The November election is already heating up for Michigan’s 64th District, with some constituents in Sanilac and St. Clair counties being presented, thus far, with two options on the ballot.
St. Clair County Commissioner Jorja Baldwin began her week by announcing that she intends to run for the seat held by outgoing district representative Andrew Beeler. She made the announcement Monday morning.
Baldwin has served as a county commissioner since 2019 and as the board’s vice chair since 2021. Prior to her time on the Board of Commissioners, she served as the supervisor of Fort Gratiot’s Board of Trustees for 11 years. She currently represents St. Clair County’s District Two, covering Port Huron’s first three precincts and the townships of Burtchville and Fort Gratiot.
Her announcement follows a recent report that a young and controversial candidate from across the state is looking to run for the soon vacated seat. Though he hails from St. Clair County’s China Township, Jordan Epperson courted controversy when he was hired last summer as executive assistant to John Gibbs, who served as Ottawa County’s administrator until being fired earlier this month.
Gibbs served under the Trump administration in the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and ran for Congress after defeating Republican incumbent Peter Meijer in the primary, but was defeated by his Democratic opponent. Epperson, whose hiring prompted the other applicant to pursue an age discrimination lawsuit still being handled in Ottawa County, formally filed to run for the 64th district last week.
Michigan’s 64th district includes Sanilac County’s Worth Township and covers a sizable portion of St. Clair County, including Port Huron and at least six other townships.
