The deadline for candidates for State House and State Senate is exactly two months away, 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, and some individuals already have announced their intentions to run.
In this area, State House and Senate seats have been redistricted, a process that occurs every 10 years as the U.S. Census reflects population changes. Redistricting in the past was done by members of the State Legislature, but voters statewide in November 2018 overwhelmingly approved a ballot issue in which the process was turned over to an independent commission. The argument was that state lawmakers shouldn’t be permitted to choose their voters and more than 60 percent of voters agreed.
As a result, the old 72nd District seat in the House held by term limited Steve Johnson has been split into the new 43rd District and the new 79th District. The 72nd District now is partly in the new 80th, which includes Kentwood, Cascade, East Grand Rapids, and part of Grand Rapids Township (South of Fulton Street).
The 43rd takes up most of the Dorr-Moline-Martin-Hopkins and Wayland area. It includes most of Allegan County, but excludes Leighton Township.
Martin Township Clerk Rachelle Smit and Lindsey Kronemeyer of Dorr will run in the 43rd. Both are Republicans.
Two other Republicans, Dean Brandt of Hamilton and Phillip Joseph of Orangeville, also have expressed interest in seeking the office.
The only known candidate thus far for the 79th District is Republican Angela Salas of Caledonia.
The 18th Senatorial District will include Wayland, Martin, Otsego and Plainwell in Allegan County and Hastings, Middleville, Delton, Cloverdale and Nashville in Barry County and Caledonia and Alto in Kent County, and Lake Odessa and Clarksville in Ionia County.
The 20th District will take in Dorr, Monterey and Hopkins in Allegan County, along with Hamilton, Fennville, Allegan, Douglas and Glenn, and then move south to cover South Haven, Bloomingdale, Covert, Paw Paw, Gobles, Hartford and Decatur in Van Buren County. Current State Senator Aric Nesbitt lives within the boundaries of this district.
There has been no word yet about Democrats who have filed for House or Senate seats in these districts.
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