Michigan House District 53 Choose 1
Duties: The Michigan House of Representatives shares responsibility with the Michigan Senate to enact new laws and amend or repeal existing laws.Qualifications: Representatives are elected in even-numbered years to 2-year terms. They must be at least 21 years of age and a registered voter in their district. There are 110 State House districts which are re-apportioned after each census.Term: 2 years
Biographical Information
Website
http://brendajcarter.com/
Campaign Twitter Handle
@RepBrendaCarter
Occupation / Current Position
Michigan State Representative, House District 53
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration; Master’s degree in Public Administration
Qualifications and Experience
State Representative for HD 53; former Pontiac School Board President; former Michigan Association of School Boards President; NCSL Banking, Financial Services and Insurance Committee Vice Chair.
EDUCATION: How do you evaluate Michigan’s current education system in terms of quality, funding, the teacher workforce and standardized testing? What changes, if any, would you propose or support?
Michigan has dedicated educators and students, but we still need fair funding, stronger teacher recruitment and retention, and less overreliance on high-stakes testing. I support investing in classrooms, career and technical education, mental health, literacy, special education, and safe learning environments. As a former Pontiac School Board President and Michigan Association of School Boards President, I know education policy must reflect what students, parents, educators, and communities actually need.
ECONOMY: What policy initiatives do you support for residents to earn a living wage and address the overall question of affordability across Michigan?
Affordability is the issue I hear about every day. I support policies that help residents earn a living wage, lower household costs, protect consumers, expand access to child care, housing, transportation, and health care, and strengthen pathways into good-paying jobs. That includes workforce training, apprenticeships, small business support, and responsible economic development. People should be able to work hard, pay their bills, and build stability in the community they call home.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY: How would you approach ensuring energy reliability, consumer affordability, and environmental protection in Michigan?
My approach is balanced: protect clean air and water, keep energy reliable, and hold utilities accountable so families are not crushed by repeated rate increases. I support Michigan’s clean energy goals with attention to affordability, grid reliability, workers, and communities that have carried the greatest pollution burden. Environmental protection must include PFAS cleanup, polluter accountability, water affordability, and making sure the transition does not leave working families behind.
IMMIGRATION: What is your position on due process, First Amendment, and Fourth Amendment rights for all Michigan residents, including noncitizens, and what changes, if any, would you support?
Constitutional rights do not disappear because of a person’s immigration status. I support due process, First Amendment, and Fourth Amendment protections for all Michigan residents, including noncitizens. Families should be treated with dignity, and government action must follow the law. I support policies that protect public safety while respecting constitutional rights, preventing discrimination, and making sure people can report crimes, access basic services, and participate in their communities without fear.
Biographical Information
EDUCATION: How do you evaluate Michigan’s current education system in terms of quality, funding, the teacher workforce and standardized testing? What changes, if any, would you propose or support?
Candidate has not yet responded.
ECONOMY: What policy initiatives do you support for residents to earn a living wage and address the overall question of affordability across Michigan?
Candidate has not yet responded.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY: How would you approach ensuring energy reliability, consumer affordability, and environmental protection in Michigan?
Candidate has not yet responded.
IMMIGRATION: What is your position on due process, First Amendment, and Fourth Amendment rights for all Michigan residents, including noncitizens, and what changes, if any, would you support?
Candidate has not yet responded.