Berrien County

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.

Jessica Swartz is a West Michigander, Michigan State University alum, and lawyer who is running for her first term in Congress to represent the 4th District.

Throughout her career, Swartz has helped ensure veterans get the benefits they’re entitled to from the Department of Veteran Affairs, worked on free speech cases in West Michigan, and worked to eliminate partisan gerrymandering and create fair maps for all. Her policy priorities include defending Medicare and Social Security, protecting the health of our Great Lakes, and making sure our fundamental freedoms, including voting rights and abortion rights, are secure.

Swartz has been endorsed by the following progressive partner organizations: American Federation of Teachers - Michigan, Michigan AFL-CIO, Michigan Education Association, MI Poder, and Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

Swartz’s opponent in this race is Rep. Bill Huizenga, a MAGA Republican who supports criminalizing abortion, undermining public schools and educators, and undoing the Affordable Care Act. Huizenga is also endorsed by the anti-reproductive freedom organization Right to Life Michigan.

Jessica Swartz is the most progressive candidate in this race.

Libbi Urban is a steelworker, union member, and mother who is running for her first term in Congress to represent the 5th District.

After spending so many years fighting for the rights of herself and her fellow steelworkers, Urban is ready to fight for the rights and freedoms of all Americans as a Congressperson. Her policy priorities include defending reproductive freedom, protecting access to Medicare and Social Security, keeping our air and water clean, and common sense gun violence prevention reforms.

Urban has been endorsed by the following progressive partner organizations: American Federation of Teachers - Michigan, Michigan AFL-CIO, Michigan Education Association.

Urban’s opponent in this race is Tim Walberg, a MAGA Republican who opposes LGBTQ+ equality, wants to criminalize abortion, and supported Trump’s efforts to overturn legitimate election results in 2020. Walberg is also endorsed by the anti-reproductive freedom organization Right to Life Michigan.

Libbi Urban is the most progressive choice in this race.

Angela Jones is a Democrat running for the Michigan House of Representatives in the 37th District. She owns a photography business and is married with children.

Jones priorities include protecting workers rights, protecting agriculture, and equity in healthcare, education and economic security. She is also a staunch supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and reproductive freedom.


Jones has been endorsed by the following progressive partner organizations: American Federation of Teachers - Michigan, Michigan AFL-CIO, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, and We the People - Michigan.

Jones is running against incumbent Republican Brad Paquette who holds very staunch anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-reproductive freedom views. He also has a NRA “A” rating and is endorsed by the anti-public education, DeVos-backed organization the Great Lakes Education Project..


Angela Jones is the most progressive choice in this race.

Joey Andrews is an incumbent Democrat running for his second term in the Michigan House of Representatives in the 38th District. He is currently Majority Vice Chair on the Criminal Justice committee and the Energy, Communications, and Technology committee. He also sits on the Economic Development and Small Business subcommittee on Housing.

​​Andrews 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. Andrews 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.

Andrews’ other priorities include protecting reproductive freedoms and LGBTQ+ rights, addressing the affordable housing crisis, addressing shoreline erosion, and creating family sustaining jobs.

Andrews 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 League of Conservation Voters, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, Service Employees International Union - Michigan, and We the People - Michigan.

Andrews is running against MAGA Republican Kevin Whiteford, who is endorsed by the anti-reproductive freedom organization Right to Life Michigan and the anti-public education, DeVos-backed organization the Great Lakes Education Project. He is a staunch Trump supporter and believes in restricting all abortions without exception. He also opposes common sense gun safety measures such as background checks and preventing domestic abusers and stalkers from owning firearms.

Joey Andrews is the most progressive choice in this race.

Kerry Tapper is a Democrat running for the Michigan House of Representatives in the 39th District. She is a wife, mother, and business owner.

Tapper believes in cutting the cost of living for families, protecting and improving our public education system, making healthcare affordable and accessible, increasing access to broadband internet, more opportunities for better paying jobs, better access to mental healthcare, clean air and water for everyone, and protecting reproductive rights.


Tapper has been endorsed by the following progressive partner organizations: Equality Michigan Action Network and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan.

Tapper is running against Republican incumbent Pauline Wendzel. She is endorsed by the anti-reproductive freedom organization Right to Life Michigan, the Devos-backed Michigan Freedom Fund, and the anti-public education, DeVos-backed organization the Great Lakes Education Project. Wendzel also has a NRA “A” rating.

Kerry Tapper is the best choice in this race.

