2026 Voter Guide

For: U.S. House District 6 · State Senate District 14 · State House District 46 · Washtenaw County / City of Chelsea / Sylvan Township / Lima Township

‍ ‍Compiled July 14, 2026 from Washtenaw County Clerk's official candidate list (updated 6/29/2026), Michigan Bureau of Elections, and local reporting. Michigan has an open primary — any registered voter may vote either party's ballot, but not both. Verify your personal sample ballot at mvic.sos.state.mi.us.

Key Dates:

  • Key dates — August 4, 2026 Primary

    June 25, 2026: Absentee ballots begin mailing out (40 days before)

    July 20, 2026: Last day to register to vote online or by mail (postmark deadline)

    July 25 – Aug 2, 2026: Mandatory statewide early in-person voting period (9 days)

    July 31, 2026, 5 p.m.: Deadline to request an absentee ballot online or by mail
    Aug 3, 2026, 4 p.m.: Deadline to request an absentee ballot in person at your clerk's office (if already registered at your address)

    Aug 4, 2026Election Day: polls open 7 a.m.–8 p.m. Same-day registration available in person at your clerk's office through 8 p.m. Absentee ballots must be received by your clerk by 8 p.m. — mailing it on Election Day itself will not count.

  • Sept 24, 2026: Absentee ballots begin mailing out (40 days before)

    Oct 19, 2026: Last day to register to vote online or by mail (postmark deadline)

    Oct 20, 2026: Last recommended day to mail your ballot to avoid USPS delays — after this, use a drop box or hand-deliver instead

    Oct 24 – Nov 1, 2026: Mandatory statewide early in-person voting period (9 days)

    Oct 30, 2026, 5 p.m.: Deadline to request an absentee ballot online or by mail

    Nov 2, 2026, 4 p.m.: Deadline to request an absentee ballot in person at your clerk's office (if already registered at your address)

    Nov 3, 2026 Election Day: polls open 7 a.m.–8 p.m. Same-day registration available in person at your clerk's office through 8 p.m. Absentee ballots must be received by your clerk by 8 p.m.

Important: USPS postmark change affects mailing timelines, not your legal deadline:

In December 2025, USPS changed how it defines a postmark — mail is now postmarked when it's processed at a regional facility, not when it's dropped in a mailbox or picked up. That can add a day or more before your mail is actually postmarked, especially outside major metro areas.

Good news for Michigan specifically: Michigan does not use a postmark-based deadline for regular absentee ballots — your ballot must simply be received by your clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day, postmark irrelevant. So the USPS change doesn't change the legal rule. But it does mean mail is taking longer to arrive, which makes "received by" deadlines riskier to cut close.

  • Voter registration by mail is postmark-dependent (must be postmarked 15 days before Election Day) — the USPS change could cause a registration mailed right at the deadline to arrive with a late postmark. Register online instead if at all possible.

  • Military/overseas ballots are also postmark-dependent (postmarked by Election Day, received within 6 days after) — this population is most exposed to the change.

  • Bottom line for regular voters: don't mail your ballot within the final 7–10 days before an election. After that window, use a secure drop box or hand-deliver to your clerk's office instead — both guarantee same-day receipt regardless of USPS processing delays.

U.S. Senate and U.S. House Races:

U.S. Senate:

Democratic incumbent Gary Peters is retiring; this is one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country

Democratic Primary

  • Abdul El-Sayed: physician and former Wayne County Health Director; the progressive candidate, running on Medicare for All and a sharply anti-corporate and PAC money message, endorsed by National Nurses United and the UAW

  • Haley Stevens: U.S. Representative (MI-11) since 2018; the establishment-backed candidate, endorsed by EMILYs List and Jennifer Granholm, with strong pro-Israel/AIPAC-aligned positioning

  • Mallory McMorrow: State Senator (D-Royal Oak) since 2018; suspended her campaign July 5, 2026 but her name remains on the ballot, so a vote for her will not effectively count toward the nomination

Republican Primary

  • Mike Rogers: former U.S. Representative (MI-8, 2001–2015) and former House Intelligence Committee chairman; narrowly lost the 2024 Senate race to Elissa Slotkin and is the heavy favorite for the GOP nomination, unopposed on the Washtenaw ballot

U.S. House, District 6:

Covers all of Washtenaw County

Democratic Primary

  • Debbie Dingell: (incumbent since 2015)

  • Jason Cloutier: challenger

Republican Primary

  • Heather Smiley: unopposed (ran against Dingell in 2024 general)

