Several Pro-Small Business Candidates Won in General Election

As small businesses continue to report high uncertainty and low optimism, voters elected many pro-small business candidates on Tuesday although Michigan is certainly a mixed bag.

“We are pleased that several of our endorsed candidates won their respective elections and will represent Michigan’s small businesses in Washington, D.C., and Lansing,” said Amanda Fisher, NFIB Michigan State Director. “Michigan small businesses continue to manage various business and economic challenges, and we are hopeful that these candidates will make it a priority to ease these pressures on small businesses. For now, NFIB is still advocating that the Legislature introduce legislation to make changes to the Paid Sick and Minimum Wage laws that will go into effect next February.”

Michigan Legislature
House Republicans regained the majority by keeping all their current members and gaining 4 seats, resulting in a 58-52 majority. Some highlights include:

• NFIB Michigan PAC-endorsed Rylee Linting beat Rep. Jaime Churches for State House District 27 (downriver Detroit)
• NFIB Michigan PAC-endorsed candidate Ron Robinson beat Rep. Nate Shannon for House District 58 (Sterling Heights)
• NFIB Michigan PAC-endorsed candidate Steve Frisbie beat Rep. Jim Haadsma for House District 44 (Battle Creek)
• NFIB Michigan PAC-endorsed candidate Karl Bohnak beat Rep. Jen Hill for House District 109 (Marquette)

Since Senator McDonald Rivet won her Congressional race, as of Jan. 1, 2025, there will be an open seat in the State Senate. Stay tuned for more information.

Michigan Supreme Court
Unfortunately, NFIB Michigan PAC-endorsed Andrew Fink and Patrick William O’Grady lost their election to the Michigan Supreme Court. Even though the Supreme Court is non-partisan, its candidates are nominated at the state party conventions. This gives Democrats a 5-2 majority on the Michigan Supreme Court.

Federal Races

Tom Barrett closely won his election to the U.S. House to represent Michigan’s 7th Congressional District (Ingham/Livingston). He was endorsed by NFIB’s FedPAC.

Small business owner and Congressman John James won his re-election to continue representing Michigan’s 10th Congressional District in the U.S. House. He was also endorsed by NFIB’s FedPAC.

Unfortunately, NFIB FedPAC-endorsed Mike Rogers narrowly lost his election for the U.S. Senate to Elissa Slotkin.