Strong Wins Michigan's 78th District House Seat
Republican Brandon Strong claimed the state House seat covering parts of Ionia, Barry and Eaton counties in Tuesday's election.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Republican Brandon Strong won the 78th District Michigan state House seat in Tuesday's election, collecting 24,212 votes. Democrat Rachel Gross received 15,296 votes and Libertarian Ben DeJong received 1,003 votes, according to unofficial totals.
Why it matters
The result determines who will represent a district spanning portions of Ionia, Barry and Eaton counties in the Michigan House. The margin reflects the voting preferences of residents across the district's cities and villages.
Strong received 24,212 votes, compared with 15,296 for Gross and 1,003 for DeJong, based on unofficial results with 100% of votes reported. Certification of the official totals has not yet occurred.
The players
Brandon Strong
Brandon Strong is a Republican who serves as executive director at Barry County Christian Schools and won the 78th District state House seat.
Rachel Gross
Rachel Gross is a Democrat and registered nurse who finished second in the 78th District state House race.
The details
Strong, a Republican and executive director at Barry County Christian Schools, defeated Gross, a registered nurse and Democrat, and DeJong, a Libertarian who works as an operational excellence specialist at University of Michigan Health - Sparrow and serves as a Lake Odessa Village Council trustee. The district includes Ionia, Lowell, Hastings and Lake Odessa.
Timeline
- Election day was Tuesday, November 3, 2026, when Strong won the seat.
Roadmap
The win gives Republicans another seat from this district under its current boundaries. The outcome places the 78th District's representation in the hands of the party that won the seat in this unofficial count.
Residents of Ionia, Barry and Eaton counties will be represented by Strong in the Michigan House once he takes office. The unofficial results may change before certification.
The takeaway
Michigan's 78th District voters chose Strong in this race, and the official certified results will confirm the outcome. Readers can track certification as it progresses.
Further reading
Explore more Michigan Elections coverage for context on state legislative races.
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