Watershed Voice’s full and final election guide

With Election Day less than one week away, Watershed Voice is here to provide you with a full guide to your local, statewide, and national races on the ballot this November 3. 

Whether you’re voting in-person on Election Day, sending in your last minute absentee, or squeezing in an early vote over the weekend, make sure you make your plan in advance and check your facts. Voters can go to Michigan’s voter information page, enter their information, and then be given a sample ballot as well as when and where they can vote in their county. 

Throughout this guide, completed questionnaires will be linked to candidates names on their first appearance. There are also two ballot proposals that Watershed Voice outlined in detail that will be linked in the story. 

The story will be broken into four parts: Federal elections, state elections, ballot proposals, and local elections. Within the local section will be a breakdown by county and city. To search for a specific race or candidate use “Control+F” to do so.

Federal

Senator

Voters will decide on a senate race that has received significant national attention as former Wayne County Health Director Dr. Adbul El-Sayed faces former U.S. Representative and FBI agent Mike Rogers. 

Both candidates lost their previous statewide elections, El-Sayed to now Governor Gretchen Whitmer in the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary and Rogers in the U.S. Senate general election to Senator Elissa Slotkin. El-Sayed narrowly defeated U.S. Representative Haley Stevens in the August primary while Rogers ran unopposed on the Republican ticket, earning the nomination. 

The race has been watched closely nationally and featured campaign boosts from two presidents this weekend. On Saturday, October 24, former President Barack Obama joined El-Sayed and Gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson at a rally in Detroit. On Sunday, October 25, President Donald Trump joined Rogers and Gubernatorial Candidate John James at a rally in Port Huron. 

The candidates participated in two televised debates available to watch here and here.

House District 5

In District 5, which represents parts of St. Joseph, Cass, and a corner of Kalamazoo County, voters will decide between Republican incumbent Tim Walberg and Democratic challenger Christian Vukasovich. Walberg has represented the district since 2023 and served Michigan’s 7th District from 2007–2009 and 2011–2023. Vukavich is an educator, labor organizer, and researcher, according to his website. 

Watershed Voice sent candidate questionnaires to both candidates in this race, however, neither responded.

House District 4

Down the street in district 4, which represents Van Buren, Allegan, and parts of Kalamazoo counties, voters will decide on incumbent Republican Bill Huiezenga or Democratic challenger Sean McCann. Huiezenga represented Michigan’s 2nd congressional district from 2011 until 2023, when he began serving the Fourth district. McCann currently serves as senator for the Michigan Senate’s 19th district, a position he has held since 2022. Prior to that, McCann served as Michigan State senator for the 20th district.

State elections

Governor

Voters across the state will decide who will become Michigan’s next governor, choosing between Democratic candidate Jocelyn Benson and Republican candidate John James. Benson currently serves as Michigan’s Secretary of State, a position she has held since 2019 while James is the U.S. Representative for Michigan’s 10th Congressional District. 

Current Governor Whitmer cannot seek reelection due to Michigan’s term limits. 

The two participated in two televised debates available to watch here and here.

State Senate District 17

Residents of the State Senate 17th district will decide between Republican incumbent Jonathan Lindsay, who has held the position since he was first elected in 2023, or Democratic challenger Ashleigh Baker, a mother of five and veterinary assistant. 

Watershed Voice sent candidate questionnaires to both candidates, Lindsay completed and returned his questionnaire while Baker did not respond.

Michigan House District 36

Republican incumbent Steve Carra will face Democratic challenger Cole Slaski. Carra has held the 36th district position since 2023. Prior to that, he represented the 59th District from 2021-2023. This is Slaski’s first run at political office. He won his uncontested primary in August. 

Both candidates were sent questionnaires; Carra responded and declined, Slaski did not respond.

Michigan House District 37

Voters in Michigan’s 37th House District will choose between Republican incumbent Brad PAquette and Democratic challenger Angela Jones, a mother and small business owner. Paquette previously represented the 78th district from 2019 to 2022 before taking office in the 37th district in 2023. 

