January 12th , 2026 Len’s Political Note #781 Kristen McDonald Rivet Michigan 08
2026 General Election
Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania. These three states have a small boat load of competitive Congressional Districts. You can see them below. This one is Michigan 08 and has a Democratic incumbent. Kristin McDonald Rivet who was elected for the first time in 2024 by a 7 point margin. In contrast, Donald Trump carried the district by 2 points. That is a clue to how competitive Michigan 08 might be in 2026.
Kristin McDonald Rivet has political views that could mesh with some of Zohran Mamdani’s views. She has spent a good part of her career, for instance, advocating for free or low-cost child care. If the web of the Michigan thumb, which is the center of Michigan 08, would be well served by free public transportation, she would probably argue for that as well. She is for services which make it possible for low and medium wage people to live a better live.
No one would call Kristen McDonald Rivet a socialist. She was elected the Freshman. Representative to the leadership by the New Democratic Coalition, moderates who represent the largest group of Democrats in the House. It is possible that no one sees her as any kind of radical because she is the mother of six children. Her interest in child care may have been strengthened by that experience. Fifty five, she is married to 60 year old Joseph Rivet, currently a Bay City Commissioner, formerly the County Drain Commissioner, and before that an elected member of the Michigan House. Note how careful she is to have her political name include both her family name and his. He made news during the 2024 campaign with a fake fall out of their car. He explained, he wanted to lighten up the tense character of the campaign.
She and her sisters were born and grew up in Portland, Michigan, a farming town that currently has fewer than 4,000 people. Her mom stayed home. Her dad worked construction, working extra hours to make ends meet and to have the resources to send the girls to college. Kristen McDonald Rivet got her BA from Michigan State and her education MA from UMichigan, Flint in 1992. Her first job was as a Communication Director in the state legislature, where she worked for six years. She worked for a couple of state agencies and then spent just under 10 years working for the Skillman Foundation. They tell readers of their website that “We partner with people to transform education systems, nurturing the brilliance and power of Detroit youth..”
Kristen McDonald Rivet then spent 4 ½ years as the CEO of Greater Midlands Recreations Facilities. They say they are “solutionaries” transforming lives through wellness, recreation and social experience. After than, she spent a couple of years as Vice President of Michigan Future, Inc. Their message was: Rising Income for All must be the Essenital Measure for the State’s Economic Success.
Perhaps encouraged by her husband, Kristen McDonald Rivet decided that electoral politics was the way she really could make a difference. She was elected to the State Senate, quickly became a majority floor leader, and, in 2024 ran for Congress. In office, she joined with others in an authorization for Congress to look more carefully at foreign purchases of American farmland. She introduced and got passed a bill to restore pensions to salaried retirees who had worked in a local auto parts supplier that went bankrupt in the 2008 financial crisis.
Keep Kristen McDonald Rivet in Congress. She will make a difference there. She will particularly make a difference there if we can regain a Democratic majority. DONATE
Other Michigan Elections
Governor: Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is the Democratic candidate for governor. DONATE so she can defeat one of the five Republicans who want the job and former Detroit mayor Duggan running as an independent, DONATE to the Jocelyn Benson campaign. See Len’s Political Note #747
US Senate: Although there is a three person primary, Congresswoman Haley Stevens has enough of an edge to be the probable nominee. DONATE to her campaign. Help her defeat former Congressman Mike Rogers. See Len’s Political Note #783
Michigan 07. Although there are several Democratic candidates vying to defeat the Incumbent Republican Tom Barrett, former US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink seems to be the strongest. DONATE. See Len’s Political Note #742
Michigan 10. I do not yet have a recommendation for this seat.
Ohio Races
Governor: Former Ohio statewide Health Director Amy Acton was to Ohio what Anthony Fauci was to the country. DONATE. Help her defeat former Elon Musk DOGE associate Vivek Ramaswamy. See Len’s Political Note #724
Attorney General: Widely respected retired attorney John Kulewicz should defeat a one term state rep in the primary and then, with your help, has a decent chance of defeating musical chair player former State Treasurer Robert Sprague. DONATE. See Len’s Political Note #775.
US Senator: Former US Senator and advocate for blue collar workers Sherrod Brown is back to make up for his loss in 2024. DONATE. Help him defeat appointee, former Lt. Governor John Husted. See Len’s Political Note #750.
Ohio 01 Incumbent Democrat Greg Landsman finds, with mid-decade redistricting, he is now in a pinkish district. DONATE. Help him win anyway. Four Republicans think they can defeat him. See Len’s Political Note #766
Ohio 09 Incumbent Marcy Kaptur appeared to have been redistricted out of Congress but she keeps winning against the odds. DONATE. She was reelected in 2022 and 2024. Help her remain in her seat in 2026. See Len’s Political Note #718
Ohio 13. Incumbent Emilia Sykes is the scioness of the leading African American political family of Akron. One Republican candidate has already dropped out. Help her defeat whoever dares to run against her. DONATAE. See Len’s Political Note #728
Pennsylvania
Governor. Incumbent Governor Josh Shapiro has a serious opponent in State Treasurer Stacy Garrity. Keep Josh Shapiro as governor. DONATE.
Pennsylvania 01. Democrat County Commissioner Bob Harvie has a shot to defeat incumbent Republican Brian Fitzpatrick who cultivates his reputation as a moderate. DONATE to the Bob Harvie campaign.
Pennsylvania 07. I do not yet have a recommendation for this seat.
Pennsylvania 08. Paige Cognetti, Democratic Mayor of Scranton is a strong candidate against first termer Rob Bresnahan. DONATE. See Len’s Political Note #761
Pennsylvania 10. Former television anchor Janelle Stelson came close in 2024 against incumbent Republican Scott Perry, one of the members of Congress most responsible for the effort to overturn the 2020 election. DONATE to the Janelle Stelson campaign. See Len’s Political Note #741
One More Neighbor’s Supreme Court Election
Wisconsin votes to elect a member of its State Supreme Court on April 7 this year. I urge you to DONATE to Chris Taylor’s campaign. Before being elected to the Wisconsin Assembly, she was an attorney for Wisconsin Planned Parenthood. The Court currently has a 4-3 liberal majority. The retiring justice is a conservative, so a victory by Chris Taylor would expand the majority to a more comfortable 5-2. See Len’s Political Note #731.
