Grand Rapids MI Politics & Civic News — Page 5
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.
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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
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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 — Page 5
Israelis Vote in First National Election
JERUSALEM — Israelis streamed to polling places Tuesday in the country's first national election since the Hamas-led attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, with early turnout running at its…
Michigan Voters Face Two Statewide Ballot Proposals Nov. 3
LANSING, Mich. — Every Michigan voter who fills out a ballot by Nov. 3 will find two statewide questions under the races for governor and U.S. Senate: one…
Utility Money Reaches $215,000 in Fight Against Proposal 2
LANSING, Mich. — The two biggest power companies in Michigan are paying to defeat the ballot measure aimed squarely at them. Money tied to Consumers Energy and DTE…
Sanders and El-Sayed Fill DeVos Hall in Grand Rapids
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders brought his Michigan swing to downtown Grand Rapids on Sunday night, sharing the stage with Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul…
El-Sayed, Sanders Rally Grand Rapids Voters on Health Costs
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed brought Sen. Bernie Sanders to Grand Rapids this weekend, making health care prices and the cost of living…
Grand Rapids Zoo, Museum Tax Renewal Would Give Zoo Bigger Share
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Kent County voters will settle on Nov. 3 whether to extend the property tax that helps run the Grand Rapids Public Museum and John…
Appeals Court Sets Saturday Deadline
LOS ANGELES — California has until noon Saturday to answer the federal government in a fast-moving fight over whether about 20,000 mail ballots should be pulled aside before…
Intelligence Chief Warns Iran Is Stepping Up Plots
WASHINGTON — Iran has sharply ramped up its effort to go after American personnel outside the United States, and some of its plans to kill U.S. citizens have…
Justice Department Sues Over Alaska Senate Certification
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The U.S. Justice Department has gone to federal court in Alaska asking a judge to keep the state from certifying its Nov. 3 U.S. Senate…
Benson Outraises James in Michigan Governor Money Race
LANSING, Mich. — Democrat Jocelyn Benson brought in more money than Republican John James over the last stretch of reporting in the race for Michigan governor, but James…
Sanders Joins El-Sayed for Sunday Rally in Grand Rapids
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont will campaign in Grand Rapids on Sunday, Oct. 25, alongside Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for Michigan's U.S.…
Supreme Court Lets New Hampshire Bar Student IDs
WASHINGTON — New Hampshire can turn away student IDs as proof of identity at the polls in next month's midterm election after the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday…
