Ottawa County · August 4, 2026 · Republican Primary
Republican Primary Voter Guide
State & Federal races appearing on the Ottawa County ballot
Ottawa County Official Candidate List (updated 4/24/2026)
INCUM Incumbent 🌐 Website  |  📘 Facebook  |  📋 Ballotpedia
Governor
Open seat — Gov. Whitmer is term-limited. Independent Mike Duggan (former Detroit Mayor) runs directly in the general.
John James
U.S. Rep. MI-10; Army veteran; Shelby Township
🌐 johnjamesmi.com
Mike Cox
Former Michigan Attorney General (2003–2011); Livonia
🌐 mikecox2026.com
Aric Nesbitt
Michigan Senate Minority Leader; Paw Paw
🌐 nesbittforgovernor.com
Perry Johnson
Businessman; 2022 & 2024 candidate; Bloomfield Township
🌐 perryjohnson.com
Ralph Rebandt
Retired pastor; 2022 gubernatorial candidate; Elmira
🌐 rebandtforgovernor.com
U.S. Senate
Open seat — Sen. Gary Peters (D) is retiring. Rated Toss-up in the general election.
Mike Rogers
Former U.S. Rep. MI-8 (2001–2015); 2024 Senate nominee; St. Joseph
🌐 mikerogers.com
Running unopposed in the Republican primary.
U.S. House — District 2
John Moolenaar Incum
U.S. Rep. (2015–present); re-elected 65.1% in 2024; Caledonia
🌐 moolenaar.house.gov
Running unopposed in the Republican primary.
U.S. House — District 3
Covers northern Ottawa County. Incumbent is Democrat Hillary Scholten.
Terri DeBoer
Veteran TV meteorologist (WOOD-TV / Fox17); Byron Center
🌐 terrideboerforcongress.com
Ryan Cushman
Businessman & Army veteran; Grand Rapids
🌐 ryancushmanforcongress.com
U.S. House — District 4
Bill Huizenga Incum
U.S. Rep. (2011–present); re-elected 55.1% in 2024; Holland
🌐 huizenga.house.gov
Philip Tanis
Former Mayor of Holland; Hope College Van Raalte Institute Director; Holland
📘 Facebook
Michigan State Senate — District 30
Covers portions of Kent and Ottawa counties including parts of Walker. Incumbent Mark Huizenga is eligible for re-election.
Mark E. Huizenga Incum
Michigan State Senator, SD-30 (2023–present); former Walker Mayor
🌐 senatormarkhuizenga.com
Running unopposed in the Republican primary.
Michigan State Senate — District 31
Covers most of Ottawa County — Holland, Zeeland, Grand Haven — plus Fillmore & Laketown Twp. in Allegan Co. Incumbent Roger Victory is term-limited.
Kevin J. Maas
CEO, Lakeside Property Masters; Holland
🌐 votemaas.com
Michael J. Markey Jr.
Financial advisor; 2022 gubernatorial & 2024 MI-3 candidate; Spring Lake
🌐 michaelmarkeyjr.com
John Wetzel
Business owner & community leader; Grand Haven
🌐 wetzel4michigan.com
Michigan State Senate — District 33
Covers parts of Ottawa, Kent, Montcalm, Newaygo, and surrounding counties. Incumbent Rick Outman is term-limited.
Katie DeBoer
Kent County Commissioner, District 4; Greenville
🌐 katie4mi.com
Joseph D. Fox
Michigan State Representative, HD-101 (2023–present); Fremont
🌐 votejosephfox.com
Gina Johnsen
Michigan State Representative, HD-78 (2023–present); Portland
🌐 ginaformichigan.com
Thomas J. Norton
Afghanistan veteran; small businessman; Ada
🌐 thomasjnorton.com
Michigan House — District 43
Covers part of Jamestown Township in Ottawa County, plus most of Allegan County and several Barry County townships. Only Republican primary opponent Brad Dorland withdrew.
Rachelle Smit Incum
Michigan House Speaker Pro Tempore; State Rep. HD-43 (2023–present); Shelbyville
🌐 smitforstaterep.com
Running unopposed in the Republican primary.
Michigan House — District 85
Covers Georgetown & Zeeland Twp., cities of Hudsonville & Zeeland, and parts of Jamestown & Holland Twp.
Bradley Slagh Incum
Michigan State Representative, HD-85 (2023–present); Zeeland
📘 Facebook
John C. O'Brien
Republican challenger; Hudsonville
📋 Ballotpedia
Michigan House — District 86
Covers City of Holland, most of Holland Twp., and Park & Laketown Twp. in Ottawa & Allegan counties.
Nancy DeBoer Incum
Michigan State Representative, HD-86 (2023–present); Holland
🌐 nancydeboer.com
Running unopposed in the Republican primary.
Michigan House — District 88
Covers Grand Haven, Ferrysburg, Spring Lake and coastal Ottawa County townships, plus parts of Muskegon County.
Greg VanWoerkom Incum
Michigan State Representative, HD-88 (2019–present); Norton Shores
🌐 votevanwoerkom.com
Ethan Frasier
Republican challenger; Spring Lake
📋 Ballotpedia
Michigan House — District 89
Covers Allendale, Blendon, Chester, Polkton, Tallmadge, Wright Twp., City of Coopersville in Ottawa Co., plus parts of Muskegon Co. and Kent Co. Incumbent Luke Meerman chose not to run again.
Patrick Kapenga
Businessman; Coopersville
🌐 kapenga4michigan.com
Joe Moss
Ottawa County Commissioner, District 5 (2023–present); co-founder of Ottawa Impact; Hudsonville
🌐 joemoss.com
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