Race · November 3, 2026
U.S. House · Michigan's 8th District
5 candidates on the ballot.1
§1Candidates
Why this matters: Every candidate the state lists for this race on the November ballot, in the state's own order.
§2Side by side
Why this matters: The same facts for every candidate, in the same order. Where we found nothing for a candidate, the cell says so — that means we didn't find it in public sources, not that it doesn't exist.
| Fact | Kristen McDonald Rivet | Thomas J. Smith | C. Mia Pettus | Jim Casha | Kathy Goodwin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party on the ballot | Democratic Party1 | Republican Party1 | Libertarian Party1 | Green Party1 | Working Class Party1 |
| Status | Incumbent2 | Challenger | Challenger | Challenger | Challenger |
| Raised | $6,922,879 through October 14, 20263 | $561,097 through October 14, 20264 | Not found in the public sources we checked | Not found in the public sources we checked | Not found in the public sources we checked |
| Cash on hand | $2,674,8693 | $85,0664 | Not found in the public sources we checked | Not found in the public sources we checked | Not found in the public sources we checked |
| Outside spending | $484,379 for · $285,853 against5 | $182,851 for · $13,850 against6 | Not found in the public sources we checked | Not found in the public sources we checked | Not found in the public sources we checked |
| Police funding | Increase police funding, for example to hire more officers Her campaign website says local police and sheriffs have been underfunded, that she increased funding to hire more officers as a Bay City Commissioner, brought millions back to local departments in the state Senate and secured millions in federal investment in Congress, and that she is a co-sponsor of the bipartisan bill to fund local law enforcement in full.7 | Not found in the public sources we checked | Her campaign website lists professional, trained and fairly compensated officers, recruitment and retention, equipment, civilian oversight and body cameras among its public safety priorities.8 | Not found in the public sources we checked | Not found in the public sources we checked |
| Health insurance system | Add a government plan that anyone can choose to buy Her campaign website says she is fighting to give every American the option to buy into Medicare, and that she led the effort to pass a tax cut through the House for families who purchase health care.9 | Not found in the public sources we checked | Her campaign website lists universal access, public financing with private and nonprofit providers, prescription affordability and administrative costs among its health care priorities.8 | Not found in the public sources we checked | Not found in the public sources we checked |
| Immigration enforcement inside the country | Not found in the public sources we checked | His campaign website says he supports restoring deportations and ending catch-and-release.10, | Her campaign website lists secure borders, credible enforcement, orderly legal immigration, employer accountability, serious-crime enforcement and due process among its immigration priorities.8 | Not found in the public sources we checked | Not found in the public sources we checked |
Issues only one candidate has addressed
By candidate, in ballot order. We found nothing public from the other candidates in this race on these issues.
Kristen McDonald Rivet — 11 issues
- TariffsHer campaign website says she is working to end tariffs that it describes as reckless.12
- Campaign finance rulesLimit spending by outside groups, including by amending the Constitution to overturn Citizens UnitedHer campaign website says she is fighting to remove big, unlimited money from politics and is leading efforts to reverse Citizens United.13
- Drawing district lines (redistricting)Her campaign website says she backs bills that would extend Michigan's approach to preventing gerrymandering to the whole country.13
- Stock trading by members of CongressHer campaign website says she introduced a bill with members of both parties that would bar members of Congress from trading stock or taking part in prediction markets where they have insider information.13
- Electric vehiclesHer campaign website says that when her own party backed an electric vehicle mandate that she says would eliminate Michigan auto jobs, she opposed it and helped block it.14
- Child care costsHer campaign website says her career has focused on making child care more affordable and that she has introduced bipartisan bills to invest in child care.15
- Food assistance (SNAP)Her campaign website says she led a push to let working families who use SNAP purchase hot rotisserie chicken.15
- Economic ties with ChinaHer campaign website says she fights to make sure things are made in Michigan and to stand up to China.15
- Federal Medicaid fundingHer campaign website says a $1 trillion Medicaid cut made health care costs worse, raising premiums 17% for working families in Michigan.9
- Large investors buying single-family homesHer campaign website says she is working to stop Wall Street from buying up housing.12
- Social Security benefit levelsHer campaign website says she protects Social Security from people seeking to reduce benefits.15
Thomas J. Smith — 5 issues
- Term limits for CongressHis campaign website says he will press for term limits, more open government and accountability for career politicians.10
- Nuclear powerHis campaign website says he supports American energy independence through oil, gas and nuclear power and opposes green mandates, which it says destroy jobs.10
- Border wall and barriersBuild walls or fencing along much more of the border
- Federal income tax rates
- Federal spending levels
C. Mia Pettus — 6 issues
- Foreign intelligence surveillance (FISA Section 702)Her campaign website lists FISA Section 702 safeguards, warrant requirements and judicial and congressional oversight among its priorities on privacy and government surveillance.8
- Vouchers and education savings accountsHer campaign website lists school choice across public, charter, private and homeschool options, with funding that follows the student, among its education priorities.8
- Data centers and electricity costsRequire data centers to pay the full cost of the power plants and lines they needHer campaign website lists large-load and data-center cost allocation and preventing cost shifting to residents and ratepayers among its energy and infrastructure priorities.8
- Military spendingHer campaign website lists responsible defense spending and procurement oversight among its priorities for veterans and the military.8
- HomelessnessHer campaign website lists homelessness prevention, mental health treatment, supportive housing and workforce development among its priorities on poverty and homelessness.8
- Data privacyHer campaign website lists consumer data rights, transparency in the collection, sale, sharing and use of personal information and CCPA and CPRA principles among its priorities.8
Issue statements are drafted by AI from the public sources cited, and only cover what each candidate has said publicly.