80th 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. Hillary Scholten is a lifelong West Michigander who is running for her second term in Congress to represent the 3rd District.

Rep. Scholten was inspired to get into politics by the families she knew who worked hard, played by the rules, and still struggled to make ends meet because the system is rigged in favor of the wealthy. Her policy platform includes protecting reproductive freedom, ensuring access to affordable healthcare, preventing gun violence, supporting public schools, and creating an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy. During her first term, she helped bring critical funding for a variety of important priorities to her district, including $750k for community violence intervention.

Rep. Scholten 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, and Sierra Club - Michigan.

Rep. Scholten’s opponent in this race is Paul Hudson, a Republican with the wrong priorities for Michigan, including harsher treatment of immigrants, increased policing instead of evidence-backed gun violence prevention laws, and policies that favor corporations over everyday Americans—he even signed a pledge never to vote for any increases in taxes on corporations or individuals, no matter how wealthy.

Rep. Hillary Scholten is the most progressive choice in this race.

Phil Skaggs is an incumbent Democrat running for his second term in the Michigan House of Representatives in the 80th District. He is the current representative for the 80th District and serves as a member of the Appropriations committee.

​​Skaggs 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. Skaggs 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.
He has a record of results that support all Michigan families. He will work to protect reproductive freedom, ensure common sense gun safety laws, and advocate for students across the state.

Skaggs has been endorsed by the following progressive partner organizations: American Federation of Teachers - Michigan, Equality Michigan Action Network, Michigan AFL-CIO, Michigan Education Association, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, Service Employees International Union - Michigan, and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan.

Skaggs is running against Republican Bill Sage.

Skaggs is the most progressive choice in this race.

Steve Draft-Peppin is a Democrat running for election to become the Kent County prosecutor.

Draft-Peppin is running against incumbent Republican Chris Becker. Becker is endorsed by the anti-reproductive freedom organization Right to Life Michigan.

Given the limited information we have about Draft-Peppin and the information we have on Becker, we are recommending voters consider Steve Draft-Peppin over Chris Becker.

Scott Urbanowski is a Democrat running for Kent County clerk and register of deeds. He has worked for years at a grassroots level to help people engage with their government, including registering voters, collecting ballot proposal signatures, working the polls, and becoming a notary. Urbanowski is dedicated to promoting civic engagement, transparency, voter education, and supporting local clerks and election workers.

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

Urbanowski is running against incumbent Republican Lisa Posthumus Lyons, who previously served in the Michigan State Legislature, where she supported legislation that was anti-campaign finance transparency. In her political career, she has also received financial support from the DeVos family.

Scott Urbanowski is the best choice in this race.

Daniel N’Kombo is a Democrat running for Kent County treasurer. His core values and beliefs include equality, justice, compassion, accountability, integrity, innovation, progress, and sustainability. N’Kombo’s priorities include reforms to increase available affordable housing, investing in infrastructure including eco-friendly transportation, and advocating for fair wages.

N’Kombo is running against Republican incumbent Peter MacGregor, who formerly served in both the Michigan Senate and House.

Daniel N’Kombo is the best choice in this race.

Matthew M. Morey is a Democrat running for Kent County drain commissioner.

Morey is running against Republican incumbent Ken Yonker, who formerly served in the Michigan House of Representatives. Yonker is endorsed by the anti-reproductive freedom organization Right to Life Michigan.

Based on the information we have on both candidates, we are recommending voters consider Morey over Yonker.

Vanessa Lee is a Democrat running for the Kent County Board of Commissioners. We couldn’t find much information about Lee’s platform, but she is a strong supporter of LGBTQ+ equality.

Lee is running against Republican Dave Hildenbrand, a former state senator who supported the confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and was aligned with the right-wing, corporate-backed American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) while in office. He has a conservative platform and endorsement from anti-reproductive freedom organization Right to Life Michigan.

Because her opponent is so decidedly anti-progressive, we believe Vanessa E. Lee is the best choice in this race.

Roslund Harris is a Democrat running for election to the Kent County Board of Commissioners. She has nearly three decades of experience in the health insurance industry and has lived in Gaines Township for 20 years. Harris is a former union member and a People First Advocate for domestic violence and elder abuse. She is committed to enhancing services for seniors and veterans, prioritizing mental health resources, and enhancing Kent County’s parks and recreation. Harris will advocate for fair, transparent, and accountable courts; access to clean water; and supporting farmers.

Harris is running against Republican Robin Halsted who holds conservative policy views and is anti-reproductive freedom.

Roslund Harris is the best choice in this race.

Alyssa Joy Arnemann is a Democrat running for election to the Kent County Board of Commissioners.

We cannot speak to the progressive bonafides of Arnemann due to limited publicly available information. However, Arnemann is running against Republican incumbent Lindsey Thiel, who holds conservative policy views. Because of this, we believe Alyssa Joy Arnemann is the best choice in this race.

Monica Sparks is an incumbent Democrat running for re-election for her third term on the Kent County Board of Commissioners. She is focused on protecting Kent County residents including seniors, veterans, and those with special needs. Sparks will fight for families, affordable housing, clean air and water, and access to mental health and healthcare services.

Sparks has been endorsed by the following progressive partner organizations: Equality Michigan Action Network and Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

Sparks is running against Republican H. Lee White.

Monica Sparks is the best choice in this race.

Michelle McCloud is an incumbent Democrat running for re-election to the Kent County Board of Commissioners. Her priorities include safe schools and neighborhoods, effective broadband service for everyone, accessible mental health systems, services for seniors and veterans, and waste and recycling services.

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

McCloud is running against MAGA Republican Nick Prill who has expressed right-wing extreme views on the LGBTQ+ community and reproductive freedom.

Michelle McCloud is the best choice in this race.

Lisa S. Oliver-King is a Democrat running for election to the Kent County Board of Commissioners. She is a lifelong advocate for public health and human rights and seeks to champion at-risk, disadvantaged, and marginalized community residents and give them a voice. Her career as a public health professional included stints at the Kent County Health Department, the Michigan Public Health Institute, and the Hospice of Michigan. Oliver-King will fight for clean water, safe roads, affordable housing, and robust mental and physical health services.

Oliver-King has been endorsed by the following progressive partner organizations: Equality Michigan Action Network and Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

Oliver-King is running against Republican Alexa Otte.

Lisa S. Oliver-King is the best choice in this race.

Kris Pachla is an incumbent Democrat running for re-election to the Kent County Board of Commissioners. He believes in working towards a Kent County that is inclusive, supports all individuals, families and children, and invests into all our communities. His priorities include supporting and expanding early childhood support systems, addressing affordable housing, protecting reproductive freedom, and ensuring a clean environment and sustainable future.

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

Pachla is running against Republican Karen G. Machiorlatti.

Kris Pachla is the best choice in this race.