HoughtonNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Houghton City Council Election 2026

4 of 7 council seats are on the ballot, with 5 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

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Election Day (Nov 3): the election office's notice

These links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Five candidates are running for four at-large seats on the seven-member council; three members stay on until 2028.

Election Day · Nov 3

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Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

  • Governor
    • Jocelyn Benson · Democratic Party
    • John James · Republican Party
    • Anthony Hudson · Libertarian Party
    • Donna Brandenburg · U.S. Taxpayers Party
    • Douglas Campbell · Green Party
    Official candidate list, in its order
  • U.S. Senate
    • Abdul El-Sayed · Democratic Party
    • Mike Rogers · Republican Party
    • Lydia Christensen · Libertarian Party
    • Tim Long · U.S. Taxpayers Party
    • Douglas P. Marsh · Green Party
    • Walter P. Kristy · Natural Law Party
    Official candidate list, in its order
  • Also statewideSecretary of State · Attorney General · Member of the State Board of Education · Regent of the University of Michigan · Trustee of Michigan State University · Justice of Supreme Court
  • Statewide measures2 on the ballot: the state's official explanations
Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

What the next council decides

01Downtown redevelopment and grants4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe city bought two Shelden Avenue properties in 2026 for a business incubator and a pocket park, largely funded by a Michigan Talent Partnership grant.

What's on the tableThe next council will oversee the incubator and pocket park projects and decide on future downtown grants.

02Data centers3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn July 2026 the council passed a 12-month moratorium on data centers while the city works on rules.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide what permanent rules, if any, apply to data centers when the pause ends.

03Housing and rezoning3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council approved two rezonings in 2026 that allow more housing, including condominiums on East Lakeshore Drive.

What's on the tableThe next council will rule on development plans and further rezoning requests.

04City budget and costs3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe 2026-2027 budget keeps the city tax rate at 15 mills, and an 82% jump in the city's insurance rates led the council to adjust it in July 2026.

What's on the tableThe next council will make midyear budget adjustments and set the 2027-2028 budget.

05Public comment and ethics rules2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council rejected a shorter public comment limit in May 2026 and is drafting a conflict of interest ordinance under a charter amendment.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide on the conflict of interest ordinance and its meeting rules.

3 notes on these statements

Chad Arney also applied for that vacancy and was nominated by Mike Needham; the council appointed Rhiannon Schmidt. The Mining Gazette · Apr 9, 2026

Five candidates are on the ballot for four at-large seats: Chad Arney, Robert X. Megowen, Mike Needham, Rhiannon Schmidt and Matt Seigel. Ballotpedia

Craig Waddell's council term expires in November 2026. City of Houghton

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Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. Should the city buy downtown properties to redevelop them?

  2. 2. Should the city give matching grants for downtown building improvements?

  3. 3. How should Houghton handle data center proposals?

  4. 4. Should the city rezone land to allow more homes?

  5. 5. How much time should each speaker get during public comment?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted9 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Jan Cole, Philip Buck Foltz, Brian Irizarry4 on this ballot

7 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

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