Shink Leads Beliger in District 14 Senate Race
Democratic incumbent Sue Shink holds a commanding early lead over Republican challenger Tawn Shawnelle Beliger in Michigan's 14th Senate District.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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With about 60% of votes counted by a little after midnight on November 3, 2026, Sue Shink had 52,582 votes, or about 64.9%, to Tawn Shawnelle Beliger's 28,434 votes, or about 35.1%, in the District 14 Michigan Senate general election.
Why it matters
The early returns give Shink a substantial advantage as she seeks a second four-year term in the Michigan Senate, a seat she first won in 2022. The count across the district, which includes parts of Jackson and Washtenaw counties, will determine whether the incumbent's lead holds as remaining ballots are tallied.
With roughly 60% of votes counted, Shink holds 52,582 votes (about 64.9%) against Beliger's 28,434 (about 35.1%) in the District 14 race. The remaining ballots had not been tallied at the time of the reported count, so the final margin remains unresolved.
The players
Sue Shink
Sue Shink is an attorney and former Washtenaw County board chair who is the Democratic incumbent seeking a second four-year term in Michigan's 14th Senate District.
Tawn Shawnelle Beliger
Tawn Shawnelle Beliger is a Northfield Township homemaker and former township board member who is the Republican challenger in Michigan's 14th Senate District.
The details
Shink, an attorney and former Washtenaw County board chair, is the Democratic incumbent in the seat. Beliger, a homemaker from Northfield Township who previously served on the township board, is the Republican challenger, and both candidates ran unopposed in the August primary elections.
Timeline
2022: Shink first elected to the District 14 Senate seat.
August 2026: Both candidates ran unopposed in the primary elections.
November 3, 2026: General election held and votes counted overnight.
Season Trajectory
Shink first won this District 14 seat in 2022 and is now seeking a second four-year term against Beliger, making the 2026 race a direct test of her hold on the district she first captured four years earlier. The early count places her in a strong position to extend that tenure in the Michigan Senate.
Residents of District 14, which includes parts of Jackson and Washtenaw counties, will see the final Michigan Senate representative determined by this election. The outcome sets who represents their communities in the state Senate for the next four years.
The takeaway
Election results are preliminary until all ballots are counted, so early leads can narrow as remaining votes come in. Readers should check official county canvass results for the final District 14 tally.
Further reading
Track the latest in Michigan Elections coverage for more context on races like this one.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mlive.
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