Kent County, Michigan

Judge of District Court, 61st District, Incumbent Position

2 candidates are tracked for Judge of District Court, 61st District, Incumbent Position on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Kellen A. Dotson and Angela T. Ross. Candidate information follows official Kent County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Nonpartisan; the 61st District Court covers the City of Grand Rapids. Two incumbent judges run unopposed for two seats on the November 3 ballot. Michigan election law (MCL 168.409b) restricts the 'incumbent position' ballot designation to the sitting judge in that seat; this designation is printed on the Kent County Clerk's official candidate list.

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

This race. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels. The sitting officeholder, Kellen A. Dotson, is on the ballot.

Michigan › Kent County › Judge of District Court, 61st District, Incumbent Position

Kellen A. Dotson

Nonpartisan Incumbent

Biography

Kellen A. Dotson was appointed to the 61st District Court by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2023, per Cooley Law School's announcement of his investiture. He previously served as an attorney in the Kent County Office of the Public Defender and as managing attorney with the Hennepin County, Minnesota Public Defender's Office before returning to Grand Rapids. Kellen A. Dotson appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Judge of District Court, 61st District, Incumbent Position, per the county clerk's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.

Angela T. Ross

Nonpartisan

Biography

Angela T. Ross was appointed to the 61st District Court by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in March 2022 and was reappointed Chief Judge effective January 1, 2026, per the court's own announcement. Before her appointment she was director of enforcement for the City of Grand Rapids and a solo practitioner in family, criminal and business law, per the Grand Rapids Legal News; she earned a Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law. Angela T. Ross appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Judge of District Court, 61st District, Incumbent Position, per the county clerk's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Judge of District Court, 61st District, Incumbent Position in 2026?

When is the Judge of District Court, 61st District, Incumbent Position 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 Kent 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 Kent County and state election office filings, last verified September 29, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Kent County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

Judge of District Court, 62B District, Incumbent Position Judge of District Court, 63rd District, Incumbent Position Judge of District Court, 63rd District, Partial Term Ending 1/1/2029 See all 42 Kent County races

Candidate profiles

Kellen A. Dotson, full profile Angela T. Ross, full profile Official Michigan election office