State

Trustee of Michigan State University

Vote for: 2
Term: 8 years
Candidates: 10
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The eight trustees govern Michigan State University: they set tuition and the budget, and hire the university's president.

Incumbent Kelly Tebay Zemke is listed as Kelly Tebay on the Board of Trustees website.

Candidates Compare by issue

Julie Maday

Republican

Former Novi city council member · Novi

The gist

Pledges to release all Larry Nassar scandal documents
Opposes transgender women competing in women's sports
Pledges to defend conservative viewpoints on campus
Pledges spending cuts to limit tuition increases
Opposes prolonged pandemic lockdowns and mask mandates on campus

More about Julie

View sources (2)

Pledges to release all Larry Nassar scandal documents
About Julie - Julie Maday for MSU
Campaign website · Julie Maday for MSU · juliemadayformsu.org
“Publicly releasing all documents related to the Larry Nassar scandal.”
Opposes transgender women competing in women's sports
Julie's Pledge - Julie Maday for MSU
Campaign website · Julie Maday for MSU · juliemadayformsu.org
“reject the idea that men should be allowed to compete in women’s sports”
Pledges to defend conservative viewpoints on campus
Julie's Pledge - Julie Maday for MSU
Campaign website · Julie Maday for MSU · juliemadayformsu.org
“she will stand up for conservative voices on campus”
Pledges spending cuts to limit tuition increases
Julie's Pledge - Julie Maday for MSU
Campaign website · Julie Maday for MSU · juliemadayformsu.org
“cut wasteful spending, which will help minimize or eliminate the need for future tuition increases”
Opposes prolonged pandemic lockdowns and mask mandates on campus
Julie's Pledge - Julie Maday for MSU
Campaign website · Julie Maday for MSU · juliemadayformsu.org
“these regulations continued for far too long, unfairly tarnishing students’ experiences”

Roger Victory

Republican

State senator; owner, Victory Farms · Hudsonville

The gist

Supports refocusing MSU on its land-grant mission
Supports strengthening MSU agriculture and Extension programs
Proposes MSU lead nationally on diet-and-health research
Pledges more accountability and transparency at MSU
Secured state funding for MSU's dairy cattle research center

More about Roger

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Supports refocusing MSU on its land-grant mission
Roger Victory for MSU Trustee
Campaign website · Roger Victory for MSU · rogervictoryformsu.com
“Michigan State University needs to get back to its roots as a land grant University”
Supports strengthening MSU agriculture and Extension programs
Roger Victory for MSU Trustee
Campaign website · Roger Victory for MSU · rogervictoryformsu.com
“Champion MSU’s leadership in agriculture, food systems, and Extension programs”
Proposes MSU lead nationally on diet-and-health research
Roger Victory for MSU Trustee
Campaign website · Roger Victory for MSU · rogervictoryformsu.com
“MSU should be a leader nationally on the connection between what we eat and our health”
Pledges more accountability and transparency at MSU
Roger Victory for MSU Trustee
Campaign website · Roger Victory for MSU · rogervictoryformsu.com
“I believe that more accountability and transparency is needed at MSU.”
Secured state funding for MSU's dairy cattle research center
Roger Victory for MSU Trustee
Campaign website · Roger Victory for MSU · rogervictoryformsu.com
“securing funding for the Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center at MSU.”

Daniel R. Patterson

Libertarian

The gist

No documented position found.

More about Daniel

Will Tyler White

Libertarian

The gist

No documented position found.

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Janet Sanger

U.S. Taxpayers

The gist

No documented position found.

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John Sanger

U.S. Taxpayers

The gist

No documented position found.

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John Anthony La Pietra

Green

The gist

No documented position found.

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Yaz Ozbek

Working Class

The gist

No documented position found.

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Brianna Scott

DemocraticIncumbent

Attorney; chair, MSU Board of Trustees · Muskegon

The gist

Supported MSU's Spartan Tuition Advantage free-tuition program
Supports survivor-centered policies and Title IX improvements
Supports expanding campus mental health resources
Supports fair wages and labor partnerships at MSU
Led approval of the MSU Multicultural Center

More about Brianna

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Supported MSU's Spartan Tuition Advantage free-tuition program
Results - Brianna Scott for MSU
Campaign website · CTE Brianna Scott for MSU · brianna4msu.com
“Supported the Spartan Tuition Advantage (free tuition for qualifying families)”
Supports survivor-centered policies and Title IX improvements
Results - Brianna Scott for MSU
Campaign website · CTE Brianna Scott for MSU · brianna4msu.com
“Advocated for survivor-centered policies and Title IX improvements”
Supports expanding campus mental health resources
Results - Brianna Scott for MSU
Campaign website · CTE Brianna Scott for MSU · brianna4msu.com
“Expanding mental health resources on campus”
Supports fair wages and labor partnerships at MSU
Results - Brianna Scott for MSU
Campaign website · CTE Brianna Scott for MSU · brianna4msu.com
“Advocated for fair wages and strong labor partnerships”
Led approval of the MSU Multicultural Center
Results - Brianna Scott for MSU
Campaign website · CTE Brianna Scott for MSU · brianna4msu.com
“Led effort and secured approval for the MSU Multicultural Center”

Kelly Tebay Zemke

DemocraticIncumbent

Director of government and external relations, The Henry Ford

The gist

Proposes expanding MSU's free-tuition program further
Proposes extending tuition aid to room and board
Secured free student visits at MSU's campus health center
Voted for neutrality and card-check policy for campus unions
Supported building MSU's Center for Survivors

More about Kelly

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Proposes expanding MSU's free-tuition program further
Accomplishments & Priorities - Kelly for MSU
Campaign website · Kelly Tebay Zemke for MSU · kellyformsu.com
“MSU's first free-tuition program for students, even further to give more future Spartan Michiganders affordable access to MSU”
Proposes extending tuition aid to room and board
Accomplishments & Priorities - Kelly for MSU
Campaign website · Kelly Tebay Zemke for MSU · kellyformsu.com
“Build upon this effort to also include Room and Board programs”
Secured free student visits at MSU's campus health center
Accomplishments & Priorities - Kelly for MSU
Campaign website · Kelly Tebay Zemke for MSU · kellyformsu.com
“Opened MSU's on-campus health center to students free of charge up-to three times per year”
Voted for neutrality and card-check policy for campus unions
Accomplishments & Priorities - Kelly for MSU
Campaign website · Kelly Tebay Zemke for MSU · kellyformsu.com
“Passed Board policy requiring administrative neutrality and the use of the card check process during union organizing”
Supported building MSU's Center for Survivors
Accomplishments & Priorities - Kelly for MSU
Campaign website · Kelly Tebay Zemke for MSU · kellyformsu.com
“Built the nationally-recognized Center for Survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence”

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.