Our go-to guide for races in Ottawa, Allegan counties
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)
Derek Dalman
Dalman is the deputy city attorney for Holland. Read about his candidacy here.
Campaign site: derekdalmanforjudge.com
Social: Derek Dalman for Probate Judge (FB)
Endorsements: Ottawa County Sheriff Steve Kempker and Susan Jonas, Retired 58th District Court Judge
Michael Zitta
Zitta is a Grand Haven private attorney. Read about his candidacy here.
Campaign site: zitta4judge.com
Social: Zitta for Probate Judge (FB)
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
Smith has worked in human resources for more than 25 years and currently is a chief human resources officer. This is the second time she is seeking the District 1 seat. Read about her candidacy here.
Campaign site: electdaniellesmith.com
District 2
Jordan Jorritsma, Republican
Jorritsma is the legislative director for Republican State Rep. Curt VanderWall, who represents Michigan's 102nd District. Read about his candidacy here.
Campaign site: jordanjorritsma.com
Social: Jordan Jorritsma (FB)
Chris Kleinjans, Democrat
Kleinjans is a Navy veteran who works as a community nutrition instructor. Read about his candidacy here.
Campaign site: kleinjansforcountycommissioner.com
Social: Chris Kleinjans for County Commissioner (FB), twitter.com/ChrisKleinjans
District 3
Doug Zylstra (i), Democrat
Zylstra has served as the District 3 commissioner since 2019. Read about his candidacy here.
Campaign site: zylstraforcountycommissioner.com
Social: Commissioner Zylstra (FB), twitter.com/OCCommZylstra
Orlando Estrada, Republican
Estrada has run for several offices in the past, including as a write-in candidate for Holland City Council in 2023.
Campaign site: vote4orlando.com
Social: Orlando Estrada for National Delegate (FB)
District 4
Jacob Bonnema (i), Republican
Bonnema, who works in the insurance industry, has served as the District 4 commissioner since 2023. Read about his candidacy here.
Campaign site: jacobbonnema.com
Social: Jacob Bonnema County Commissioner District 4 (FB)
Chris Crothers, Democrat
Crothers is a founder and head brewer at Tulip City Brewstillery in Holland. Read about his candidacy here.
Campaign site: crothersforcommissioner.com
Social: Chris Crothers for County Commissioner (FB)
District 5
Joe Moss (i), Republican
Moss, the current incumbent. He is the co-founder of Ottawa Impact.
Campaign site: joemoss.com
Social: Joe Moss for Ottawa County Commissioner (FB); @RealJoeMoss (X)
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.
Campaign site: kendrawenzel.com
Michelle Dieleman, Democrat
Dieleman is a small business owner, operating a salon for over 35 years and has served on several nonprofit boards.
Campaign site: michelle4commissioner.com
District 7
John Teeples, Republican
Teeples is an attorney with civil government experience and 31-year resident of Georgetown Township.
Campaign site: johnteeples.com
Social: John Teeples for Ottawa County Commissioner (FB)
Heather Majestic, Democrat
Majestic is an indirect sourcing manager, according to her LinkedIn.
District 8
Rebecca Patrick, Democrat
Patrick is a retired regional director for the combined departments of Natural Resources and Environmental Quality. Read about her candidacy here.
Campaign site: patrick4ottawa.com
Social: Becky Patrick for County Commissioner (FB), beckypatrickforcommissioner (Instagram)
Sylvia Rhodea (i), Republican
Rhodea, the current incumbent. She is the co-founder of Ottawa Impact.
Campaign site: sylviarhodea.com
Social: Sylvia Rhodea for Ottawa County Commissioner (FB); @SylviaRhodea (X)
District 9
Phil Kuyers, Republican
Kuyers served on the county commission from 2000 to 2022. Read about his candidacy here.
Campaign site: electphilkuyers.com
Angela Stanford-Butler, Democrat
Stanford-Butler is a brand manager for a local appliance and electronics company.
