The Detroit Free Press Editorial Board has endorsed candidates in competitive Michigan House of Representatives races in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. In many metro Detroit districts, one party has such a strong advantage that the winner of that party’s primary is very likely to win the seat in the Nov. 3 election. Find your state House district here.
22nd House District
Where it is: Northville, Plymouth and parts of Northville Township, Plymouth Township and Livonia.
About the race: The 22nd District is currently represented by Rep. Matt Koleszar, D-Plymouth, who is running for the Michigan Senate.
Who’s running: Lisa McIntyre (D), Casey Noce (R)
Our pick: A first-time candidate, LISA McINTYRE is an advocate for students, families and mental health who brings
real-world experience to the table. In addition to her 30-year career as a licensed professional counselor and clinical leader, McIntyre, 55, is the former president of the Northville Board of Education, where she continues to serve the community as the board’s treasurer. A transplant from Indiana, she and her husband moved to the district to raise their children 13 years ago, and while initially drawn by the reputation of its schools and community feel, she says she now works to protect and strengthen the very things that brought her family to the district.
What she says: “I never imagined myself jumping into this [...] but I think it's really important as a mom of three kids that I really bring that depth of experience. As a mom, I've lived these things, right?”
Other relevant experience: McIntyre previously owned a small business providing spiritwear for athletes and their families, which she says gave her firsthand experience with the costs and regulatory hurdles small-business owners face.
27th House District
Where it is: Gibraltar, Grosse Ile Township, Riverview, Trenton, Wyandotte and part of Southgate
About the race: The 27th district is currently represented by Rep. Rylee Linting, R-Grosse Ile, who is running for reelection.
Who’s running: Jaime Churches (D), Rylee Linting (R)
Our pick: A previous legislator, JAIME CHURCHES served as the representative for the 27th District from 2023 to 2024 and can draw from a career in education in addition to her experience as a lawmaker. Churches, 38, holds a Master of Educational Administration from Madonna University and was a fifth-grade teacher in Downriver public schools, where she taught for 10 years before taking office. A long-term resident of the area, she grew up Downriver and attended Woodhaven-Brownstown and Grosse Ile public schools, and she says she is now inspired to serve the community that raised her.
What she says: “I live, work, and exist in this area, and I believe that politics is the most influential way to benefit people.”
Other relevant experience: Churches was the vice chair of the Education Committee during her time in the Michigan Legislature, and she previously served as the vice president of her local Michigan Education Association chapter.
Things to consider: Churches’ opponent, Rylee Linting, didn’t respond to an invitation to interview for our endorsement.
28th House District
Where it is: Berlin Township, Brownstown Township, Flat Rock, Rockwood, Woodhaven and parts of Frenchtown Township and Taylor.
About the race: The 28th District is currently represented by Rep. Jamie Thompson, R-Brownstown, who is running for reelection.
Who’s running: Sherry Berecz (D), Jamie Thompson (R)
Our pick: A lifelong Downriver resident, SHERRY BERECZ is a proven public servant, who has spent her career helping the community she calls home. Born and raised in Brownstown, Berecz, 65, accumulated over 25 years of local leadership experience as the clerk and trustee of Brownstown Township, where she now serves as the supervisor. Berecz also spent over 20 years serving Wayne County, including work in the Department of Children and Family Services and the Alternative Work Force program.
What she says: “I feel that I have a lot to offer to the state of Michigan. I have been in several positions within the local community, and I feel with that experience, I could take it to Lansing and help all Michiganders.”
Other relevant experience: Berecz holds a Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in State and Local Government from Central Michigan University.
Things to consider: Berecz’ opponent, Jamie Thompson, brings an important perspective as a nurse and grandparent raising kids, but she admitted to not understanding the details of a property tax system she voted to dramatically revise.
31st House District
Where it is: Augusta Township, Belleville, Dundee Township, Exeter Township, London Township, Milan, Milan Township, Macon Township, Raisinville Township, Sumpter Township, Van Buren Township and parts of Romulus and York Township.
About the race: The 31st District is currently represented by Rep. Reggie Miller, D-Van Buren Township, who is not running for reelection.
Who’s running: Shannon Dare Wayne (D), Laura Perry (R)
Our pick: A first-time candidate, SHANNON DARE WAYNE brings one impressive resume. A Ph.D., three master’s degrees and a bachelor’s, Wayne, 51, is evidently a go-getter who is deeply rooted in the state. She is a lifelong Michigander who has spent her 28-year career advancing at Ford Motor Company, where she currently functions in a managerial role. Wayne has called Milan home for 22 years, where she contributed to the community through various roles in public service. Most recently, she has served on the Milan City Council for more than 4 years and currently serves as mayor pro tem.
