LudingtonNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Ludington Mayor & City Council Election 2026

3 of 7 council seats are on the ballot, with 8 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

Not sure who to vote for? Answer 5 questions and see which candidates agree with you, and why.

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 12 days left

Find where to voteCheck your registration
Early voting begins at City Hall (Oct 24): 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.

Every voter citywide picks the mayor; voters in Wards 2, 4 and 6 also pick their own ward councilor. All four terms are four years.

Early voting begins at City Hall · Oct 24

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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.

What the next council decides

01Property tax administration fee3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn June 2026 the council voted 4-3 to authorize a 1% property tax administration fee.

What's on the tableThe next council can keep or repeal the fee.

02City budget and tax levy3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn July 2026 the council adopted the 2027 appropriation and tax levy ordinances.

What's on the tableThe next council will adopt the 2028 budget and set the city's tax levy.

03Housing Incentive Overlay3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn August 2026 the council created a Housing Incentive Overlay district that allows increased residential density in areas served by public water, sewer and sidewalks.

What's on the tableThe next council will rule on later zoning changes and housing projects.

04PACE financing3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn June 2026 the council established a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide which PACE projects the city supports.

05Downtown social district2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council votes on permits for businesses to take part in Ludington's social district.

What's on the tableThe next council will act on new social district permits and any boundary changes.

06Finance director charter amendment3 sourced facts

Where it standsVoters will decide on Nov. 3 whether to move accounting and financial duties from the elected city clerk to an appointed finance director.

What's on the tableIf voters approve, the finance director is appointed by the city manager with City Council approval.

4 notes on these statements

Mayor Mark Barnett is not seeking a second term. Mason County Press · Sep 23, 2026

In the Aug. 4 primary, Cheri Stibitz received 823 votes, Carol Hoekstra 507 and Beth Elliott 479, according to unofficial results; the top two advanced. Mason County Press · Aug 5, 2026

None of the ward council candidates is an incumbent; the Ward 2, 4 and 6 seats are held by Kathy Winczewski, Cheri Stibitz and Jack Bulger, whose terms expire Dec. 31. Mason County Press · Sep 23, 2026

The November ballot also includes the city clerk race and a city charter proposal on a finance director. City of Ludington

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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 Ludington charge the 1% property tax administration fee?

  2. 2. Should the council keep levying the city's general operating and garbage millage at the 2027 rates?

  3. 3. Should Ludington allow more homes per lot where city water, sewer and sidewalks already exist?

  4. 4. Should the city offer PACE financing for business energy projects?

  5. 5. Should the council keep approving businesses to join the downtown social district?

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 voted4 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

The seat math

4 stay (not up this year): John Kreinbrink, Tim Large, Mike Shaw, John Terzano3 on this ballot

7 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works

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