District 10
Josh Brugger, Republican
Brugger is a former Grand Haven City Council member who owns a home-building company in Grand Haven. Read about his candidacy here.
Campaign site: brugger4commissioner.com
Social: Josh M. Brugger (FB)
Endorsements: Roger Bergman, Denny Swartout (District 10 Commissioner 1996-2012), Ottawa County Sheriff Steve Kempker
Oliver Schampine, Democrat
Shampine is the youth ministry coordinator at a church in Grand Haven.
District 11
Alison Miedema (i), Republican
Miedema, the current incumbent. She is affiliated with Ottawa Impact.
Campaign site: allisonmiedema.com
Social: Allison Miedema for Ottawa County Commissioner (FB)
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
Campaign site: beckforpark.com
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)
Alice Bernal
Bernal is a private practice attorney in Dorr. Read about her candidacy here.
Campaign site: bernalforjudge.com
Social: Bernal for Judge (FB)
Jonathan Blair
Blair is the Allegan County Probate Court Administrator. Read about his candidacy here.
Campaign site: blairforallegan.com
Social: Blair for Allegan (FB)
Emily Jipp
Jipp is an assistant prosecutor in Van Buren County. Read about her candidacy here.
Campaign site: jippforjudge.com
Social: Jipp for Judge (FB)
Elizabeth Peterson
Peterson is an assistant prosecutor for Allegan County. Read about her candidacy here.
Campaign site: petersonforcircuitcourt.com
Social: Elizabeth Peterson for Circuit Court Judge (FB)
Endorsements: Allegan County Sheriff Frank Baker, Allegan County Prosecutor Myrene Koch
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.
Campaign site: huizengaforcongress.com
Jessica Swartz, Democrat
Swartz is a former attorney for Western Michigan University and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Campaign site: jessicaswartz.vote
38th House District (two-year term)
Joey Andrews (i), Democrat
Andrews, a lawyer and policy analyst, was first elected to the House in 2022 and is seeking re-election for the first time. Read The Sentinel’s coverage of his 2022 campaign here.
Campaign site: andrewsformichigan.com
Social: Joey for Michigan, (FB), Joey Andrews (X)
Kevin Whiteford, Republican
Whiteford, a CPA and business owner, is the husband of former State Rep. Mary Whiteford. He ran in 2022, earning the Republican nomination in the primary. Read The Sentinel’s coverage of his 2022 campaign here.
Campaign site: votekevinwhiteford.com
Social: Kevin Whiteford for State Representative (FB)
43rd House District (two-year term)
Rachelle Smit (i), Republican
Smit, the former Martin Township clerk, was first elected to the state legislature in 2022 and is seeking re-election for the first time. Read The Sentinel’s coverage of her 2022 campaign here.
Campaign site: smitforstaterep.com
Social: Rachelle Smit for State Representative of Michigan's 43rd District (FB)
Danene Shumaker, Democrat
Shumaker is an author and speaker from Plainwell.
Social: Danene K Shumaker (FB)
85th House District (two-year term)
Bradley Slagh (i), Republican
Slagh was first elected in 2018 and is seeking a fourth term in the House. Read about his re-election campaign here.
Campaign website: slaghformichigan.com
Social: State Representative Bradley Slagh (FB)
Marcia Mansaray, Democrat
Mansaray is currently the deputy health officer for the Ottawa County Department of Public Health. Read about her candidacy here.
Campaign site: marciaformichigan.com
Social: Marcia Mansaray (FB)
86th House District (two-year term)
Nancy DeBoer (i), Republican
DeBoer, Holland’s former mayor, was first elected in 2022 and is seeking a second term. She announced her re-election campaign in January. Read about her candidacy here.
Campaign site: nancydeboer.com
Social: State Representative Nancy DeBoer (FB)
Abby Klomparens, Democrat
Klomparens, who most recently worked for Sen. Gary Peters, announced her candidacy in March. Read about her candidacy here.
Campaign site: voteklomparens.com
Social: Abby Klomparens for State Representative (FB)
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Our go-to guide for races in Ottawa, Allegan counties
