State Representative, 39th District · Michigan 2026 General Election

What this office does: A state representative votes on Michigan laws and the state budget on behalf of the district.

Kerry Tapper

Democratic

The gist

No documented position found.

More about Kerry

Jared Polonowski

Green

Subcontractor and graduate student

The gist

Supports shutting down the Line 5 pipeline.
Supports nuclear power now and zero carbon long term.
Supports public ownership of electric, water and gas utilities.
Opposes subsidies for corporations that post profits.
Supports significant increases in school funding.
Supports a free pathway to citizenship for noncitizens.

More about Jared

View sources (1)

Supports shutting down the Line 5 pipeline.
VOTE411 voter guide: Michigan House District 39
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Michigan Education Fund · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Shut down line 5.”
Supports nuclear power now and zero carbon long term.
VOTE411 voter guide: Michigan House District 39
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Michigan Education Fund · onyourballot.vote411.org
“In the short term I would focus on nuclear power generation to overcome our energy shortages”
Supports public ownership of electric, water and gas utilities.
VOTE411 voter guide: Michigan House District 39
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Michigan Education Fund · onyourballot.vote411.org
“In a perfect world the people would own the utilities that they rely on such as electric, water and gas”
Opposes subsidies for corporations that post profits.
VOTE411 voter guide: Michigan House District 39
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Michigan Education Fund · onyourballot.vote411.org
“corporations shouldn't be posting profits or profit sharing while taking government welfare and subsidies”
Supports significant increases in school funding.
VOTE411 voter guide: Michigan House District 39
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Michigan Education Fund · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Michigan's education system needs major improvements, from funding that needs significant increases”
Supports a free pathway to citizenship for noncitizens.
VOTE411 voter guide: Michigan House District 39
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Michigan Education Fund · onyourballot.vote411.org
“have access to a free pathway for us citizenship”

Pauline Wendzel

RepublicanIncumbent

State representative · Watervliet

The gist

Sponsored Project Lighthouse, repealing 2023 clean energy mandates.In office
Voted for felony charge when drug deals cause serious injury.In office
Opposes counting Oakland and Wayne as rural for health grants.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Pauline

View sources (3)

Sponsored Project Lighthouse, repealing 2023 clean energy mandates.
Project Lighthouse Clears Committee, Restores Reliability and Affordability as Michigan's Governing Principles
Public statement · Michigan House Republicans · gophouse.org
“would repeal Michigan's 2023 green energy mandates and restore affordability and reliability as the governing principles”
Voted for felony charge when drug deals cause serious injury.
Rep. Pauline Wendzel: When Dealers Walk Free
Public statement · Michigan House Republicans · gophouse.org
“House Bills 5157 and 5158 create a new felony offense for delivering a controlled substance that causes serious, life-altering injury.”
Opposes counting Oakland and Wayne as rural for health grants.
Southeast Michigan Isn't Rural. Stop Pretending Otherwise.
Public statement · Michigan House Republicans · gophouse.org
“By labeling Oakland and Wayne counties”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 7 issues covered in this race.