Michigan Republicans Target Hertel Family in New Ad
A new political advertisement claims the Hertel family earned $4 million in government salaries over 25 years.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Elections
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The Michigan Senate Republican Campaign Committee has released a new political advertisement, titled 'Silver Spoon,' which targets Democratic state Senator Kevin Hertel. The ad claims that four members of the Hertel family earned a total of $4 million in government salaries between 2000 and 2025.
Why it matters
The campaign committee released the ad to challenge the incumbent senator's record in the 12th District and boost the candidacy of Republican challenger John Goldwater. The move has drawn criticism from former GOP officials who argue the ad inappropriately attacks a family's legacy of public service.
The Michigan Senate Republican Campaign Committee report cites a $4 million figure covering government earnings from 2000 to 2025. This data includes the salaries of Kevin Hertel, Curtis Hertel Jr., Curtis Hertel Sr., and Elizabeth Hertel.
The players
Kevin Hertel
He is the Democratic incumbent serving in the Michigan state Senate for the 12th District.
John Goldwater
He is the Republican candidate challenging for the 12th District seat in the Michigan Senate.
Paul Hillegonds
He is a former Republican official who served as co-speaker of the state house.
Edward Gaffney
He is a former Republican official who joined in criticizing the recent campaign advertisement.
Michigan Senate Republican Campaign Committee
This is the political organization responsible for producing and distributing campaign advertisements for Republican state senate candidates.
The details
The campaign committee aggregated the government pay of the four family members to form the basis of the attack ad. The advertisement aims to sway voters in the 12th District, which covers portions of Macomb and Wayne counties, ahead of the upcoming election.
Timeline
Paul Hillegonds served as co-speaker with Curtis Hertel Sr. during the 1993-1994 legislative session.
The $4 million salary claim covers the period between 2000 and 2025.
The Michigan Senate Republican Campaign Committee released the 'Silver Spoon' ad on October 19, 2026.
Political Context
The political tension surrounding the 1993-1994 bipartisan co-speakership of the Michigan House highlights how far the state legislature has moved from power-sharing toward intense partisan combat. This recent ad marks a sharp departure from that historical model of cooperation.
Voters in Macomb and Wayne counties will see an increase in attack-style political messaging leading up to the election. This ad campaign forces residents to weigh the incumbent's legislative record against the claims regarding his family's long-term government employment.
The takeaway
The use of family financial history in campaign advertising signals a shift toward more personalized attacks in the 12th District race. Voters are encouraged to review the official voting records of candidates to distinguish between partisan messaging and legislative performance.
Further reading
For more information on the current landscape of the race, visit the Michigan Elections section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Michigan Advance.
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