham County Commission. He is a nationally recognized political consultant and expert on election administration and the Freedom of Information Act. 

Mark Grebner is running against Republican Virginia Werner.

Mark Grebner is the best choice in this race.

Irene Cahill is a Democrat running for her first full term on the Ingham County Commission after being appointed in October 2021. Cahill works as a forestry supervisor for the city of Lansing and is active in her community. She is dedicated to improving workforce training services. Cahill is endorsed by the Michigan AFL-CIO.

Cahill is running against Republican Mark McKeel.

Cahill is the best choice in this race.

Amy Salisbury is a Democrat running for her first term on the Ingham County Commission. Before running for office, Salisbury was an environmental toxicologist with the state of Michigan for 13 years, and seeks to bring her science background to the Commission. Parks and environment, infrastructure, and mental health care are her top priorities if elected to office.

Salisbury is running against Republican incumbent Randy Schafer, who has served in his position since 1985. We do not recommend voting for Schafer given his endorsement of MAGA extremist Tom Barrett for Congress.

Amy Salisbury is the best choice in this race.

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

Mark Polsdofer is a Democrat running for his third term on the Ingham County Commission. He currently works in the Michigan Department of Transportation. Throughout his career, he has worked for a number of elected officials, including former Gov. Jennifer Granholm. He is endorsed by local labor groups. He voted in favor of a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis and supports the Black Lives Matter movement.

Polsdofer is running against Republican Sam Frangie, who we could find little information on.

Mark Polsdofer is the more progressive choice in this race.

Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/votemarkpolsdofer

Brooke Locke is a Democrat running for his first term on the Ingham County Commission. He works as a realtor in Williamston and is the former chair of the city’s zoning commission. Locke is a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ rights; additionally, expanding broadband access, improving parks and the environment, and creating affordable housing are among his priorities if elected. Locke is endorsed by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan and multiple local elected officials.

Locke is running against Republican Monica Schafer, who we cannot recommend voting for based on her endorsement from the anti-choice organization Right to Life Michigan.

Brooke Locke is the more progressive choice in this race.