Our go-to guide for races in Ottawa, Allegan counties

Staff Reports
Updated ·7 min read

This article is intended to be a resource for registered voters in Ottawa and Allegan counties for the 2024 election cycle. Listed are contested races.

Candidates who have upcoming events they wish to promote to the public or additional campaign information they want featured (i.e., websites, endorsements, etc.) may send information to [email protected].

(i) Current incumbent

Ottawa County

Probate Court Judge (nonpartisan six-year term)

Ottawa County Board (four-year terms)

District 1

  • Jim Barry, Republican

    • Barry is a real estate associate broker with experience in sales and development. He served as board treasurer on the Herrick District Library Board of Trustees. He was also the campaign finance manager for his brother, U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga. Read about his candidacy here.

      • Endorsements: The West Michigan Lakeshore Association of Realtors

  • Danielle Smith, Democrat

District 2

District 3

District 4

District 5

  • Jon Rabideau, Democrat

    • Rabideau is a software engineer and Grand Valley State University graduate, according to LinkedIn.

District 6

  • Kendra Wenzel (i), Republican

    • Wenzel was appointed to the District 6 seat in December 2023 to finish the remainder of Kyle Terpstra’s term. She did not respond to The Sentinel’s request to write about her candidacy. She is affiliated with Ottawa Impact.

  • Michelle Dieleman, Democrat

    • Dieleman is a small business owner, operating a salon for over 35 years and has served on several nonprofit boards.

District 7

  • Heather Majestic, Democrat

    • Majestic is an indirect sourcing manager, according to her LinkedIn.

District 8

District 9

  • Phil Kuyers, Republican

  • Angela Stanford-Butler, Democrat

    • Stanford-Butler is a brand manager for a local appliance and electronics company.

District 10

  • Oliver Schampine, Democrat 

    • Shampine is the youth ministry coordinator at a church in Grand Haven.

District 11

  • Keith Courtade, Democrat

    • Courtade previously ran for Michigan Senate in 2021, losing to Mark Huizenga.

Local Offices

Holland Township (four-year terms)

  • Trustee, four positions

    • Republican Dave DeYoung (i)

    • Republican Gretchen Molotky (i)

    • Republican Terry Nienhuis

    • Republican Elliot Church (i)

    • Democrat Margo Walters

  • Notes: Nienhuis is currently the township supervisor.

Park Township (four-year terms)

  • Supervisor

    • Independent Jackie Beck

    • Republican Steve Spoelhof

  • Trustee, four positions

    • Republican Loren Serne (i)

    • Republican Shar Clark

    • Republican James Gerard

    • Republican Bryan Jones (i)

    • Democrat Dave Kleinjans

  • Notes: Gerard is the current township supervisor. Spoelhof is currently a trustee.

Allegan County

48th Circuit Court Judge (nonpartisan six-year term, new position)

Local Offices

Fourth Congressional District (two-year term)

  • Bill Huizenga (i), Republican

    • Huizenga is seeking an eighth term in congress. He represented the former 2nd District for six terms before winning election in the newly drawn 4th District in 2022.

  • Jessica Swartz, Democrat

    • Swartz is a former attorney for Western Michigan University and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

38th House District (two-year term)

43rd House District (two-year term)

  • Danene Shumaker, Democrat

85th House District (two-year term)

86th House District (two-year term)

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Our go-to guide for races in Ottawa, Allegan counties

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