Candidate questionnaire: Steve Carra

The following is Watershed Voice‘s candidate questionnaire for the August 2026 primary elections. We will be running all remaining candidate questionnaires in the order received today, tomorrow, and Thursday.

Steve Carra, State House District 36 Republican primary candidate filled out our questionnaire, below are his answers as submitted.

Name: Steve Carra   
Age: 37
Are you an incumbent? Yes  
Family (optional): Married to Aubrey Carra

Background/Bio

Degrees in economics and political science from WMU. Worked as a research assistant at Acton Institute. Was on staff for a state representative who was ranked the most conservative at the time and now I am known as the most conservative state representative in Michigan.

I’m the youngest of eight kids, grew up here in Southwest Michigan, and enjoy spending time with family and playing games.

Why are you running for the office of Michigan House of Representatives?

Because 95% of elected officials conform to the status quo and I have the courage to resist that temptation. I know the fight I got into, and it’s an honor to do what I said I was going to do and remain uncorrupted by the machine of politics.

Have you previously held public office, or have you served in a public leadership role?

Yes, I currently hold the position of state representative. In this role, some of my accomplishments include: I led the charge on no new legislatively appropriated corporate giveaways in 2025; that was the first year this century. Legislator staff now work at the pleasure of the representative instead of the speaker, for the first time in centuries. This is critical in ensuring the speaker doesn’t have hiring and firing decisions creating political pressure and leverage over legislators. I got a bill passed in the House with broad support to ensure that legislators don’t sign non-disclosure agreements in their legislative capacity; we are public servants and should not be signing secrecy pacts.

If not, describe any experience — professional, volunteer, or otherwise — that you believe is relevant to serving as Michigan House of Representatives.

N/A as answered above

How long have you lived in the area you are seeking to represent?

I have lived in Southwest Michigan my whole life and currently reside in Lockport Township. My wife and I moved here from Three Rivers two years ago.

In your opinion, what are the three most important issues to the area relative to the scope of the position you are seeking, and why?

The cost of living: We need to eliminate or at least substantially reduce people’s property taxes instead of giving tax breaks to politically connected corporations

Data Centers and Solar/BESS Facilities: Our community is being targeted like other communities all around the state by the data center developers and their desired power sources that seek to destroy our farmland. Because I stand against them and am seen as their biggest threat, they are coming after me. It’s important people know Consumers Energy is eager to provide power to data center developers.

Utility bills: While ratepayers continue to pay more and more, utility companies are spending up to $1,000,000 to try to remove me for not being their “yes man.” People deserve a better process that works for them. Fortunately, I have full confidence this absurd attack full of lies and deceit will be unsuccessful.

What measures will you pursue to address those issues?

1. Answered above on property taxes. 2. I support eliminating the sales/use tax exemption for data centers, repealing PA 233 that passed along party lines, and to educate people of the dangers of Data Centers. Their existential threat is not being taken seriously enough and I will continue to educate my colleagues and the general public on this matter 3. Will fight to break up the government sanctioned utility monopoly.

How would you ensure better protection and service for the most vulnerable and underserved populations in District 36?

I’ll continue to fight for people to keep more of their money in their pockets so that they can thrive instead of simply survive off an honest living. We have so many hardworking patriots in our district and they deserve better than big government is giving them.

How would you promote transparency and maintain public trust in state government?

I explain how I vote on every bill, that’s incredibly rare and something I get many compliments about from people in our community. I also got the NDA bill passed through the House as mentioned earlier.

What values or guiding principles shape your approach to public service?

I believe the proper role of government is to protect people’s God-given rights. I have the most consistent voting record in the Legislature of voting for less government and more freedom.

Is there anything else your prospective constituents should know about you, your platform, your views, or your background?

I’m the only Michigan state representative with a perfect 100% freedom score at freedomindex.us. I was ranked the most conservative representative by MIRS News in 2022 and have been ranked in the top four out of 110 all five years. I’m the most conservative, experienced, and qualified candidate in this race and it’s an honor that special interest groups in Lansing see me as such a threat to politics as usual.