UNDATED (WHTC-AM/FM, Jan. 7, 2026) – As the state election year of 2026 gets underway, two members of the Lakeshore’s legislative delegation announced their political intentions on Wednesday.
Two-term Republican House Representative Nancy DeBoer has formally filed to run for a third two-year stint in representing the 86th District, which includes the city of Holland, of which she was mayor for two terms, as well as Laketown and Park Townships, along with much of Holland Township. DeBoer currently chairs the House Education and Workforce Committee.
Meanwhile, 31st District State Senator Roger Victory, who is term limited out of further legislative eligibility after two four-year stints in the Upper Chamber and three two-year periods in the state House, declared his intention to seek one of the Republican nominations for a trustee seat on the board of Michigan State University. The owner/operator of Victory Farms in Hudsonville is currently the Senate Minority Whip.
While there hasn’t been anyone else at this point who has officially filed to either challenge DeBoer in the August 4th GOP Primary, or to seek the Democratic Party nomination in that election, Victory is looking to secure his place during the March 28th state Republican Party endorsement convention at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Former Ottawa County Commissioner Chris Kleinjans (Democrat) and Holland businessman Kevin Maas (Republican) have already filed their intentions for the Senate seat that Victory must vacate.
As for other legislative spots from the Lakeshore, the only other candidate who has filed thus far is Alan Swank of Delton, who wants to be the Democratic challenger in the 43rd House District, currently represented by Republican Speaker Pro Tem Rachelle Smit of Shelbyville. State Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt of Lawton, term-limited out of his District 20 seat, is an announced candidate for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.
The filing deadline with the Michigan Secretary of State’s office for candidates to be on the August primary ballot is May 15th.
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