Wayne County, Michigan

Michigan House District 2

2 candidates are tracked for Michigan House District 2 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Joanna Whaley and Ron Kokinda. Candidate information follows official Wayne County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Joanna Whaley won the Democratic primary with about 56 percent over Frank Liberati and Gary Schlack, and Ron Kokinda won the Republican primary with about 74 percent over Zacharia Ortiz, per official results certified by the Michigan Secretary of State; the nominees meet on the November 3 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 › Wayne County › Michigan House District 2

Joanna Whaley

Democratic

Biography

Joanna Whaley works as a clinical hospital chaplain specializing in hospice care, per Pride Source. She completed her senior year at Eastern Michigan University and holds a master's degree in theology from seminary, per Pride Source. If elected, she would be the first openly transgender state representative in Michigan history, per FOX 2 Detroit. Joanna Whaley appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Michigan House District 2, per the county clerk's certified candidate list.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Ron Kokinda

Republican

Biography

Ron Kokinda holds a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, earned in 1971, per his iVoterGuide candidate profile. Ron Kokinda appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Michigan House District 2, per the county clerk's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 4, 2026.

Next on your ballotMichigan House District 3

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Michigan House District 2 in 2026?

When is the Michigan House District 2 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Wayne County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

Michigan House District 4 Michigan House District 5 Michigan House District 7 See all 36 Wayne County races

Candidate profiles

Joanna Whaley, full profile Ron Kokinda, full profile Official Michigan election office