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State Senator, 20th District

Vote for
1
Term
4 years
Candidates
3
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 part of Berrien, Van Buren, Allegan and Kent counties.

Dale Murney

Democratic

Retired court referee and magistrate; attorney · Paw Paw Township

The gist

  • Proposes a living wage to recruit and keep certified teachers
  • Proposes opening state preschool to all families from age 3
  • Proposes keeping Chromebooks out of classrooms before 4th grade
  • Proposes a life-skills class as a graduation requirement
  • Proposes expanding vocational education statewide
  • Pledges to increase affordable housing options
  • Supports farm solar and digesters as added farm income
More about Dale
View sources (1)
  1. Proposes a living wage to recruit and keep certified teachers

    Position — Murney 4 MI Senate

    Campaign website · murney4senate.com

    “Increase hiring and retention of certified teachers by paying them a living wage.”
  2. Proposes opening state preschool to all families from age 3

    Position — Murney 4 MI Senate

    Campaign website · murney4senate.com

    “extending the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) as well as Young 5s to all families in Michigan”
  3. Proposes keeping Chromebooks out of classrooms before 4th grade

    Position — Murney 4 MI Senate

    Campaign website · murney4senate.com

    “Advocate to keep Chromebooks and any other electronic media out of classrooms until the 4th grade.”
  4. Proposes a life-skills class as a graduation requirement

    Position — Murney 4 MI Senate

    Campaign website · murney4senate.com

    “Create a graduation requirement for a “life-skills” class to better prepare our graduates for the responsibilities of adulthood.”
  5. Proposes expanding vocational education statewide

    Position — Murney 4 MI Senate

    Campaign website · murney4senate.com

    “Expand vocational educational programs throughout the state to create labor-ready skills.”
  6. Pledges to increase affordable housing options

    Position — Murney 4 MI Senate

    Campaign website · murney4senate.com

    “Increase affordable housing options for our citizens.”
  7. Supports farm solar and digesters as added farm income

    Position — Murney 4 MI Senate

    Campaign website · murney4senate.com

    “Promote supplemental sources of revenue for farmers so that they can continue to remain on the land during periods of economic upheaval”
Photo of Chris Moraitis
Chris MoraitisCampaign photo — chrismoraitisforstatesenate.com

Chris Moraitis

Republican

Attorney; law firm partner

The gist

  • Supports cutting regulations and lowering taxes on businesses
  • Opposes new gun restrictions on lawful owners
  • Opposes abortion
  • Proposes dedicating road funds strictly to infrastructure
  • Supports a greater parental voice in education
  • Opposes releasing repeat offenders before trial
More about Chris
View sources (1)
  1. Supports cutting regulations and lowering taxes on businesses

    Issues — Chris Moraitis for State Senate

    Campaign website · chrismoraitisforstatesenate.com

    “Chris supports cutting red tape, lowering the tax burden, and making Michigan a place where small businesses and manufacturers can grow and hire local workers.”
  2. Opposes new gun restrictions on lawful owners

    Issues — Chris Moraitis for State Senate

    Campaign website · chrismoraitisforstatesenate.com

    “he opposes new restrictions that punish responsible gun owners for the actions of criminals”
  3. Opposes abortion

    Issues — Chris Moraitis for State Senate

    Campaign website · chrismoraitisforstatesenate.com

    “Chris is pro-life because every child has the right to life.”
  4. Proposes dedicating road funds strictly to infrastructure

    Issues — Chris Moraitis for State Senate

    Campaign website · chrismoraitisforstatesenate.com

    “Chris supports directing funds strictly to infrastructure, cutting wasteful projects, and demanding accountability so every dollar goes where it’s needed.”
  5. Supports a greater parental voice in education

    Issues — Chris Moraitis for State Senate

    Campaign website · chrismoraitisforstatesenate.com

    “Chris supports empowering parents with a greater voice in their child’s education”
  6. Opposes releasing repeat offenders before trial

    Issues — Chris Moraitis for State Senate

    Campaign website · chrismoraitisforstatesenate.com

    “He opposes ineffective catch-and-release policies that allow repeat offenders to walk free and threaten public safety.”

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.