Kate Gallup Will Challenge John Damoose for Senate
The state Senate race for the 37th District will take place on November 3.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Elections
Live Poll
Should the state government enact stricter regulations and protections for residential renters?
Kate Gallup is challenging incumbent John Damoose for the 37th state Senate District seat in the election on November 3. Gallup is running on a platform centered on school funding, healthcare accessibility, and corporate influence.
Why it matters
The race highlights critical concerns regarding rising household costs and public policy, as the candidate seeks to address issues like inflation-adjusted school funding levels and corporate political influence.
Recent economic data indicates that Michigan households faced average tariff costs between $5,600 and $6,400 since January 2025. Meanwhile, inflation-adjusted per-pupil school funding has hit a 30-year low.
The players
Kate Gallup
She is a candidate for the 37th state Senate District seat who previously organized citizen-led ballot initiatives.
John Damoose
He is the incumbent official currently seeking reelection to the 37th state Senate District seat.
The details
Gallup, who previously worked on citizen-led ballot initiatives such as Money Out of Politics and Invest in MI Kids, is advocating for the MiCare healthcare plan and new rent protection policies. The 37th state Senate District includes Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau counties along with parts of Mackinac and Chippewa counties.
Timeline
January 2025 marked the start of the timeframe for household tariff cost calculations.
The state Senate election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Political Context
The candidate aligns her campaign platform with the goals of the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics initiative to restrict utility campaign donations. Opposition may point toward the economic impact of proposed regulations on the state's manufacturing and agricultural sectors.
Voters will decide on candidates whose policies could influence local school funding levels and healthcare accessibility through proposed plans like MiCare. New state regulations now require that renters have access to fee-free ways to pay their monthly rent.
The takeaway
The upcoming election provides a choice between competing visions for addressing record-low school funding and high household tariff burdens. Voters should review candidate platforms to understand how proposed healthcare and rent policies may impact their personal finances.
Further reading
For more on upcoming state races, visit Michigan Elections.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WUPY - Ontonagon.
Live Poll
Should the state government enact stricter regulations and protections for residential renters?
