2026 General Election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Michigan House District 53

2 candidates, listed alphabetically.

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Candidates

Brenda Carter

DemocraticIncumbent

In office now: State Representative, District 53
Work: State Representative, Michigan House District 53 (since 2019); licensed insurance producer

Brenda Carter is the sitting State Representative for District 53 in the Michigan Legislature.

Brenda Carter has served in the Michigan House since 2019. She is a licensed insurance producer, served eight years on the Pontiac School District Board of Education including as president, and was president of the Michigan Association of School Boards (2016-2017).

Sources for Carter

Michigan Legislature: current member roster (Michigan Legislature, Public record)
Brenda Carter (BallotReady, Facts summarized from a public page (not copied))
Brenda Carter: candidate profile (Branch, Facts summarized from a public page (not copied))

Melissa Schultz

Republican

Work: Chief student enrollment officer, Schoolcraft College

Melissa Schultz is chief student enrollment officer at Schoolcraft College, where she previously led student retention and success programs. She earlier worked in student affairs at several universities and as a designer at Dillard's, and holds a master's degree in higher education administration from the University of Arkansas.

Sources for Schultz

Melissa Schultz: candidate profile (Branch, Facts summarized from a public page (not copied))

Sources

Candidate list and race details

Official Candidate Listing, All State and Judicial Offices, General Election Nov. 3, 2026 (Michigan Department of State, Bureau of Elections, Public record)

What's included: U.S. Senate and House, statewide offices, every state legislative district on the ballot and statewide ballot measures.
Everything else: Local races (county, city, school board, judges) and anything else on your ballot are on your official sample ballot: mvic.sos.state.mi.us.
Candidate lists: As of Wednesday, October 14, 2026.

This is not an official ballot. Confirm your registration, polling place and ballot with your election office through vote.gov.