53rd House District

Vice President Kamala Harris is running for president and has selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to serve as her vice president. Between them, Harris and Walz have a wealth of executive and legislative experience, and both have demonstrated a firm commitment to protecting our freedoms and fighting for a brighter future for all Americans.

Before serving as vice president, Kamala Harris was California’s Attorney General and served in the U.S. Senate. Tim Walz spent 24 years in the US Military before his professional career as a teacher and coach, before serving six terms in Congress and one full term as governor of Minnesota.

Harris and Walz’s vision for America centers on protecting the rights and freedoms of people across the country and fighting back against the attacks MAGA Republicans have launched on abortion access, LGBTQ+ equality, voting rights, and racial justice. They also aim to foster an economic environment where everyone can thrive, not just corporations and the wealthy, protect our environment from corporate polluters, and enact common-sense gun violence prevention laws to make us all safer.

Harris and Walz have been endorsed by the following progressive partner organizations: Clean Water Action, Emgage Action, Michigan AFL-CIO, Michigan Education Association, Michigan United Action, MI Poder, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and Sierra Club - Michigan.

Vice President Harris’s opponent in this race is former president Donald Trump, a con man whose time in the White House was characterized by chaos, bigotry, and a focus on taking care of himself and his wealthy friends. Trump has selected Ohio Senator J.D. Vance to be his running mate. Vance has limited experience in governing and has followed Trump’s lead in spreading harmful racist, sexist, and anti-LGBTQ+ propaganda.

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are the most progressive choices in this race

Vice President Kamala Harris is running for president and has selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to serve as her vice president. Between them, Harris and Walz have a wealth of executive and legislative experience, and both have demonstrated a firm commitment to protecting our freedoms and fighting for a brighter future for all Americans.

Before serving as vice president, Kamala Harris was California’s Attorney General and served in the U.S. Senate. Tim Walz spent 24 years in the US Military before his professional career as a teacher and coach, before serving six terms in Congress and one full term as governor of Minnesota.

Harris and Walz’s vision for America centers on protecting the rights and freedoms of people across the country and fighting back against the attacks MAGA Republicans have launched on abortion access, LGBTQ+ equality, voting rights, and racial justice. They also aim to foster an economic environment where everyone can thrive, not just corporations and the wealthy, protect our environment from corporate polluters, and enact common-sense gun violence prevention laws to make us all safer.

Harris and Walz have been endorsed by the following progressive partner organizations: Clean Water Action, Emgage Action, Michigan AFL-CIO, Michigan Education Association, Michigan United Action, MI Poder, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and Sierra Club - Michigan.

Vice President Harris’s opponent in this race is former president Donald Trump, a con man whose time in the White House was characterized by chaos, bigotry, and a focus on taking care of himself and his wealthy friends. Trump has selected Ohio Senator J.D. Vance to be his running mate. Vance has limited experience in governing and has followed Trump’s lead in spreading harmful racist, sexist, and anti-LGBTQ+ propaganda.

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are the most progressive choices in this race

Rep. Elissa Slotkin, who has represented Michigan for three terms in Congress as a member of the House of Representatives, is running this year for her first term representing Michigan in the U.S. Senate.

Rep. Slotkin spent much of her career working on national security issues for the federal government. After losing her mother to cancer and witnessing firsthand the way families dealing with a serious illness must also navigate tremendous financial stress, she decided to run for Congress and work toward a more just healthcare system.

In addition to taking on big pharma and insurance companies, Rep. Slotkin’s policy priorities include creating safer communities via gun violence prevention laws, protecting abortion rights, reducing inequality and ensuring all families have what they need to thrive, and defending our democracy and voting rights.

Rep. Slotkin has been endorsed by the following progressive partner organizations: American Federation of Teachers - Michigan, Michigan AFL-CIO, Michigan Association for Justice, Michigan Education Association, Michigan United Action, MI Poder, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Sierra Club - Michigan.

Rep. Slotkin’s opponent is Mike Rogers, a Trump-endorsed candidate who shares many of the former president’s priorities, including harsh, authoritarian immigration and policing policies, criminalizing abortion, and supporting corporations over everyday Americans. Mike Rogers recently moved back to Michigan after living in Florida for years in order to run for the U.S. Senate.

