Grand Rapids MI Politics & Civic News
Covering Grand Rapids City Council, Kent County Council, Michigan Legislature, and your federal representatives in Washington, D.C. Accountability journalism for Kent County residents.
Kent County sits inside one of the most layered governmental structures in the region. Residents answer to at least five levels of elected authority simultaneously: the federal government, statewide offices, Kent County Council, Grand Rapids City Council, and school district boards — each a separately elected body covering its own geographic slice of the county.
Kent’s federal delegation includes US Rep. Hillary Scholten (MI District 3) and Senators Gary C. Peters and Elissa Slotkin.
Kent County Council controls property tax millage, land-use zoning outside city limits, and fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreements. Downtown zoning decisions and the Grand Rapids Police Department budget run through Grand Rapids City Council. State funding for schools, roads, and Medicaid flows from the Michigan Legislature. The Kent County Elections and Voter Registration Office administers local balloting under MI Election Commission oversight.
HEREGrandRapids covers Kent County Council meetings, Grand Rapids City Council sessions, Michigan Legislature session, federal delegation votes and town halls, school board meetings, and candidate filing windows. We also pull FOIA-sourced travel records and contracts at both the city and county level. If it shapes how Kent County is governed, it’s HERE.
HERE! NOW! — Politics
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Grand Rapids Speaks
What do you think: Troy Jackson Ousts Susan Collins in Maine Senate Race?
What do you think: Democrats Win Back the Senate and House in Midterm Sweep?
Local & State Political News
Your Grand Rapids Reps
Every official with a vote on Grand Rapids's future — pulled live from our roster.
Quick Resources
Grand Rapids is in Kent County, Michigan. Mayor: David LaGrand; City Manager: Mark Washington.
Latest Grand Rapids Politics News
Troy Jackson Ousts Susan Collins in Maine Senate Race
PORTLAND, Maine — Democrat Troy Jackson has won Maine's U.S. Senate seat, defeating five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins and closing out a Senate career that began in 1997.…
Democrats Win Back the Senate and House in Midterm Sweep
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Democrats took back control of the U.S. Senate in Tuesday's midterm elections, flipping Republican seats in states that had looked out of reach a few…
Democrat Brian Poindexter Unseats GOP Rep. Max Miller
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Republican Rep. Max Miller lost his seat Tuesday, as Democrat Brian Poindexter won the 7th Congressional District race and flipped a northeast Ohio seat Republicans…
Alaska Senate Race Between Sullivan
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska's U.S. Senate race remained undecided Wednesday morning, with Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan holding a narrow lead over Democrat Mary Peltola in preliminary results and…
Girls Sports Initiative 638 Leads in Washington Vote
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington voters appear to be approving Initiative 638, a ballot measure that would keep students the measure defines as biologically male off girls school sports…
Democrat Jon Rosenthal Wins Texas Railroad Commission Seat
AUSTIN, Texas — Democrat Jon Rosenthal has been projected the winner of the race for Texas Railroad Commissioner, beating Republican Bo French for a seat on the panel…
Ricketts Beats Osborn to Keep Nebraska Senate Seat
OMAHA, Neb. — Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts has won a full Senate term in Nebraska, turning back independent challenger Dan Osborn in one of the few bright spots…
Adam Hamilton Defeats Roger Marshall in Kansas Senate Upset
TOPEKA, Kan. — Democrat Adam Hamilton has unseated first-term Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, giving Kansas its first Democratic U.S. senator elected since 1932 and adding to the seats…
Jocelyn Benson Elected Michigan Governor, Defeats John James
DETROIT, Mich. — Michigan voters have picked Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson as the next governor, handing the Democrat a double-digit win over Republican U.S. Rep. John James…
Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan Senate Seat Over Mike Rogers
DETROIT, Mich. — Voters sent Democrat Abdul El-Sayed to Washington in Tuesday's election, choosing him over Republican Mike Rogers for the state's open Senate seat and making him…
Michigan Rejects Constitutional Convention
LANSING, Mich. — Michigan will keep its constitution as it stands after voters on Tuesday soundly turned down Proposal 1, the once-every-16-years question asking whether to call a…
Michigan Voters Pass Proposal 2 Limiting Utility Donations
LANSING, Mich. — Regulated utilities and big government contractors in Michigan will soon be shut out of campaign giving after voters overwhelmingly approved Proposal 2 on Tuesday. The…