Both candidates were sent questionnaires, however, neither responded.

Statewide ballot proposals

Money out of Politics

Michiganders statewide will decide on a ballot initiative aimed at amending the Campaign Finance Act to prohibit regulated electric and gas utilities from making certain direct or indirect political contributions. It would also restrict government contractors with more than $250,000 annually in qualifying contracts, along with certain people and organizations affiliated with those companies, from contributing to candidates in jurisdictions that awarded the contracts. 

A full outline of the proposal, reported by Watershed Voice, can be found here. The full ballot proposal can be found here.

Constitutional convention

Voters will also decide on a proposal to convene a constitutional convention for the purpose of drafting a general revision of the state constitution. If approved, a convention of elected delegates would convene in 2027 to draft a general revision of the State Constitution for presentation to the voters before their final approval or rejection. 

Under Michigan’s Constitution, voters are asked every 16 years whether to convene a constitutional convention. The state’s current constitution was drafted at a 1961-62 convention and approved by voters in 1963.

Local elections

St. Joseph County

In St. Joseph County, voters in Three Rivers and Sturgis will decide several city commission races. Both cities have faced significant leadership challenges this year, with Three Rivers preparing to replace its retiring city manager and Sturgis navigating months of controversy involving its former city manager and elected officials.

Three Rivers

Three Rivers District 2 Commissioner

Voters in Three Rivers second district will decide between incumbent Steven Haigh, who was elected in November 2024, and challenger Josh Hoeppner. As the top two vote getters in August’s primary election, the candidates moved on to face off in this November’s election. 

Both candidates completed and returned questionnaires. Haigh’s can be viewed here, and Hoeppner’s can be viewed here.

Three Rivers At-Large Commissioner

Since it is an at-large position, voters across the city will decide between incumbent Lucas Allen, who has served on the commission since 2022, or newcomer Joshua Williams. 

Both candidates completed and returned questionnaires. Allen’s can be viewed here, and Williams’ can be viewed here.

Three Rivers Fourth District Commissioner

In the fourth district, incumbent Carolyn McNary is running unopposed. 

McNary was sent a questionnaire, however, she did not respond.

Sturgis

Sturgis Precinct 4 Commissioner

In Sturgis’ fourth precinct, voters will decide between incumbent Commissioner and current Mayor Frank Perez and challenger Stoney Summey. Perez has been the target of much backlash as other Sturgis Commissioners have been calling for his resignation and recently that he drop out of this race. 

Both candidates received questionnaires, however, neither responded.

Sturgis At-Large commissioner

Across the city, voters will decide whether to vote for incumbent Aaron Miller, who is running unopposed. 

Miller completed and returned our questionnaire, it can be viewed here.

Sturgis Precinct 1 Commissioner

In Sturgis’ first precinct, Barry Cox is running unopposed. Cox served as Sturgis’ City Engineer and served the city for over 30 years before retiring in June 2026. 

Cox completed and returned our questionnaire, it can be viewed here.

Sturgis Precinct 2 Commissioner

In Sturgis’ second precinct, incumbent Justin Wickey is running unopposed. 

Wickey completed and returned our questionnaire, which can be viewed here.

Local ballot proposals

Kalamazoo Healthcare Charter Amendment

Voters in Kalamazoo will decide on a proposal to amend the city charter to establish a Citizens’ Advisory Healthcare Action Committee aimed at addressing healthcare affordability and access. 

If approved, the city Commission would appoint a committee tasked with gathering public testimony, analyzing healthcare data, and reviewing the impacts of federal, state, and local policies. The committee would produce a biennial Healthcare Action Plan, which the City Commission would be required to adopt and publish. 

The proposal faced pushback from local officials, including Mayor David Anderson who has called it an “unfunded mandate” funded by “dark money.” The proposal is on the ballot in six total cities throughout southwest Michigan. 

Staff Writer Maxwell Knauer previously covered the proposal and the controversy surrounding it in detail. 

Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.