With new district lines finalized at the end of 2021 and officially going into effect January 2023, area campaigns have had to adjust to the changes, such as in the races for state senate districts 25 and 26.
Despite losing part of St. Clair County and gaining some of Tuscola, State Senate District 25 has largely remained the same throughout the recent changes and resulting confusion from redrawing voting district lines. Representing the whole of Sanilac and Huron Counties, a major part of St. Clair County and now the eastern half of Tuscola County, District 25 is currently represented by incumbent Daniel Lauwers, a Republican hailing from Brockway Township.
Lauwers was elected in 2018 and is seeking his second term in the state senate, where he serves as chair for the Energy and Technology Committee and vice chairs both the Insurance and Banking, and the Government Operations committees. Prior to his senate run, he served for six years in the Michigan House of Representatives for District 81, only unable to seek reelection there due to the three term limit for the position.
By pursuing re-election, Lauwers is pursuing his last term in the state senate, as term limits only allow for two terms of four years. His campaign is focused on furthering infrastructure work in the area and supporting small and local businesses.
Though he ran unopposed in the August primary, he does face a contender in Bert Van Dyke, a political newcomer hailing from St. Clair County who more identifies as an Independent, though he’s on the ballot as the democratic candidate. Van Dyke, who grew up in Sanilac County and graduated from Carsonville-Port Sanilac High School, cites his 30 years as an educator at Marine City High School as why he wanted to run, telling the Huron Daily Tribune, “My great motivators for running come from seeing education policy being created by non-educators. Getting a voice from a real teacher creating policy is what I hope to achieve.”
He also noted to the Daily that “[w]ithout good internet and good infrastructure, it is hard to interest people to move to these communities. My plan is to fully dedicate myself to the interest of the Thumb.”
While there was no number change but some line re-drawing for the 25th State Senate District, the same cannot be said about the new district 26. Formerly known as District 31, the district switched numbers with another district in western Michigan near Kalamazoo and lost Bay County to another district during the re-drawing; it now covers parts of Saginaw and Genesee Counties, Tuscola County’s western half and the northern three-quarters of Lapeer County.
Kevin Daley, Republican incumbent of the old District 31/New District 26, served six years in the Michigan House of Representatives and is seeking his second state senate term, much like his 25th District counterpart Daniel Lauwers. He currently chairs the state senate committee on agriculture, and sits on the Finance, Local Government, Education, and Environmental Quality committees. The Lapeer County politician is focusing his campaign on issues of the economy, agriculture, second amendment rights and election integrity.
He will be facing a familiar face come November, that of Charles Stadler, democratic challenger from Vassar who had ran for the Daley’s seat back in 2018. A Navy veteran, Stadler served as trustee for Vassar Township for four years and also had two unsuccessful runs to represent the old 10th (new 9th) Congressional District in 2012 and 2014.
