U.S. Representative, 8th Congressional District · Michigan 2026 General Election

What this office does: A member of the U.S. House of Representatives votes on federal laws, taxes and spending on behalf of the district.

Covers Genesee, Saginaw and Bay counties and part of Midland and Tuscola counties.

Thomas J. Smith

Republican

Retired General Motors manager; small-business owner

The gist

Supports finishing the border wall and ending catch-and-release
Supports balancing the budget and cutting taxes
Supports oil, gas and nuclear energy; opposes green mandates
Supports congressional term limits
Pledges to protect gun rights under the Second Amendment
Pledges to secure care and benefits for veterans

More about Thomas

View sources (1)

Supports finishing the border wall and ending catch-and-release
Issues — Tom Smith for Congress
Campaign website · Tom Smith for Congress · tomsmithformi.com
“Tom will support finishing the wall, restoring deportations, and ending catch-and-release.”
Supports balancing the budget and cutting taxes
Issues — Tom Smith for Congress
Campaign website · Tom Smith for Congress · tomsmithformi.com
“Tom will fight to balance the budget, cut wasteful programs, and hold government accountable. … cut wasteful spending, reduce regulations, and lower taxes”
Supports oil, gas and nuclear energy; opposes green mandates
Issues — Tom Smith for Congress
Campaign website · Tom Smith for Congress · tomsmithformi.com
“Tom supports American energy independence — oil, gas, and nuclear — and opposes job-killing green mandates.”
Supports congressional term limits
Issues — Tom Smith for Congress
Campaign website · Tom Smith for Congress · tomsmithformi.com
“Tom will push for term limits, government transparency, and accountability for career politicians.”
Pledges to protect gun rights under the Second Amendment
Issues — Tom Smith for Congress
Campaign website · Tom Smith for Congress · tomsmithformi.com
“Protect the 1st and 2nd Amendment rights of every American.”
Pledges to secure care and benefits for veterans
Issues — Tom Smith for Congress
Campaign website · Tom Smith for Congress · tomsmithformi.com
“Tom will fight to ensure our military heroes receive the care, benefits, and respect they deserve.”

C. Mia Pettus

Libertarian

The gist

No documented position found.

More about C.

Jim Casha

Green

The gist

No documented position found.

More about Jim

Kathy Goodwin

Working Class

The gist

No documented position found.

More about Kathy

Kristen McDonald Rivet

DemocraticIncumbent

U.S. Representative · Bay City

The gist

Introduced a tax credit up to $5,500 per young childIn office
Voted for a War Powers Resolution on IranIn office
Introduced a bill banning officials from trading stocksIn office
Co-led a call for faster Pentagon PFAS cleanupIn office
Introduced a bill ending federal tax breaks for data centersIn office
Introduced a bill helping schools buy food from local farmsIn office
Supports abortion rights; backed Michigan's constitutional protectionIn office

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

More about Kristen

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Introduced a tax credit up to $5,500 per young child
Congresswoman McDonald Rivet Introduces Bill to Cut Taxes for Working Families by Thousands of Dollars Per Year
Public statement · Office of Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet · mcdonaldrivet.house.gov
“would return to working parents up to an additional $5,500 per child under age four”
Voted for a War Powers Resolution on Iran
Congresswoman McDonald Rivet Statement on Successful Iran War Powers Resolution
Public statement · Office of Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet · mcdonaldrivet.house.gov
“helping pass a War Powers Resolution through the House of Representatives to curb the Administration’s activity in Iran”
Introduced a bill banning officials from trading stocks
Rep. McDonald Rivet Leads Bipartisan Effort to Stop Insider Trading by Public Officials
Public statement · Office of Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet · mcdonaldrivet.house.gov
“banning politicians, Supreme Court Justices, and other federal officials from trading stocks”
Co-led a call for faster Pentagon PFAS cleanup
Rep. McDonald Rivet, PFAS Task Force Call on Pentagon to Accelerate PFAS Cleanup Near Military Facilities
Public statement · Office of Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet · mcdonaldrivet.house.gov
“called on the Department of Defense (DOD) to immediately address overdue PFAS forever chemical cleanup and transparency requirements”
Introduced a bill ending federal tax breaks for data centers
Reps. McDonald Rivet, Davis Lead New Push to Stop Tax Giveaways for Data Centers
Public statement · Office of Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet · mcdonaldrivet.house.gov
“The Reverse Big Ugly Tax Breaks for Data Centers Act would exclude data centers from benefiting from those OBBBA tax breaks.”
Introduced a bill helping schools buy food from local farms
Reps. McDonald Rivet, Thompson Introduce Bill to Give Students Healthy Meals, Support Farmers
Public statement · Office of Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet · mcdonaldrivet.house.gov
“This bill would help schools buy fresh food from local farms, giving students access to healthy meals and supporting farmers.”
Supports abortion rights; backed Michigan's constitutional protection
About — Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet
Government record · U.S. House of Representatives · mcdonaldrivet.house.gov
“helped repeal Michigan’s extreme abortion ban and enshrine the right to abortion into Michigan’s constitution”

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.