Trevor Maveal is a Democrat running for Berrien County prosecutor. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Detroit Mercy as a political science major and attended law school at Wayne State University. His legal career began in 2013 as an assistant prosecutor in San Juan County, New Mexico. He returned to Michigan in 2018 to join the Berrien County prosecutor’s office. He served on the mental health and drug treatment court boards and handled several high-profile cases. He currently owns and operates his own law firm and serves as treasurer for the Berrien County Bar Association.

Maveal is running against Republican candidate Amy Byrd.

Trevor Maveal is the best choice in this race.

Jessica Jackson is a Democrat running for Berrien County clerk. She is a licensed social worker who owns a practice in Niles, Michigan.

Jackson is running on a platform of transparency, accountability, and change. She will prioritize protecting the right to vote by addressing social, financial, and transparency issues in the clerk's office. She believes that reproductive healthcare is a right and even though it is protected in Michigan we need to work to make it protected federally. She is also a strong supporter and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.

Jackson has been endorsed by the following progressive partner organizations: Equality Michigan Action Network and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan.

Jackson is running against Republican Stacy Loar-porter

Jessica Jackson is the best choice in this race.

Chokwe Pitchford is a Democrat incumbent running unopposed for his second term as the Berrien County Commissioner for the 3rd District. He currently serves on the personnel and human services committee within the commission. Pitchford also works as the executive director of Berrien Forward and Berrien Connection, a pair of sister nonprofits in Berrien County tasked with educating the community on the electoral process.

Pitchford has been endorsed by the following progressive partner organization: Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

Chokwe Pitchford is the best choice in this race.

Mamie Yarbrough is a Democrat incumbent running for re-election as the Berrien County Commissioner for the 4th District. She is a graduate of Benton Harbor High School and attended Western Michigan University. She has several certifications in the field of housing management where she was employed for 30 years. She also administered the Section 8 Housing Program for the Michigan State Housing Development Authority and has been involved in housing consultant work. She spent nine years on the Benton Harbor Area Schools Board of Education and is very involved in her community as president of the Benton Harbor Public Library Board, Benton Harbor Homecoming, Inc., and the Coming Home Coming Together Concert Committee.

Yarbrough is running against Republican Michael Sleep.

While we cannot speak to the progressive bonafides of Mamie Yarbrough due to limited available information on her policy priorities, at this time we are recommending voters consider Mamie Yarbrough over Michael Sleep based on the information we were able to find.

Rayonte Bell is a Democrat incumbent running for his second term as the Berrien County Commissioner for the 5th District. He serves on the Personnel & Human Services Committee, Twin Cities Transportation Authority, Community Corrections Advisory Board, Michigan Association of Counties Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, and Mental Health Authority. Bell is from Benton Harbor, MI, and is currently finishing a degree in engineering at Lake Michigan College. He currently works as a recruiter for Michigan AFL-CIO.

Bell has been endorsed by the following progressive partner organization: Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

Bell is running against Republican Mary Brown.

Rayonte Bell is the best choice in this race.

Alyssa Bell is a Democrat running for Berrien County Commissioner for the 6th District. She grew up in Monroe and Wayne Counties on the east side of Michigan and graduated from Wayne State University with a bachelors in political science and a law degree. She has been working in mortgage finance for 13 years and is a fully credentialed mortgage underwriter.

Bell’s priorities are ensuring that safe, high quality, and affordable child care is accessible to any family in need of it, making affordable housing available to the community, and increasing funds for mental health and violence prevention services.

Bell is running against Republican incumbent Julie Wuerfel who has shared anti-trans sentiments on social media. Wuerfel has been endorsed by the anti-reproductive freedom organization Right to Life Michigan.

Alyssa Bell is the best choice in this race.

Janet Henderson is a Democrat running for Berrien County Commissioner for the 9th District. She is a retired partner in an international law firm, her career in the corporate restructuring practice spanned 29 years. She has also long been involved in volunteer service, most recently with the Feeding America food pantries and as a Board member of Neighbor by Neighbor, a local charity serving the area's most vulnerable residents.

Henderson’s priorities include supporting economic development that will create jobs; working with the local business community, civic organizations and public sector for creative solutions to attainable housing; supporting basic transportation connecting our communities; and protecting natural resources and preserving the shoreline of Lake Michigan.

Henderson is running against Republican incumbent Alex Ott.

Janet Henderson is the best choice in this race.

Jessica Gomez is a Democrat running for Berrien County Commissioner for the 12th District. She has worked as a logistics specialist and community organizer. Gomez’s priorities include expanding public transportation in her district.

Gomez has been endorsed by the following progressive partner organizations: Michigan League of Conservation Voters and We the People - Michigan.

Gomez is running against Republican Sharon Tyler.

Jessica Gomez is the best choice in this race.