State

State Senator, 18th District

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state senator votes on Michigan laws and the state budget and confirms many of the Governor's appointments.

Covers Barry County and part of Calhoun, Allegan, Kent, Ionia and Kalamazoo counties.

Candidates Compare by issue

Anthony Pennock

Democratic

Special education teacher

The gist

Proposes mandatory paid medical and parental leave.
Supports a minimum wage indexed to inflation.
Supports repealing Proposal A to change school funding.
Supports extending FOIA to the Governor and Legislature.
Supports restoring defined-benefit pensions for public employees.
Supports rent stability and freezing utility rate hikes.
Supports keeping the 100% clean energy by 2040 law.

More about Anthony

View sources (2)

Proposes mandatory paid medical and parental leave.
Working People's Priorities - Dr. Anthony Pennock for MI Senate District 18
Campaign website · Committee to Elect Anthony Pennock · pennock4misenate.com
“mandate 2-4 weeks of Paid Medical Leave and 4-6 weeks of Paid Parental Leave”
Supports a minimum wage indexed to inflation.
Working People's Priorities - Dr. Anthony Pennock for MI Senate District 18
Campaign website · Committee to Elect Anthony Pennock · pennock4misenate.com
“Support a minimum wage that reflects the actual cost of living in Michigan, with automatic increases tied to inflation.”
Supports repealing Proposal A to change school funding.
Working People's Priorities - Dr. Anthony Pennock for MI Senate District 18
Campaign website · Committee to Elect Anthony Pennock · pennock4misenate.com
“Repealing Prop A to fix school funding and ensuring public dollars stay in public schools.”
Supports extending FOIA to the Governor and Legislature.
Working People's Priorities - Dr. Anthony Pennock for MI Senate District 18
Campaign website · Committee to Elect Anthony Pennock · pennock4misenate.com
“expanding FOIA to the Governor and Legislature”
Supports restoring defined-benefit pensions for public employees.
Working People's Priorities - Dr. Anthony Pennock for MI Senate District 18
Campaign website · Committee to Elect Anthony Pennock · pennock4misenate.com
“Fight to bring back defined-benefit pensions and retirement healthcare for public servants”
Supports rent stability and freezing utility rate hikes.
Working People's Priorities - Dr. Anthony Pennock for MI Senate District 18
Campaign website · Committee to Elect Anthony Pennock · pennock4misenate.com
“Implementing rent stability, protecting first-time buyers, and freezing utility rate hikes.”
Supports keeping the 100% clean energy by 2040 law.
Anthony Pennock - Planet Detroit 2026 candidate survey
Candidate questionnaire · Planet Detroit · voterguide.planetdetroit.org
“Transitioning to a sustainable energy future is essential to protecting our environment, creating high-quality local jobs, and lowering long-term utility costs”

Thomas A. Albert

RepublicanIncumbent

State Senator, 18th District

The gist

Sponsored a bill restoring right-to-work in the private sector.In office
Led a 53-bill plan to eliminate the MEDC.In office
Sponsored tougher penalties for drunk drivers who kill or injure.In office
Sponsored bills restoring Read by Grade Three retention rules.In office
Sponsored bills making illegal entry into Michigan a state crime.In office
Sponsored bills banning gender transition treatments for minors.In office
Voted against the Senate Democrats' 2027 budget plan.In office

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

More about Thomas

View sources (7)

Sponsored a bill restoring right-to-work in the private sector.
Sen. Albert introduces plan to restore Right to Work, improve Michigan's economy
Public statement · Michigan Senate Republicans · senatorthomasalbert.com
“Albert is the main sponsor of Senate Bill … which would restore Right to Work in the private sector”
Led a 53-bill plan to eliminate the MEDC.
Sen. Albert introduces plan to eliminate MEDC
Public statement · Michigan Senate Republicans · senatorthomasalbert.com
“led the introduction of a legislative plan to eliminate the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and reshape the state's approach to job creation”
Sponsored tougher penalties for drunk drivers who kill or injure.
Sen. Albert proposes 'Lucia's Law' to put victims first, provide justice in drunk driving cases
Public statement · Michigan Senate Republicans · senatorthomasalbert.com
“introduced legislation to close loopholes in Michigan law and ensure real consequences for drunk drivers who cause death or serious injury”
Sponsored bills restoring Read by Grade Three retention rules.
Sen. Albert introduces plan to shift schools' focus back to student success
Public statement · Michigan Senate Republicans · senatorthomasalbert.com
“The plan would restore accountability to Michigan's "Read by Grade Three" law, tightly connect student achievement to teacher evaluations”
Sponsored bills making illegal entry into Michigan a state crime.
Sen. Albert introduces plan to address illegal immigration in Michigan
Public statement · Michigan Senate Republicans · senatorthomasalbert.com
“The legislation would support a partnership between local law enforcement and federal immigration efforts, while making illegal entry into Michigan a state-level crime.”
Sponsored bills banning gender transition treatments for minors.
Sen. Albert acts to protect kids from harmful gender transition surgeries and chemicals
Public statement · Michigan Senate Republicans · senatorthomasalbert.com
“Senate Bills 289-291 would ban certain procedures for patients under age 18”
Voted against the Senate Democrats' 2027 budget plan.
Sen. Albert: Senate Democrats' state budget plan is 'unsustainable and unacceptable'
Public statement · Michigan Senate Republicans · senatorthomasalbert.com
“issued the following statement after voting against a state budget plan advanced by Democrats in the Michigan Senate”

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; 8 issues covered in this race.