Ingham County, Michigan

Michigan Senate District 22

2 candidates are tracked for Michigan Senate District 22 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Robert Hower and Mike Murphy. Candidate information follows official Ingham County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Open seat: term-limited Republican Sen. Lana Theis is not seeking re-election. Both nominees ran unopposed in their August 4 primaries (Hower 100 percent Democratic, Murphy 100 percent Republican), per the Michigan Secretary of State's official results. This contest is on the November 3, 2026 ballot.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

Michigan › Ingham County › Michigan Senate District 22

Robert Hower

Democratic

Top priorities

Strengthening public schools and expanding access to trade internships, community colleges and four-year degree pathways
Expanding access to health care, including mental health care

Per the WHMI.

Biography

Robert Hower is a Green Oak Township resident who teaches electrical engineering at Wayne State University and works as a research engineer at the University of Michigan, per WHMI. He owns Numed Technologies LLC, which develops biomedical sensing devices, and holds a bachelor's, master's and doctorate from the University of Michigan.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Mike Murphy

Republican

Top priorities

Public safety and support for crime victims
Constituent accessibility and bipartisan collaboration

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Murphy has served as Livingston County Sheriff since 2016, leading the county's corrections and field services divisions, per the campaign site. Under his leadership the Field Services division became the first sheriff's office in Michigan accredited by the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, and he established opioid treatment programs and K9 jail-security units, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotMichigan Senate District 28

See your full ballot

Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Michigan Senate District 22 in 2026?

When is the Michigan Senate District 22 election in Michigan?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Michigan are on the Michigan election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Ingham County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Ingham County and state election office filings, last verified October 1, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Michigan election office, or see the full Ingham County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Ingham County ballot

46 tracked races in Ingham County, Michigan. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Michigan House District 73 Michigan House District 74 Michigan House District 75 See all 46 Ingham County races

Candidate profiles

Robert Hower, full profile Mike Murphy, full profile Official Michigan election office