Stephen Wooden Wins Reelection in Michigan House
The Democratic incumbent holds Michigan's 81st House District seat after early returns in Kent County.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Democratic incumbent Stephen Wooden won reelection to Michigan's 81st House District, according to an Associated Press call at 10:40 p.m. on November 3. Unofficial Kent County results showed Wooden ahead of Republican challenger Holly DeBoer.
Why it matters
The result keeps the district in Democratic hands for another term in the Grand Rapids area. It also reflects continued support for a candidate who previously served as a Kent County commissioner.
At 11:06 p.m., Wooden led DeBoer 19,636 votes to 9,134, with 64% of votes counted in the unofficial Kent County Clerk's Office tally. Final certified results were not yet available.
The players
Stephen Wooden
Stephen Wooden is a Democrat who has represented Michigan's 81st House District since 2024 and previously served six years as a Kent County commissioner in the Grand Rapids area.
Holly DeBoer
Holly DeBoer is the Republican challenger who sought the 81st House District seat in the 2026 general election.
The details
Wooden, who was first elected to the state House in 2024, will begin a new two-year term in January 2027. He previously served six years as a Kent County commissioner before seeking another term in the Legislature.
Timeline
2024: Wooden is first elected to the Michigan House.
November 3, 2026: Election held and the AP calls the race at 10:40 p.m.
January 2027: Wooden begins his new two-year term.
Political Context
Wooden's reelection continues the Democratic hold on the 81st District that began with his 2024 win. DeBoer's challenge represents the Republican effort to contest a Grand Rapids-area seat that Wooden first won two years earlier.
Michigan voters in the 81st District now have Wooden returning to represent them in Lansing starting January 2027. The seat's two-year term means the district will return to the ballot again in 2028.
The takeaway
Reelection results often reflect the incumbent's record in the district, so voters should track certified results and legislative activity as the new term begins.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in Elections for Michigan's latest races and results.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mlive.
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