Kevin Hertel
Michigan State Senator, District 12 since 2022. Ran in 4 elections between 2016 and 2022, winning 4. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2030.
- In office
- 3 yrs
- Since 2022
- Bills became law
- 5
- 56 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.0%
- Chamber median 1.5%
- With party
- 98%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +6.9
- Won 2026
- Next election
- 2030
- Nov 5, 2030
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Health Policy · chair
- Veterans and Emergency Services · democratic vice chair
- Appropriations
- Energy and Environment
- Regulatory Affairs
- Transportation and Infrastructure
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Children: child abuse or child neglect · Became law Jul 2026
Economic development: downtown development authorities · Became law Apr 2026
Land use: land division · Became law Dec 2025
Children: child care · Became law Dec 2025
Labor: hours and wages · Became law Feb 2025
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Hertel sits in the Michigan State Senate
Hertel is closer to the center than 75% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Rosemary Bayer, Sam Singh, Dayna Polehanki
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:53 PM ET
With Hertel’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats98%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills19%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Michigan State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Hertel’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Hertel | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 9, 2026 | HB 5482: State agencies (existing): generally; plans to correct audit recommendations; require… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 24–10 |
| Sep 9, 2026 | SB 729: State finance: authorities; outstanding obligations of the state building authority;… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 24–10 |
| Jul 3, 2026 | SB 1052: Human services: medical services; definition of kickbacks or bribes; modify. Amends sec.… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 22–14 |
| Jul 3, 2026 | SB 569: Health: funding; various fees under the public health code; transfer and deposit into the… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 21–15 |
| Jul 3, 2026 | HB 5630: Appropriations: school aid omnibus; fiscal year 2026-2027 appropriations for K-12 school… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 25–11 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Hertel was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Michigan State Senate, District 12 | Won | D+6.9 | R+7.4 | +14.3 |
| 2022 | Michigan State Senate, District 12 | Won | D+3.4 | — | — |
| 2020 | Michigan House of Representatives, District 18 | Won | D+20.6 | — | — |
| 2018 | Michigan House of Representatives, District 18 | Won | D+25.3 | — | — |
| 2016 | Michigan House of Representatives, District 18 | Won | D+26.6 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI and English Wikipedia (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $2.3M
- Spent
- $628.4K
- Cash
- $195.9K
Source: Michigan Bureau of Elections filings through Oct 18, 2026Updated Oct 31, 2026, 3:38 PM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| KEVIN HERTEL FOR STATE SENATE State | Active |
Source: Michigan Bureau of Elections filings through Oct 18, 2026Updated Oct 31, 2026, 3:38 PM ET
Seats Hertel has held
- Michigan State Senate, District 12 · since 2022
- Michigan House of Representatives, District 18 · 2016–2022
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Hertel has run against
- John Goldwater (R) · 2026 election, won
- Pamela Hornberger (R) · 2022 election, won
- Michael Babat (R) · 2020 election, won
- Kyle McKee (R) · 2018 election, won
- Renata Polonaise (R) · 2016 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI and English Wikipedia (unofficial)
How we know Hertel
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/cbfd5eae-d312-4498-a988-bcb52883f637
- Wikidata Q28408289
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET