State

State Representative, 46th District

Vote for: 1
Term: 2 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

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

Covers part of Jackson and Washtenaw counties.

Candidates Compare by issue

Jan Maino

Democratic

Mental health therapist

The gist

Supports a weighted school funding formula.
Supports streamlining NWEA and M-STEP testing.
Supports collective bargaining and wage-theft enforcement.
Supports zoning reform and construction incentives for housing.
Supports accountability for utility rate hikes without better service.

More about Jan

View sources (1)

Supports a weighted school funding formula.
VOTE411 voter guide: Michigan House District 46
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Michigan Education Fund · onyourballot.vote411.org
“A more weighted school funding formula will promote equitable funding and outcomes across Michigan.”
Supports streamlining NWEA and M-STEP testing.
VOTE411 voter guide: Michigan House District 46
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Michigan Education Fund · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I would seek to streamline standardized testing such as the NWEA and M-STEP”
Supports collective bargaining and wage-theft enforcement.
VOTE411 voter guide: Michigan House District 46
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Michigan Education Fund · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I will seek to strengthen collective bargaining rights, and hold employers accountable for misclassifying workers and wage theft.”
Supports zoning reform and construction incentives for housing.
VOTE411 voter guide: Michigan House District 46
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Michigan Education Fund · onyourballot.vote411.org
“expand housing affordability through incentivizing construction and zoning reform”
Supports accountability for utility rate hikes without better service.
VOTE411 voter guide: Michigan House District 46
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Michigan Education Fund · onyourballot.vote411.org
“increasing accountability and transparency for public utilities that raise rates without any demonstrated improvement in service”

Kathy Schmaltz

RepublicanIncumbent

State representative · Jackson

The gist

Sponsored science-of-reading and phonics legislation.
Supports suspending the state gas tax.
Supports lifting energy mandates and restoring local siting control.
Sponsored bill for dyslexia-trained teachers in every district.In office
Sponsored law preserving foster youths' federal benefits.In office

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

More about Kathy

View sources (3)

Sponsored science-of-reading and phonics legislation.
VOTE411 voter guide: Michigan House District 46
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Michigan Education Fund · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I sponsored legislation requiring the Science of Reading in schools/back to basics/focusing on phonics.”
Supports suspending the state gas tax.
VOTE411 voter guide: Michigan House District 46
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Michigan Education Fund · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I'm supporting a suspension of our state gas tax to give everyone a break at the gas pump.”
Supports lifting energy mandates and restoring local siting control.
VOTE411 voter guide: Michigan House District 46
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Michigan Education Fund · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I want local control restored and mandates lifted.”
Sponsored bill for dyslexia-trained teachers in every district.
Rep. Schmaltz: We must help students with dyslexia learn to read
Public statement · Michigan House Republicans · gophouse.org
“ensures every school district has access to a teacher trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach”
Sponsored law preserving foster youths' federal benefits.
Rep. Schmaltz's plan to help foster youth build stable futures is signed into law
Public statement · Michigan House Republicans · gophouse.org
“ensures resources intended for foster children are preserved to help them build stable, independent futures”

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.