2026 General Election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Michigan Senate District 12

2 candidates, listed alphabetically.

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Candidates

John Goldwater

Republican

Work: Small business owner; oil and gas entrepreneur; former pastor

John Goldwater is a small business owner and oil and gas entrepreneur and a former pastor. Born in Mount Clemens, he holds a degree in business management and economics from Northwood University; this is his first run for public office.

Sources for Goldwater

John Goldwater: candidate profile (Branch, Facts summarized from a public page (not copied))

Kevin Hertel

DemocraticIncumbent

In office now: State Senator, District 12
Work: State Senator, Michigan Senate District 12 (since 2023); former legislative analyst, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

Kevin Hertel is the sitting State Senator for District 12 in the Michigan Legislature.

Kevin Hertel has represented District 12 in the Michigan Senate since 2023 after serving in the Michigan House of Representatives, to which he was first elected in 2016. He previously worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan as a legislative analyst and special assistant in the president's office.

Hertel's committees

Health Policy (Chair)

Sources for Hertel

Michigan Legislature: current member roster (Michigan Legislature, Public record)
Michigan Legislature: committee information (Michigan Legislature, Public record)
Kevin Hertel: 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.