Beson Wins Michigan House 96th District Race
Republican Timmy Beson secures a fourth term over Democrat Chris Girard, the mayor of Bay City, in a race where bridge access was a central issue.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Republican Timmy Beson won the Michigan House 96th District race over Democrat Chris Girard, securing a fourth term. The Associated Press called the race at 12:47 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, after Beson received 22,607 votes to Girard's 20,115.
Why it matters
The result keeps the 96th District seat in Republican hands for another term and returns Beson to a chamber where he has served since 2021. Bridge access, a central issue in the race, reflects Bay City's struggle to maintain four bridges amid decades of population and tax-base loss.
Beson received 22,607 votes to Girard's 20,115, a margin of about 2,000 votes in the 96th District. The source does not indicate whether these totals are certified or subject to further canvass adjustment.
The players
Timmy Beson
Timmy Beson is a Republican member of the Michigan House of Representatives who has held the 96th District seat since 2021 and won a fourth term in this election.
Chris Girard
Chris Girard is a Democrat and the mayor of Bay City who previously served as a city commissioner and voted on the final bridge lease agreement in December 2019.
The details
Girard, who serves as mayor of Bay City, previously voted as a city commissioner in December 2019 on the final lease agreement for the Liberty and Independence bridges, which were leased rather than sold. Bridge access became a central theme of the campaign.
Timeline
December 2019: Girard voted on the final bridge lease agreement as a Bay City city commissioner.
2021: Beson began holding the 96th District House seat.
12:47 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4: The Associated Press called the race for Beson.
Political Context
Bay City's decision to lease rather than sell the Liberty and Independence bridges followed decades of population and tax-base loss that left the city unable to maintain four bridges. Girard's prior vote on the final lease agreement became a point of contrast in a race centered on bridge access.
The result determines which candidate represents the 96th District in the Michigan House for the next term, shaping how local bridge and infrastructure funding decisions are argued in Lansing. Residents of Bay City and surrounding areas will see that representation carried forward by Beson.
The takeaway
Local infrastructure decisions made years earlier, such as bridge leases, can become decisive election issues when a city's maintenance burden grows. Voters weighing legislative races should look at how candidates have voted on those long-term commitments.
Further reading
For more on how state legislative contests are decided, explore Elections coverage across Michigan.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mlive.
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