Rep. Elissa Slotkin is the most progressive choice in this race.

Rep. Haley Stevens is a Birmingham, MI native and consistent advocate who is running for her fourth term in Congress to represent the 11th District.

An Obama administration alum, Rep. Stevens helped save the auto industry as the Chief of Staff for the U.S. Auto Rescue Task Force. She has always been a strong supporter of unions and of women’s equality, and her policy platform includes passing gun violence prevention laws to make our communities safer, holding big pharma accountable and protecting patients, combating climate change, and ensuring LGBTQ+ people have equal rights.

Rep. Stevens has been endorsed by the following progressive partner organizations: American Federation of Teachers - Michigan, Michigan AFL-CIO, Michigan Education Association, MI Poder, Service Employees International Union - Michigan, and Sierra Club - Michigan.

Rep. Stevens’ opponent in this race is Nick Somberg, a libertarian running as a Republican who supports harsh, unproductive immigration policies and is not committed to protecting reproductive freedom.

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

Brenda Carter is an incumbent Democrat running for her fourth term in the Michigan House of Representatives for the 48th District. She chairs the Insurance and Financial Services committee and sits on the committees for Tax Policy, Health Policy, and the joint committee on Administrative Rules. She is the chair and co-founder of the poverty and homelessness caucus, which is bi-partisan and bi-cameral.

​​Carter served in a historic legislative session with a Democratic majority that took major strides forward on key progressive issues. The Democratic majority passed the Reproductive Health Act, ensuring all Michiganders can make their own decisions about how and when to start a family, gave Michigan's kids free school breakfast and lunch and additional funds to support our students, and passed common sense gun violence prevention measures. Putting hard-working Michiganders' first, they also quintupled the Working Families Tax Credit, got rid of the retirement tax, and got rid of so-called "right to work" anti-worker legislation to ensure workers have bargaining power to stand up to greedy corporations. Carter also helped expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act and codify parts of the Affordable Care Act into law that protect LGBTQ+ Michiganders from discrimination in healthcare, housing, and the workplace.

Carter’s priorities include fixing roads and infrastructure, increasing public school funding and opportunities, state government transparency, increased and fair minimum wages, and environmental safety and impact.

Carter has been endorsed by the following progressive partner organizations: American Federation of Teachers - Michigan, Michigan AFL-CIO, Michigan Education Association, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, MI Poder, Service Employees International Union - Michigan, Sierra Club - Michigan, and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan.

Carter is running against Republican Melissa Schultz, an avid Trump supporter who has publicly pushed election conspiracy theories, anti-vaccine rhetoric, and has expressed anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment.

Brenda Carter is the most progressive choice in this race.

Dave Coulter is a Democrat running for his second term as Oakland County executive. He is the first Democrat to hold this office, in addition to being the first who is openly part of the LGBTQ+ community. Coulter previously served as mayor of Ferndale and on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.

As executive, his accomplishments include establishing offices focusing on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Environmental Sustainability, and Older Adult Services. Coulter has also made strides to increase access to post-secondary education and address student mental health. If reelected, Coulter plans on continuing his work to expand public transportation options and move county operations back to downtown Pontiac.

Coulter has been endorsed by the following progressive partner organizations: Equality Michigan Action Network, Michigan Education Association, Sierra Club - Michigan, and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan.

Coulter is running against MAGA Republican Nik Gjonaj. Gjonaj is a supporter of former President Donald Trump and opposes efforts to foster diversity in county government.

Dave Coulter is the best choice in this race.

Karen McDonald is an incumbent Democrat running for her second term as Oakland County prosecuting attorney. She is a former high school English teacher and also served as a judge on the Oakland County Circuit Court.

Since taking office, McDonald has focused on juvenile justice reform and restoring fairness in the legal system. McDonald is responsible for establishing Oakland County’s first-ever Convictions Integrity Unit, which is responsible for reviewing claims of wrongful convictions and making recommendations for release. In July 2021, Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed McDonald to serve on the State of Michigan’s Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform. Notably, McDonald led the prosecution against the assailant responsible for the Oxford High School shooting, resulting in three convictions in February 2024.

