The Ballot Brief
Kent County, Michigan

Michigan House District 78

3 candidates are tracked for Michigan House District 78 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Rachel Gross, Brandon L. Strong and Ben DeJong. Candidate information follows official Kent County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Sitting Rep. Gina Johnsen is the Republican nominee for the open 33rd Senate seat and is not seeking re-election here, per the Kent County Clerk's candidate list. Democrat Rachel Gross faces Republican Brandon L. Strong and Libertarian Ben DeJong on the November ballot for the open seat.

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 › Kent County › Michigan House District 78

Rachel Gross

Democratic

Top priorities
  • Support farmers and small businesses
  • Invest in education and infrastructure
  • Expand rural healthcare access

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Gross is a nurse from Portland, Michigan, who spent her childhood on her grandparents' farm in Pewamo, per the campaign site. She founded the community group We Are Community in fall 2024 with a mission of bringing people together around shared values, per the campaign site. She is married with four adult children, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Brandon L. Strong

Republican

Top priorities
  • Support parents and constitutional rights
  • Expand educational freedom and strong schools
  • Grow local jobs through workforce development

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Brandon L. Strong is a longtime school leader at Barry County Christian Schools, per his campaign site, with more than 20 years of experience in education as a teacher, administrator and school leader, per The Daily News. Brandon L. Strong appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Michigan House District 78, per the county clerk's certified candidate list.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Ben DeJong

Libertarian

Biography

Ben DeJong appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Michigan House District 78, per the county clerk's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 4, 2026.

Next on your ballotMichigan House District 79

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Voting info and more

Voting info and more
Questions about this race

Who is running for Michigan House District 78 in 2026?

3 candidates are tracked for Michigan House District 78 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Rachel Gross, Brandon L. Strong and Ben DeJong. Candidate information follows official Kent County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Michigan House District 78 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
Michigan House District 80Michigan House District 81Michigan House District 82See all 42 Kent County races
Candidate profiles
Rachel Gross, full profileBrandon L. Strong, full profileBen DeJong, full profileOfficial Michigan election office