State Senate and House Races:

State Senate, District 4:

Covers Chelsea, Sylvan Township, Lima Township, plus Dexter, Northfield, Scio, Webster, and other Washtenaw townships, and most of Jackson County

No primary contest on either side, both advance directly to the November ballot:

  • Democratic: Sue Shink (incumbent since 2023; Washtenaw County Commission chair before that)

  • Republican: Tawn Beliger (former Northfield Township trustee; ran for State House District 48 in 2024)

State House, District 46:

Covers Chelsea, Sylvan Township, plus the city of Jackson, Blackman and Leoni townships, and parts of Grass Lake/Summit townships

Both unopposed in the primary, this is a closely watched general-election toss-up seat:

  • Democratic: Jan Maino — East Jackson School Board president, mental health therapist

  • Republican: Kathy Schmaltz (incumbent since 2023; former TV news anchor)

State House, District 47:

Covers Lima Township, plus Dexter, Scio, Manchester, Sharon, and Freedom townships, parts of Ann Arbor/Ann Arbor Township/Grass Lake/Summit townships, and Columbia/Napoleon/Norvell townships in Jackson County

Both unopposed in the primary:

  • Democratic: Carrie Rheingans (incumbent since 2023; health policy expert and U-M lecturer)

  • Republican: Justin Griffis, Dexter

Michigan Governor:

Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited, this is the first open governor's race since 2018.

Democratic Primary

  • Jocelyn Benson: Secretary of State since 2018 and former Wayne State Law School dean; the clear frontrunner in polling and fundraising, running on election administration/voter access record and a "progressive vision" for the state

  • Chris Swanson: Genesee County Sheriff since 2019; gained national attention in 2020 for marching alongside Flint protesters after George Floyd's killing; running on public safety and criminal-justice reform credentials, trailing Benson significantly in polling

Republican Primary

  • John James: U.S. Representative (MI-10) since 2023, Army veteran and former business executive; twice ran for U.S. Senate (2018, 2020); received Trump's endorsement June 22, which prompted Nesbitt to drop out and back him; would be Michigan's first Black governor

  • Mike Cox: former Michigan Attorney General (2003–2011), Marine Corps veteran; running on eliminating the state income tax, restoring right-to-work, and a Michigan "DOGE" to cut spending; has self-funded heavily via personal loans to his campaign

  • Perry Johnson: Oakland County businessman and "quality guru"; ran for governor in 2022 (disqualified over petition signatures) and for president in 2024; largely self-funding, has spent heavily on ads attacking both Cox and James

  • Aric Nesbitt: Michigan Senate Minority Leader; suspended his campaign June 22, 2026 and endorsed James, but remains on the ballot, so a vote for him won't effectively count

Judicial Races:

Michigan judicial races are nonpartisan and don't appear on your August 4 primary ballot — Washtenaw County didn't have enough candidates in any local judicial race this cycle to trigger a primary. All of the races below will appear only on your November 3 general election ballot:

  • 22nd Circuit Court (incumbent seats, vote for up to 2): Patrick J. Conlin Jr., Tracy E. Van den Bergh

  • 14A District Court (Chelsea/Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti/Saline division, incumbent seat): Anna Maria Frushour

  • 14B District Court (Ypsilanti Township, incumbent seat): Erane Washington

  • 15th District Court (Ann Arbor, incumbent seat): Tamara Garwood

  • Probate Court (open seat): Alethia Jean Battles vs. Jennifer Lawrence

  • Michigan Supreme Court (2 seats, statewide): Megan Cavanagh (D-nominated incumbent), Noah Hood (D-nominated incumbent), Casandra Morse-Bills (R-nominated), Michael Warren (R-nominated) — nonpartisan on the ballot, but nominated by party conventions rather than a primary

  • Michigan Court of Appeals, 3rd District (2 incumbent seats): Mark T. Boonstra, Daniel S. Korobkin

Local Ballot Measures:

Chelsea / Sylvan Township / Lima Township

Three proposals appear on your August 4 ballot:

  1. Chelsea School District Operating Millage Renewal: renews 19.1437 mills for 6 years (raises ~$6.2M/year for district operations)

  2. Chelsea School District Sinking Fund Millage: renews 0.8985 mills for 10 years (~$1.3M/year for building/infrastructure needs)

  3. Washtenaw Community College Operating Millage Renewal: renews 0.85 mills for 10 years