
State Primary - August 4, 2026
The Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce understands the importance of electing leaders who are committed to the issues that matter most to our business community. As part of our commitment to supporting investors and promoting voter education, the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce hosts an annual Candidate Forum, giving candidates a platform to address the issues that matter most to our community and helping voters make informed decisions.
Voter Information
The 2026 Candidate Forum will be held on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at the West Shore Community College Downtown Manistee Education Center located at 400 River Street, Manistee, MI 49660.
August 4, 2026 Election
4-Year Term - The Governor of Michigan is elected to a four-year term and may be reelected once, serving a maximum of two consecutive terms.
Candidates seeking the Governor nomination:
R: John James
R: Perry Johnson
D: Jocelyn Benson
D: Christopher Robert Swanson
Elected Officials
2-Year Term - The City Council is the governing body for the City of Manistee. The council consists of seven members who serve two-year terms. Members are nominated by district but elected at large by voters. Elections are nonpartisan. Terms are staggered with districts 1,3, 5 and 7 elected one year while districts 2, 4 and 6 are elected the next year.
District 1: Julia Raddatz
District 2: Wesley Smith
District 3: Liz Laskey
District 4: Jermaine Sullivan - Mayor
District 5: Kay Keck
District 6: James Grabowski
District 7: Lani Rozga
4-Year Term - Each Commissioner is elected from a Commissioner District for a four-year term on a partisan ballot.
District 1: Janice McCraner
District 2: Richard Schmidt
District 3: Nikki Koons
District 4: Eric Gustad
District 5: Jeff Dontz - Board Chair
District 6: Karen Goodman - Vice-Chair
District 7: Shayne Machen
2 -Year Term - Representatives are elected in even-numbered years with the current term expiring on December 31, 2026.
102nd District: Curt VanderWall
104th District: John Roth
102nd District: Michele Hoitenga
4-Year Term - Senators are elected on a partisan basis for four-year terms, concurrent with the election of the Governor of Michigan.
32nd District: Jon Bumstead
2-Year Term - Representatives of the U.S. House have two year terms and may be reelected indefinitely.
1st District: Jack Bergman
2nd District: John Moolenaar
6-Year Term - U.S. Senators are elected to six year terms and may be reelected indefinitely.
Elissa Slotkin
Gary Peters
4-Year Term - The Governor of Michigan is elected to a four-year term and may be reelected once, serving a maximum of two consecutive terms.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer
District 2: Wesley Smith (Re-Elected)
- Challenger: Linda Gamache-Chick
District 4: Jermaine Sullivan - Mayor
- No Challenger
District 6: James Grabowski (Re-Elected)
- Challenger: Mark Wittlieff


