Trending
Iron County has several local races, including for both Forest Park and West Iron County school boards, on Tuesday's ballot along with a number of state elected offices and two state proposals.
Statewide contests include --
-- Governor: Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Republican Rep. John James are the major-party nominees to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
-- U.S. Senate: Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed, a former Detroit public health official, faces Republican former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, who ran in 2024. The winner would succeed outgoing Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, who is retiring after two terms.
-- Proposal 1 asks voters to convene a constitution convention. It automatically appears on the ballot every 16 years and has been defeated in previous elections.
-- Proposal 2 would prohibit direct or indirect contributions to Michigan politicians by DTE Energy, Consumers Energy and companies with more than $250,000 in state government contracts, along with immediate family members and other people with close connections to the companies.
In state legislative races in the Upper Peninsula, the 38th Michigan Senate District has three candidates vying to succeed term-limited state Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Waucedah Township --
-- Sara Cambensy, running without party affiliation, is a former state representative and Marquette city commissioner.
-- State Rep. David Prestin, a Republican, is a former Menominee County commissioner, paramedic, first responder and volunteer firefighter.
-- Kelli van Ginhoven, a Democrat, is a Delta County commissioner and small business owner.
The district includes 13 of the U.P.'s 15 counties and portions of Chippewa and Mackinac counties.
In the 110th House District, incumbent state Rep. Greg Markkanen, R-Hancock, is challenged by Democrat Brian Irizarry. Markkanen has served in the House since 2019. Irizarry is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, a teacher at Baraga Area Schools and a member of the Houghton City Council.
The 110th District includes Iron, Gogebic, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties, as well as Breitung Township, Sagola Township and the cities of Iron Mountain and Kingsford in Dickinson County.
In the 1st Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, is seeking a sixth straight two-year term. The Democratic candidate is Callie Barr of Traverse City, a military spouse, veteran advocate and attorney. She ran against Bergman in 2024.
Also on the ballot are Arnett Satterla, Libertarian Party; Doc Kovaly, U.S. Taxpayers Party; LaVeta Davenport, Green Party; Liz Hakola, Working Class Party; and Zebulon Featherly, no party affiliation.
The Iron County races include --
IRON COUNTY
-- County board, District 2 (Four-year term): Pete Judd (i)(I), Ian Gill (R).
-- Road Commission (one seat): Ernie Schmidt (i).
ALPHA
-- Village president: Linda Mueller, Kevin Foster (both write-ins).
-- Village trustees (six seats): Gary Heikkinen, Bill Kapeles, Mark Leonhardt and Steven J. Martin.
-- Village clerk: Krystal Sedwick.
-- Village treasurer: Candice Anderson (write-in).
-- Propositions A and B: Both must pass for either to take effect. Proposition A would switch the clerk and treasurer from elected to appointed positions. Proposition B would allow non-residents to serve in those positions and eliminate the treasurer's two consective terms limit.
-- Proposition C: Would change the village charter to establish formal procedures for potential future disincorporation should the village ever decide to dissolve its municipal status.
CASPIAN
-- City commission (three seats): Matt Jacks (i), Andy Rajala (i), Gary Sabol (i) and Ancella Thurston.
CRYSTAL FALLS
-- City council (two seats): Travis Cudnohufsky (i) and Mike McCarthy.
-- Forest Park School Board: (one partial two-year term) April Anderson, Tim Bendick; (two six-year terms) Mike Bjork (i), Tammy Hendrickson, Allen Jaeger and Christine Perry.
GAASTRA
-- Mayor: Thomas Place (i).
-- City council: (Two two-year terms) Chris Cain and Mari Kay McNamara; (one partial term until January 2028) Linda Lindberg.
IRON RIVER
-- West Iron County School Board (Three seats): Rick Christensen, Julie LaMay (i), Maria Shamion (i), Jill Walsh.
MANSFIELD TOWNSHIP
-- Road millage proposal: To allow 6.5 mills, or $6.50 per $1,000 of taxable valuation, for five years until 2030 for road maintenance and repairs. It is expected to raise about $250,937 in its first year.
MASTODON TOWNSHIP
-- Clerk: Karen Mallon (i, R)