Voting on the Big Issues – 2026 Edition

Six local political groups talk election hot topics

By Kierstin Gunsberg | Oct. 17, 2026

Another November election is upon us and with it, a slew of proposals, candidates, and millages to learn about. In the meantime, we reached out to northern Michigan’s political organizations to weigh in on what they want voters to know before heading to the polls.

A note from the editor: The responses below are printed as they came to us, barring any statistics we have fact checked or specific claims that require further explanation. As these are all partisan opinions, we recommend you read with your critical thinking cap on!

Antrim County Democratic Party

Allen Wolf, Member (on behalf of Chair, Veronica Welter)

What’s the biggest issue you see on your local ballot?
The First Congressional District must elect Callie Barr to the U.S. House of Representatives. Northern Michigan has been devastated by soaring diesel and gasoline prices along with the rising cost of housing, food, and everything else. Our current representative doesn’t seem to care, hasn’t held a public forum since 2017, and rarely visits the district. Callie Barr is a fifth-generation Michigander. She is a veteran advocate, mother, former high school teacher, and attorney. She uses her University of Michigan law degree to provide free legal services to vets and working in nonprofit advocacy. Her campaign is all about creating an affordable life for northern Michigan families. 

Which issue is under the radar that voters should know more about?
The Republican Party leadership continues to back the corrupt Antrim County Clerk who must be recalled. We fully support the bipartisan effort to recall Victoria Bishop. She was elected with $15,000 from mysterious sources. She filed a false campaign finance report. She was found in contempt of court by a federal bankruptcy court and was ordered to pay thousands in fines and restitution. She mailed out over 1,500 postcards to voters with multiple deficiencies and made numerous changes in the Qualified Voter File that were beyond her authority.

Antrim County GOP

Sue Leassner, Secretary

What’s the biggest issue you see on your local ballot?
I’ve asked Antrim voters, and I hear the same thing repeatedly: it’s the economy. That’s what’s driving votes on our governor’s race, the legislature, and everywhere down the ballot. Government’s core job is providing police, courts, and roads. Not handing out everything for free. Whitmer’s first budget: [$59] billion. Her final one: $88.1 billion. Nearly 50 percent more spending, and for nothing. Republicans have real answers. Republicans, like our Rep. John Roth of Interlochen, wrote the HELP UP plan. It would cut the state property tax and freeze electric rates. Families could save up to $1,400 a year.

Which issue is under the radar that voters should know more about?
Voters are concerned about their finances. Seniors worry about the future of Medicare and Social Security, while younger families want to know that hard work and financial discipline will allow them to achieve the American dream. Programs promoted as expanding government provided benefits can sound appealing, but taxpayers ultimately fund them. Voters should understand where their tax dollars go and whether government programs create dependency rather than opportunity. We believe taxpayer funded Medicaid and Medicare should not go to noncitizens who are not legally eligible. We should protect taxpayers while preserving choices and opportunities for those who work and contribute. 

Editor’s note: Federally, undocumented immigrants are not eligible for Medicaid or Medicare, cannot enroll, and do not receive benefits with the exception of emergency care (in emergency departments). In those cases, the hospital is reimbursed for that care through the federal Medicaid Emergency program.

Benzie Democrats

Jim Dulzo, Vice Chair

What’s the biggest issue you see on your local ballot?
The biggest issue on the local ballot is actually a bunch of issues centered around one basic fact of life these days: People are going broke while the convicted felon in the White House takes the country to war and does many other wrong-headed things that cost people like you and me money, while his friends stake to the band with their big tax cuts and inside deals. Yet nobody in his party does a thing about it.

Which issue is under the radar that voters should know more about?
Not enough people understand how important it is to vote YES on Benzie County’s current millage proposal. There’s a long history that goes back to the Headlee Amendment in the early ’70s—which is still breaking budgets 50 years later. You get what you pay for in local government, and right now we’re not paying for very much. And that is not a good thing for families, small businesses, and folks wanting to stay here rather than move away.

Charlevoix County Democrats

Gordon Bloem, chair

What’s the biggest issue you see on your local ballot?
The biggest issue facing us is the rising cost of everything. The unauthorized war in Iran has resulted in fuel prices that are sky high. Meanwhile, unconstitutional tariffs have raised the cost of food, consumer products, and housing even as they rob our farmers of export markets. To top it off, the GOP slashed funding for rural healthcare [in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act] in order to give the richest 1 percent a tax break. All of this needs to be reversed.

Which issue is under the radar that voters should know more about?
An issue that for too long was flying under the radar is the threat posed by unregulated data centers and AI. The Trump family is heavily invested in both enterprises and the servile GOP will not work for the public interest by supporting common sense regulations. Jack Bergman fully supported all of the Trump agenda and will continue to do so. Parker Fairbairn and John DaMoose have acquiesced in all of this. Callie Barr, Kate Gallup, and Melissa Perron will work for you and not for Trump and his nonstop grift.

Editor’s note: In an interview with WCMU, Bergman said he supports a one-year moratorium on data centers.

Grand Traverse Democrats

Harold Lassers, Chair

What’s the biggest issue you see on your local ballot?
We recommend against holding a Michigan Constitutional Convention. We have an excellent document that protects citizen rights. A convention can put some of those rights at risk and is not likely to improve citizen rights. The legislature can address specific issues without opening the entire Constitution to debate and revision. 

Which issue is under the radar that voters should know more about?
Our township clerks and their teams are always heavily loaded with elections. Citizens willing to be paid poll workers are always needed. Volunteers to be poll watchers and poll challengers are needed. Volunteering for these roles will give one respect for our clerks, confidence in the process, and provide an essential service to the community. Learn more from your township clerk and your local political party.

Straits Area Libertarian Party

Andy Evans, Chair

What’s the biggest issue you see on your local ballot?
Although not specifically on the ballot, we are opposed to the installation of Flock enabled camera systems in our northern Michigan communities. These cameras … allow warrantless searches of every movement our citizens make with their vehicles. In a recent case, a Wisconsin driver was tracked making repeated trips to Menominee—where cannabis is sold legally—and the Wisconsin authorities then made a traffic stop and arrest, solely based on that travel pattern. Notwithstanding Flock’s potential benefits as a law enforcement tool, this massive invasion of privacy is an attack upon our civil liberties and opens the door to a myriad of possible abuses. We encourage voters to address this issue with your local candidates for office.

Which issue is under the radar that voters should know more about?
Under the radar, and very unfortunate, is the modern-day practice of economic development, whereby billions of your tax dollars are spent for “development incentives.” Under these programs, we have seen both Democrats and Republicans doling out hundreds of millions of dollars to wealthy corporations to lure them into doing business in Michigan. These programs only invite corrupt practices, often fail to produce lasting results, and are not needed. Lowering tax rates overall will grow our economy, without use of such handouts. We should abolish the MEDC.

We also reached out to the following organizations who did not respond: Benzie County Republicans, Charlevoix County Republicans, Emmet County Democrats, Emmet County Republicans, Leelanau Democrats, Leelanau Republicans, Grand Traverse Republicans, Manistee County Democrats, Manistee County Republicans, Northern Michigan Libertarians, Otsego Democrats, Otsego Republicans, Wexford Democrats, Wexford Republicans.