Candidate · November 3, 2026
Ray Pooley
On the ballot for U.S. House · Michigan's 9th District
- raised through Oct 14, 2026
- $26K
- cash on hand
- $14K
- issues with public statements
- 19
§1On the ballot
Why this matters: This is exactly how the candidate appears on your ballot, from the state's official candidate list.
| Office | U.S. House · Michigan's 9th District1 |
|---|---|
| Party on the ballot | Democratic Party1 |
| Status | Challenger |
| Also on the ballot |
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§2Who they are
Why this matters: Background and experience help you judge how someone might do the job. These come from public records and the candidate's own materials.
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
Ray Pooley is a CNC machinist and programmer who describes himself as a third-generation manufacturer with 15 years of personal experience in the industry.2,
Why they say they're running
His campaign website says his campaign is about building a future in which jobs pay enough for a dignified life, health care costs do not bankrupt families, corporations answer for their conduct, natural resources stay protected and the next generation inherits a strong country.2 It also says that voters who want skilled, well-paid manufacturing jobs to come back should choose someone who has spent years working hands-on in the industry.3
Websites and accounts
- Campaign websitepooley4congress.com2,
4 - Facebookfacebook.com/Pooley4Congress2
- X (Twitter)x.com/pooley4congress2
- Blueskybsky.app/profile/pooley4congress.bsky.social2
- YouTubeyoutube.com/@pooley4congress2
- TikToktiktok.com/@pooley4congress2
- Instagraminstagram.com/pooley4congress2
§3What they've said on the issues
Why this matters: These are positions the candidate has stated publicly — on their campaign website or in public statements — summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Issues they haven't spoken about publicly are left out.
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
Each issue has its own range of views. A position is marked on that range only when the candidate's own statement clearly matches one option; there is no overall left–right score.
Economy, Jobs and Trade
His campaign website says he would protect workers' right to organize and join unions so that new manufacturing jobs pay a living wage.5
His campaign website says he will push for trade agreements that protect workers rather than send more jobs abroad.5
His campaign website says he supports raising the minimum wage while setting a maximum ratio for CEO pay.5
Taxes and Budget
His campaign website says he wants a simpler tax code that makes the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share, so taxes can be cut for working families.5
His campaign website says he supports closing all the tax loopholes that corporations take advantage of.5
Agriculture and Rural Life
His campaign website says family farmers should be less dependent on costly chemicals, government handouts and monopolies, and criticizes tax breaks that favor big agribusiness.5
Health Care
His campaign website says he will fight to break corporate monopolies on health care so every American can access quality, affordable care through Medicare for All.5
- One government plan for everyone (Medicare for All)
- Add a government plan that anyone can choose to buy
- Keep the current mix of private and public coverage, including the ACA
- Fewer federal insurance rules and more private plan choices, with aid paid to individuals
Family and Social Policy
His campaign website says that because the country can afford to offer child care to everyone, it has a duty to do so.5
His campaign website says parents should be given a month off to bond with and care for their newborns.5
Abortion and Reproductive Health
His campaign website says he will hold the administration accountable for its lack of action on IVF care.5
Immigration
His campaign website says he supports a secure border and ending ICE raids, along with enforcing smart border policy that targets root causes.5
His campaign website says he wants an efficient legal immigration process with a clear, quick path to citizenship for people who follow the rules, letting them pay taxes, open businesses and take part in their communities legally.5
Elections and Government Reform
His campaign website says he will enact term limits for Congress and the Supreme Court and end the revolving door of lobbyists.5
His campaign website says he will ban stock trading by sitting officials.5
- Ban members and their spouses and dependent children from owning or trading individual stocks
- Ban members themselves from trading individual stocks
- No ban; keep the reporting rules, with stronger penalties for late reports
His campaign website says he will overturn Citizens United to remove dark money from politics and create public financing for campaigns.5
- Limit spending by outside groups, including by amending the Constitution to overturn Citizens United
- Keep spending unlimited but require groups to name their major donors
- Keep current rules
- Raise or remove limits on donations to candidates and parties
His campaign website says he supports moving toward a ranked-choice voting system.5
- Use ranked-choice voting in more elections
- Let each state or city decide
- Ban ranked-choice voting
Courts, Rights and Civil Liberties
His campaign website says he will enact term limits for the Supreme Court.5
- Set fixed terms, such as 18 years
- Keep lifetime appointments
Guns
His campaign website says he supports gun reforms including ensuring all sales require a background check, raising the purchasing age for firearms and closing loopholes that let domestic violence abusers get guns.5
- Require checks for all gun sales, including private sales (with exceptions such as gifts between family members)
- Require checks for private sales at gun shows and online, but not other private sales
- Keep current law, with checks required only for sales by licensed dealers
Energy and Climate
His campaign website says data centers should be reined in and heavily regulated, and that data centers that cannot meet the demands of the people, including electricity and water use, or that ask for tax dollars to fund their projects are not wanted.5
§4Money
Why this matters: Campaigns report where their money comes from and how much they have left. Outside groups that spend on their own, without coordinating with the campaign, report that too.
Reported to the Federal Election Commission for the 2025–2026 election cycle, through October 14, 2026.6
| Raised | $26,387 |
|---|---|
| Spent | $12,311 |
| Cash on hand | $14,075 |