State

State Representative, 96th 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 Bay County.

Candidates Compare by issue

Christopher R. Girard

Democratic

Mayor of Bay City · Bay City

The gist

Pledges to seek funding for roads, bridges and water systems.
Supported Bay City police body cameras as a commissioner.
Supports reducing wait times for local mental health care.
Supports apprenticeship partnerships among schools, unions and employers.
Supports cutting red tape for small businesses.

More about Christopher

View sources (1)

Pledges to seek funding for roads, bridges and water systems.
Priorities — Chris Girard for State Rep
Campaign website · Friends of Chris Girard for State Representative · girardformichigan.com
“I'll work with local communities to secure state and federal funding, make sure projects already underway stay on track”
Supported Bay City police body cameras as a commissioner.
Priorities — Chris Girard for State Rep
Campaign website · Friends of Chris Girard for State Representative · girardformichigan.com
“As a City Commissioner, I fought to make sure Bay City police officers had body cameras”
Supports reducing wait times for local mental health care.
Priorities — Chris Girard for State Rep
Campaign website · Friends of Chris Girard for State Representative · girardformichigan.com
“I'll work to strengthen local mental health services, reduce those delays, and make sure families can get help closer to home”
Supports apprenticeship partnerships among schools, unions and employers.
Priorities — Chris Girard for State Rep
Campaign website · Friends of Chris Girard for State Representative · girardformichigan.com
“I'll support stronger partnerships between schools, unions, community colleges, and local employers”
Supports cutting red tape for small businesses.
Priorities — Chris Girard for State Rep
Campaign website · Friends of Chris Girard for State Representative · girardformichigan.com
“I'll work to cut unnecessary red tape, improve access to resources for small businesses”

Timothy Beson

RepublicanIncumbent

State Representative; grocery store owner · Bangor Township

The gist

Voted for a plan to eliminate the state property tax.
Supports limiting corporate purchases of single-family homes.
Supports barring hospital liens and wage garnishment for medical debt.
Proposed $1.995 million in state funding for Lafayette Bridge.In office
Voted for a state budget reducing overall spending.In office
Supports scrutiny of state-approved utility rate increases.In office

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

More about Timothy

View sources (2)

Voted for a plan to eliminate the state property tax.
Timmy Beson for State Representative
Campaign website · Friends of Timothy H. Beson · timmybeson.com
“He also voted for a plan to eliminate the state property tax and save the average homeowner nearly $1,000 a year.”
Supports limiting corporate purchases of single-family homes.
Timmy Beson for State Representative
Campaign website · Friends of Timothy H. Beson · timmybeson.com
“Timmy is fighting to stop Wall Street firms and large corporations from buying up single-family homes”
Supports barring hospital liens and wage garnishment for medical debt.
Timmy Beson for State Representative
Campaign website · Friends of Timothy H. Beson · timmybeson.com
“He is fighting to stop hospitals from placing liens on homes, garnishing wages, and using other aggressive collection tactics against families.”
Proposed $1.995 million in state funding for Lafayette Bridge.
Timmy Beson — Posts
Government record · Michigan House Republicans · gophouse.org
“submitted a revised state funding request for Bay City's Lafayette Bridge project for the updated amount of $1,995,000”
Voted for a state budget reducing overall spending.
Timmy Beson — Posts
Government record · Michigan House Republicans · gophouse.org
“marking the second consecutive year lawmakers have approved a state budget that reduces overall spending”
Supports scrutiny of state-approved utility rate increases.
Timmy Beson — Posts
Government record · Michigan House Republicans · gophouse.org
“challenged state regulators over a series of rate increases approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission”

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; 6 issues covered in this race.