What she says: “This opportunity came up, with Rep. Reggie Miller [...] retiring and endorsing me, and it looked like a natural extension of the ways I was serving in small city government and bringing that type of public service to the next level.”
Other relevant experience: Wayne has been serving on the Michigan Technological University Board of Trustees since 2025.
Things to consider: Wayne’s opponent, Laura Perry, didn't address her district’s real-world issues during her endorsement interview; she doubled down on the importance of opposing transgender students in girls’ school sports, when in fact no transgender student has requested a waiver to play in girls sport in the fall 2026 season.
54th House District
Where it is: Bloomfield Hills, Orion Township and parts of Auburn Hills, Bloomfield Township and Oakland Charter Township.
About the race: The 54th District is represented by Donni Steele, R-Lake Orion, who is running for state Senate.
Who’s running: Sarah Pounds (D), Roman Gaskey (R)
Our pick: A life-long resident of Oakland County, SARAH POUNDS has been actively involved in public service and civic leadership in Oakland County for years. Pounds, 43, served on Oakland County housing and community development boards, where she focused on expanding housing opportunities and advocating for families. While she has not held office before, she’s been involved in politics; she served as a precinct delegate in Orion Township since 2018 and on the executive board of the North Oakland Democratic Club and as an at-large member of the Oakland County Democratic Party.
What she says: “I’m just a working mom; I have four kids, my husband and I both work, and I started to wonder why support for working families wasn't coming out of Lansing [...] You know, everyone is sort of bemoaning the decreasing birth rate and still nobody is supporting working families. So, I thought that this was an opportunity for a working mom to go to Lansing and support policies that actually help working families here in Michigan.”
Other relevant experience: Pounds has worked as a paralegal in construction litigation for nearly 20 years, resolving complex disputes on major public construction projects, which she says has given her a practical understanding of the challenges of getting projects built.
Also notable: Pounds’ opponent, Roman Gaskey, showed up well-prepared for his endorsement interview and presented as a non-doctrinaire candidate who is motivated to bring a young perspective to Lansing.
55th House District
Where it is: Rochester, Rochester Hills and part of Oakland Charter Township
About the race: The 55th District is currently represented by Rep. Mark Tisdel, R-Rochester Hills, who is running for reelection.
Who’s running: Alex Hawkins (D), Mark Tisdel (R)
Our pick: A U.S. Army veteran, ALEX HAWKINS brings public service experience that extends beyond the military. Hawkins, 31, worked in Congress, where he was a Wounded Warrior fellow under then U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., and an intern under U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich, prior to that. He is actively engaged in the community; Hawkins focuses on veterans' advocacy, environmental conservation efforts and union advocacy, plus he volunteers as a mentor in the Civil Air Patrol.
What he says: “I think things are on fire, and as you can tell from my background, I don't like to sit and stand by when terrible things are happening. I like to go and be the one to try and fix the problem so that everyone can go home at the end of the day.”
Other relevant experience: Hawkins is an active National Guard explosive ordnance disposal officer.
61st House District
Where it is: Mount Clemens and parts of Sterling Heights Clinton Township.
About the race: The 61st District is currently represented by Rep. Denise Mentzer, D-Mount Clemens, who is running for reelection.
Who’s running: Denise Mentzer (D), Robert Wojtowicz (R)
Our pick: An experienced legislator, DENISE MENTZER is currently serving her second term in the Michigan House of Representatives. Mentzer is a proven public servant who held 10 years of experience on the Mount Clemens City Commission prior to taking office – an experience which she says taught her valuable lessons, including the skill of listening and knowing, when to compromise and when to stand up and hold her ground.
What she says: “There's no reason not to engage in conversation with somebody that's politically different than you. Because you know what? You may just find some common ground, and it's common ground that's going to make Michigan better.”
Other relevant experience: Mentzer was also the vice president of Mount Clemens Optimist Club, member of Mount Clemens Public Library Board of Friends, officer with the Macomb County Democratic Committee and member of the Clinton Township Democratic Club.
Things to consider: Mentzer’s opponent, Robert Wojtowicz, did not respond to multiple attempts to schedule an endorsement interview.
Don't see your district or candidate? Here's why
- The Free Press Editorial Board is only endorsing in competitive races. Many metro Detroit races were effectively decided in the August primary.
- Because of the large number of candidates running in metro Detroit races, only viable candidates in competitive races were invited to interview for our endorsement.
How to vote
Local clerks mailed absentee ballots to Michigan voters Sept. 24. Registered voters may cast ballots early, in person, across the state from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1 ‒ check with your local clerk for your city's early voting start date, location of early voting sites and absentee ballot dropboxes for absentee. And, of course, you can vote ‒ and register to vote ‒ in person on Nov. 3, Election Day.
Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters, and we may publish it in print or online.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Freep picks for Michigan House in Nov. 3 election | Endorsement
