Christopher O’Non

Staff Writer

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Politics can be a stressor for many people. During the 2024 presidential election, the American Psychological Association reported 69% of Americans felt a rise in anxiety because of voting. Walking into a voting booth with no understanding of the ballot was a key factor.

Today, first-time voters are facing something generations before them have never really experienced quite like this. Everyone has opinions: parents, professors, friends and politicians. Everybody fights for their opinion to be the popular one.

Social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and podcasts have given almost anyone the ability to look like an authority. Many people are getting clever with ways to misinform, create fake news, and manipulate videos and content. Figuring out what’s real can be complicated.

Just because someone says something confidently doesn’t mean you should believe it. If a candidate supposedly said something, find out whether they actually said it. Read their actual positions. Look at reputable reporting and original sources when available. Most importantly, make sure to pay attention to the difference between news, opinion, and somebody with a media platform who has a lot of confidence.

Being an informed voter doesn't mean spending the next month reading legislation online until your roommates stage an intervention to get you out to the bar. You don't need a political science degree to be informed. You just need the internet and the willingness to question what you're being told.

Even if you don't love politics, be a good citizen by knowing what you're voting on before Election Day, which is Tuesday, November 3rd. Find out who's running and what they stand for. Research the issues, especially the ones that matter to you the most.  Check the sources. Most of all, think for yourself.

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When everybody else is screaming about what you're supposed to think, just remember: you did your homework, you’re an informed voter, and you’re perfectly capable of making up your own mind. Our country's future belongs to all of us, and informed voters are part of a healthy democracy.

Let’s take a look into some of the candidates. The biggest race, of course, is for governor. Democrat Jocelyn Benson and Republican John James are the two major-party nominees. 

Governor’s race: Jocelyn Benson (D) vs John James (R)
Jocelyn Benson is currently Michigan’s Secretary of State, where she has served since 2019. Her main campaign focuses on affordability, with top priorities including lowering everyday costs and growing the state’s economy and wages. More specifically, her affordability agenda focuses on housing, health care and prescription drugs, childcare, and energy costs.

She is also focused on improving public education, government efficiency and ethics, protecting voting rights, and protecting communities and individual rights.
Specific proposals include increasing housing construction, creating a prescription drug affordability board, providing a $5,000 caregiver tax credit, expanding Rx Kids statewide, and lowering utility costs.

John James is currently a congressman for Michigan’s 10th Congressional District, which is located in the southeastern part of Michigan. He is also a West Point graduate, Army veteran, and former business executive.

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Like Benson, his campaign focuses on affordability and, more specifically, lowering taxes, housing prices, health care and energy costs, and creating greater economic opportunity. One of his main proposals is to eliminate the state’s individual income tax while cutting government spending and regulations. Other priorities include education reform and parental rights, government accountability and transparency, public safety, and infrastructure. 

Specific proposals include expanding school choice, auditing state spending, expanding government records subject to the Freedom of Information Act, and reducing regulations he believes increase costs for families and businesses.

Benson and James are both running on affordability and the state’s economy. The biggest differences between the two candidates are how they are proposing to handle it. Benson focuses on using state programs and policies to lower household expenses. James focuses on lowering taxes, reducing government spending and regulation, and encouraging private-sector economic growth.

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They also differ on the government’s role in education and voting. Benson is focused on public education, voting rights, and expanded government ethics measures. James emphasizes parental rights, school choice, and limiting state government.

U.S. Senate race: Abdul El-Sayed (D) vs Mike Rogers (R)
Another election drawing national attention is Michigan’s U.S. Senate race between Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers to replace retiring Senator Gary Peters. Recent polls show a competitive race, but they also vary depending on the poll. A Fox News poll has El-Sayed ahead by one point over Rogers. A Marist Poll, a survey of public opinion, has El-Sayed seven points ahead. 

Recently, both candidates were invited to an event hosted by the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance/Traverse Connect at the City Opera House in Traverse City called Agree to Disagree. Roughly 300 people attended.

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Moderated by Kyle Melinn, editor of the Michigan Information & Research Service (MIRS), the event featured political strategists John Sellek from the right, and Adrian Hemond from the left, who shared their perspectives on the upcoming election, the candidates, and the issues shaping the races.

After the panel discussion, Melinn interviewed El-Sayed, who focused on economic issues affecting northern Michigan. He talked about the rising costs of gas, groceries, housing, and health care and his support for Medicare for All.

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He also mentioned the need for greater regulation for short-term rentals, a hot-button issue in our region, stating that converting homes to vacation rentals reduces available housing and contributes to higher housing costs. Another mention was the war in Iran and its economic effects and rising energy costs. 
While Rogers was unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict, he is expected to participate in another local event on October 23, where he’ll have the opportunity to discuss his positions on key issues, making it easier for voters to compare the two candidates directly.

In the end, being an informed voter doesn’t have to be complicated. Take a little time to learn about the candidates, understand what they actually stand for, and fact-check what you hear along the way.

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 In today’s crazy political world, it’s more important than ever to be an informed voter.