Barry County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
8 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 4 Barry County races, led by the Michigan Senate District 18 contest.
By address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Barry County is split across 3 Michigan House districts.
Find your districts by addressMichigan House: 3 districtsDistricts 43, 78, 79
Michigan House District 43Alan Swank (D) · Rachelle Smit (R)
Alan Swank Democratic
Alan Swank is the Democratic nominee for Michigan House District 43 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Michigan Secretary of State's official August 4, 2026 primary results. No campaign website was found as of 2026-09-12.
Rachelle Smit Republican Incumbent
Rachelle Smit is the sitting state representative for the 43rd House District, covering most of Allegan County plus parts of Barry, Eaton, and Ottawa counties, elected in November 2022, per Michigan House Republicans official caucus page. Smit was unanimously elected speaker pro tempore for the 2025-26 legislative session and previously served seven years as Martin Township clerk, per Michigan House Republicans official caucus page. No campaign website was found as of 2026-09-12.
Alan Swank (Democratic), Rachelle Smit (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Michigan House District 43; Rachelle Smit is the sitting member, per the Michigan House of Representatives's official roster (gophouse.org). Nominees were chosen at the August 4, 2026 primary, per the Michigan Secretary of State's official results; Michigan prints unopposed candidates rather than deeming them elected. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageMichigan House District 78Rachel Gross (D) · Brandon L. Strong (R)
Rachel Gross Democratic
- Support farmers and small businesses
- Invest in education and infrastructure
- Expand rural health care access
Per the campaign site.
About Rachel Gross
Rachel Gross is the Democratic nominee for Michigan House District 78 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Michigan Secretary of State's official August 4, 2026 primary results. Gross describes herself as a daughter of rural Michigan and centers her campaign on rural communities, per votegross.com.
Brandon L. Strong Republican
- Educational freedom and parental rights
- Fiscal responsibility and local workforce development
Per the campaign site.
About Brandon L. Strong
Brandon Strong is the executive director of Barry County Christian Schools with more than 20 years of experience as a teacher, administrator and school leader, according to his campaign site, including stints as a high school principal in North Dakota and a special education teacher in Wyoming. He serves as board chairman of the Barry County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Alliance.
Rachel Gross (Democratic), Brandon L. Strong (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Michigan House District 78. Not on the November ballot: Gina Johnsen, the sitting member per the roster. Nominees were chosen at the August 4, 2026 primary, per the Michigan Secretary of State's official results; Michigan prints unopposed candidates rather than deeming them elected. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageMichigan House District 79Zach Abbott (D) · Angela Rigas (R)
Zach Abbott Democratic
Zach Abbott is the Democratic nominee for Michigan House District 79 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Michigan Secretary of State's official August 4, 2026 primary results. No campaign website was found as of 2026-09-12.
Angela Rigas Republican Incumbent
Angela Rigas owns a salon industry business and has represented Michigan's 79th House District since 2023, according to the Michigan House Republicans caucus site. She chairs the Oversight Subcommittee on Weaponization of State Government and serves as vice chair of the Oversight Subcommittee on Child Welfare System. No campaign website was found as of 2026-09-12.
Zach Abbott (Democratic), Angela Rigas (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Michigan House District 79; Angela Rigas is the sitting member, per the Michigan House of Representatives's official roster (gophouse.org). Nominees were chosen at the August 4, 2026 primary, per the Michigan Secretary of State's official results; Michigan prints unopposed candidates rather than deeming them elected. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageMichigan Senate District 18Anthony Pennock (D) · Thomas A. Albert (R)
Anthony Pennock Democratic
- Public education funding
- Labor rights
- Infrastructure investment
Per the campaign site.
About Anthony Pennock
Anthony Pennock is an educator who holds a Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership and has worked with elementary, middle and high school students with a focus on special education, according to his campaign site. He is running for the 18th Senate District and has not previously held elected office.
Thomas A. Albert Republican Incumbent
Thomas A. Albert has represented Michigan's 18th Senate District since 2023, according to his official Senate office site. His office has worked on state budget matters, victim-advocacy legislation and constituent services including unemployment assistance claims. No campaign website was found as of 2026-09-12.
Anthony Pennock (Democratic), Thomas A. Albert (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Michigan Senate District 18; Thomas A. Albert is the sitting member, per the Michigan Senate's official roster (senate.michigan.gov). Nominees were chosen at the August 4, 2026 primary, per the Michigan Secretary of State's official results; Michigan prints unopposed candidates rather than deeming them elected. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Full race pageSee your full ballot
Voting info and more
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Verify your ballot with the official election office.
Cross-check every race and candidate with the official election office. Official sources are the final word.
Michigan nominees were set by the August 4 primary, one per party, and meet on the November 3 ballot; county commissioners and county row officers (clerk, treasurer, sheriff, prosecutor) are elected in presidential years, so no county offices appear in 2026, and judges run without party labels, per the Secretary of State.
Who is on the ballot in Barry County, Michigan on November 3, 2026?
Barry County sample ballot 2026: see where the michigan senate and michigan house candidates stand on schools, roads and jobs. Every candidate profile on this page names the official filing or campaign source it came from.
When is the 2026 general election in Michigan?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Michigan are listed on the Michigan election hub. Michigan election hub →
How do I see my exact Barry County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup for the statewide and congressional races on every ballot in the county, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location. Look up your ballot →
Michigan statewide racesEvery Michigan race on this county's ballot.All Michigan ballot measures2 statewide ballot measuresMichigan judges17 tracked judges on the retention ballot