Rebecca Amidon in the News

“Government is of the people, by the people, and for the people,” she said. “It was never meant to be run by career politicians. These seats in Lansing were meant for people who live the everyday issues. That’s why I’m going to have a great perspective. And I actually care. I actually care about people’s voices being heard that are not normally heard from, from Muskegon Heights all the way down to the most rural corners of this district.”

Amidon identified child care, education and health care as key issues...“Children deserve a safe, nurturing environment to learn and grow,” Amidon said. “Every parent deserves the opportunity to work or pursue education without being held back by the high cost or inaccessibility of quality child care.”

“Lawmakers and candidates from across the political spectrum are increasingly saying enough is enough and rejecting utility money in order to stand with Michigan families who are being squeezed by a constant, never-ending stream of increases in their bills,” said Bob Allison, deputy director of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. “For too long, our broken system has allowed monopoly utilities to use their political spending to protect the status quo while families are left paying the bill. Taking utility money isn’t a partisan issue — it is about standing with Michiganders and demanding accountability from the companies they have no choice but to buy their power from.”

The Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce is committed to helping members stay informed ahead of the 2026 election. Candidates running for office in Muskegon County were invited to submit a 90-second video sharing their priorities for supporting our local business community.

Candidates were asked to respond to the following:

“What are your top priorities for ensuring Muskegon County remains a competitive place to start, grow, and retain businesses? If elected, how will you collaborate with employers and community partners to advance those priorities?”

As the state’s largest school employee union, MEA members — who live and work in every Michigan county — have a long history of political engagement and helping friends of public education win elections. That’s why we’re proud to announce all the candidates who have earned the recommendation of MEA members through the union’s Screening & Recommendation process.

The chamber said questions have been predetermined and will focus on policies and issues affecting the business community and Manistee County. Topics will include access to child care, housing, business growth and economic development.

“Communities around the country are reeling from decisions made by the old guard, but a new generation is ready to step up,” said Amanda Litman, co-founder and president of Run for Something. “These are candidates who truly understand their communities — and have the skills and passion needed to fight for something different. We’re proud to endorse this slate of local leaders.”

Top 5 Senate Seats Most Likely to Flip: Open 32nd District in Muskegon/Manistee gives Dems a reach opportunity: The 32nd Senate District in western Michigan is a Republican leaning district in which the GOP’s candidate, Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole, has a clear advantage in name recognition against Democratic candidate Rebecca Amidon of Manistee, who is an adjunct professor at Mid Michigan College and a past vice chair of the Manistee County Democratic Party... Amidon narrowly outraised Cole in the pre-primary reporting period in July, raising $106,616 to Cole’s $81,123. She also had $98,458 cash on hand, compared to Cole’s $69,506.

Rebecca’s district is one of this year’s best opportunities for a red-to-blue flip in the Michigan Senate, and with the DLCC’s support, she’s ready to win her race to help Democrats win a majority in the chamber.

“I believe that all women should be able to make choices about their own body and their own healthcare,” she said. “I think we should trust women to know what is the right thing to do for them, and I also believe that government doesn’t have a role to play in that and that it should be between a woman and her doctor and her spiritual or religious advisor.”

Michigan State Senate candidate Rebecca Amidon (SD-32) sits down with Breaking the Meta to talk about why she's running against a MAGA sheriff to represent West Michigan. A college professor, mom, firearm owner, and former Republican-turned-Democrat, Rebecca breaks down what nobody in Lansing wants to talk about: only two hospitals in five counties have labor and delivery wards, less than half of pregnant women in Manistee County received prenatal care, and Michigan loses $2.9 billion every year to the childcare crisis.

This is a real conversation about what it takes to run as an outsider, why "nice and smiley" candidates keep losing, and how a different kind of Democrat earns Republican endorsements without rolling over.

Manistee News Advocate | "It’s time for leaders who will stop playing political games and start delivering results. I’m ready to bring common sense, cooperation, and a focus on people over party to the Michigan state Senate," Amidon said. "Our families, schools and communities deserve leaders who put people first — and I’m ready to lead."

MIRS News | Sabo will not be trying to run for the Senate again next year to replace the term-limited Bumstead. Instead, one of his 2022 campaign staffers, Rebecca AMIDON, has officially launched her candidacy for the seat. 

Amidon volunteers at the Safe Harbor Homeless Shelter in Manistee and is a communications adjunct professor at West Shore Community College and Mid Michigan Community College. She's additionally a mother of two, looking to speak about challenges directly affecting young families in and around Manistee County. 

The 74 Million | “Medicaid is there to catch us all when we fall,” said Amidon, who lives in Manistee, Michigan. “It’s not just for people who’ve always needed it; it’s for people like my family as well, who never thought that we would be in a position to rely on it. Without Medicaid and these early intervention services, our family would be facing a much different reality.”

Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy: Center for Children and Families | "The star of the discussion was Rebecca Amidon, a Michigan parent of two children who received early intervention services. Rebecca explained how Medicaid and Early On, Michigan’s early intervention program, worked together to help her children in Michigan to get the care they needed that family could not afford without coverage."

Manistee News Advocate | Amidon said the rally message was to tell “the oligarchs” and lawmakers to “take their hands off our healthcare, off our wages, our safety, our rights... Take your hands off the Manistee National Forest where we’ve already lost forest workers,” she said. “Take your hands off our Feed America food trucks that support over 200 Manistee County families.”

Interlochen Public Radio | Last fall, IPR brought you “A Crisis of Care” – a five-part series about childcare in northern Michigan. We spoke to the Amidon family in Manistee about their needs. Now they're invited to Washington D.C to advocate for Michigan families, and will meet one-on-one with US Senators Gary Peters, Debbie Stabenow and Congressman John Moolenaar. Rebecca Amidon said they will advocate for more affordable, high quality childcare.

Interlochen Public Radio | "After all, these kids are going to grow up to be the people who make the world work and investing in them now, Rebecca says, will only benefit all of us."

Manistee News Advocate | “What’s happening in Texas right now, there’s no exception for rape and incest, and that is unacceptable,” Amidon said. “... I can understand putting some type of limits to a certain degree, but when you say no exceptions, then we can’t be OK with that.” Amidon said being pro-choice does not mean pro-abortion, but rather being “pro-a woman’s right to choose her own path.”