McDonald has been endorsed by the following progressive partner organizations: Equality Michigan Action Network, Michigan Association for Justice, Michigan Education Association, and Service Employees International Union - Michigan.

McDonald is running against Republican Scott Farida.

Karen McDonald is the best choice in this race.

Lisa Brown is an incumbent Democrat running for her fourth term as Oakland County clerk and register of deeds. Brown previously served in the Michigan House of Representatives, where she was known as being an outspoken voice on women’s issues and reproductive freedom. Since being in office, Brown has made expanding voting rights a priority, working hard to establish early voting procedures and open a permanent satellite office. She also currently serves as vice president of the Michigan Association of County Clerks.

Brown has been endorsed by the following progressive partner organizations: Michigan Education Association and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan.

Brown is running against Republican Barb Pallotta. We couldn’t find much information on Pallotta, but she is campaigning with prominent conservative political figures.

Lisa Brown is the best choice in this race.

Robert Wittenberg is an incumbent Democrat running for his second term as Oakland County treasurer. He previously served in the Michigan House of Representatives, holding the role of vice-chair on both the House Financial Liability Reform Committee and the Insurance Committee. Wittenberg’s priorities include improving property values, reducing unjust foreclosures, and supporting local small businesses.

Wittenberg has been endorsed by the following progressive partner organizations: Michigan Education Association and Service Employees International Union - Michigan.

Wittenberg is running against Republican Donna Blake, who is decidedly anti-progressive. Blake holds harmful views towards the LGBTQ+ community and irresponsible views on taxes.

Robert Wittenberg is the best choice in this race.

Jim Nash is a Democratic incumbent running for his fourth term as Oakland County water resources commissioner. He served for three years as a U.S. Army Medical Specialist and is a past recipient of Michigan Sierra Club's Environmentalist of the Year award. His priorities include resilience in the face of worsening climate conditions and water affordability.

Nash has been endorsed by the following progressive partner organization: Sierra Club - Michigan.

Nash is running against Republican Steve Johnson.

Jim Nash is the best choice in this race.

Brendan Johnson is a Democrat running for his second term on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners. Johnson has worked as a legislative staffer for Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin and State Representative Samantha Steckloff. Johnson’s priorities include 21st century workforce training, increasing access to health care, and public transportation.

Johnson has been endorsed by the following progressive partner organizations: Equality Michigan Action Network, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, Sierra Club - Michigan, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, We the People - Michigan.

Johnson is running against Republican Dale Hetrick.

Brendan Johnson is the best choice in this race.

Angela Powell is an incumbent Democrat running for her fourth term on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners. She has been an active volunteer in Pontiac since long before she was elected in 2018. She has worked as a community organizer for both the Oakland County Democratic Party and the Michigan House Democratic Caucus. She also worked on the staff of former House Democratic Leader Tim Greimel. Transportation, education, and voting rights are among Powell’s priorities.

Powell is running against Republican Eugene Davis, who is decidedly anti-progressive and has made anti-immigrant remarks.

Angela Powell is the best choice in this race.

Kristen Nelson is a Democrat running for her third term on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners. She is a board-certified behavioral analyst whose work focuses on young people with autism. She was previously a special education teacher for 15 years. Public health and safety, environmental justice, and community economic development are among Nelson’s priorities.

Nelson has been endorsed by the following progressive partner organizations: Equality Michigan Action Network, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, and Sierra Club - Michigan.

Nelson is running against Republican Gregg Marinelli, whose endorsement from right-wing State Senator Jim Runestad concerns us.

Kristen Nelson is the best choice in this race.

Chris Sommer is a Democrat running for their first term on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.

We cannot speak to the progressive bonafides of Sommer due to limited available information. However, they are endorsed by the following progressive partner organization: Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan. Sommer is also running against Republican Christine A. Long, who is endorsed by the anti-reproductive freedom organization Right to Life Michigan.

Due to their endorsement from our partner and because their opponent is decidedly anti-progressive, we believe Chris Sommer is the best choice in this race.