State

State Representative, 79th 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 Kent, Barry and Allegan counties.

Candidates Compare by issue

Zach Abbott

Democratic

Air Force veteran; economic development researcher · Caledonia Township area

The gist

Proposes faster permitting and fewer costly zoning rules.
Proposes up to nine months of fully paid parental leave.
Supports expanding apprenticeship and job training programs.
Supports reducing class sizes and raising teacher pay.
Supports universal health care coverage.
Supports investing in local public transportation.

More about Zach

View sources (1)

Proposes faster permitting and fewer costly zoning rules.
Policies — Zach Abbott
Campaign website · Committee to Elect Zach Abbott · zachabbottformi.runtogether.us
“Speed up the permitting process. Eliminate onerous zoning ordinances that increase costs to buyers and developers.”
Proposes up to nine months of fully paid parental leave.
Policies — Zach Abbott
Campaign website · Committee to Elect Zach Abbott · zachabbottformi.runtogether.us
“Require up to 9 months of 100% paid parental leave”
Supports expanding apprenticeship and job training programs.
Policies — Zach Abbott
Campaign website · Committee to Elect Zach Abbott · zachabbottformi.runtogether.us
“Expand apprenticeship and work training programs to include construction, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare.”
Supports reducing class sizes and raising teacher pay.
Policies — Zach Abbott
Campaign website · Committee to Elect Zach Abbott · zachabbottformi.runtogether.us
“Ensure our public-school teachers are compensated fairly for the value they provide to our children. Reduce class sizes in our public schools”
Supports universal health care coverage.
Policies — Zach Abbott
Campaign website · Committee to Elect Zach Abbott · zachabbottformi.runtogether.us
“Advocate for comprehensive, universal healthcare coverage.”
Supports investing in local public transportation.
Policies — Zach Abbott
Campaign website · Committee to Elect Zach Abbott · zachabbottformi.runtogether.us
“Invest in local public transportation networks to connect more residents to careers.”

Angela Rigas

RepublicanIncumbent

State Representative; salon business owner · Alto area

The gist

Co-sponsored the Rowan Act on missing children, now law.In office
Sponsored House-passed bills restricting medical debt collection.In office
Introduced the Natalia Moore Law on school bullying.In office
Supports disclosure of the Attorney General's litigation spending.In office
Supports gun rights, parental rights and voting rights.In office

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

More about Angela

View sources (2)

Co-sponsored the Rowan Act on missing children, now law.
Angela Rigas — Posts
Government record · Michigan House Republicans · gophouse.org
“A pair of bills sponsored by State Reps. Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia) and Jerry Neyer (R-Shepherd) that expand protection efforts for missing children”
Sponsored House-passed bills restricting medical debt collection.
Angela Rigas — Posts
Government record · Michigan House Republicans · gophouse.org
“led the House in successfully passing her bipartisan plan to reform how health care providers can charge for and collect medical debt”
Introduced the Natalia Moore Law on school bullying.
Angela Rigas — Posts
Government record · Michigan House Republicans · gophouse.org
“House Bill 5480, known as the Natalia Moore Law, was introduced by Rigas in January.”
Supports disclosure of the Attorney General's litigation spending.
Angela Rigas — Posts
Government record · Michigan House Republicans · gophouse.org
“refusing to provide a complete breakdown of state funds spent on high-profile legal actions targeting the Trump Administration”
Supports gun rights, parental rights and voting rights.
About Angela Rigas
Government record · Michigan House Republicans · gophouse.org
“Angela is a long-time grassroots advocate fighting for Second Amendment, Parental and Voting rights.”

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.