Aric Nesbitt
Republican · MI · Michigan Senate Republican Leader representing Michigan's 20th Senate District
Official website · X (Twitter)
Aric Nesbitt grew up as the middle child on a six-generation family farm in West Michigan and earned an economics degree from Hillsdale College and a master's in international business. Elected in 2010, he served three terms in the state House.
Where Aric Nesbitt stands, based on their records
Supports
Government Efficiency (3 records), Government Spending Reduction (3 records), Public Education Quality (5 records),
Opposes
Healthcare Affordability (2 records), Gun Control (1 record), Women's Reproductive Rights (3 records),
Mixed record
Environment and Public Health (1 support · 4 oppose), Anti-Corruption (2 support · 1 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Healthcare Affordability
Healthcare Affordability · 2 oppose
On June 18, 2026, Aric Nesbitt voted against Senate Bill 973 to create a state-based Michigan health-insurance exchange; the Senate passed it 20-16.
June 18, 2026Opposes Healthcare Affordability
Source: michiganvotes.org · researched July 10, 2026
On April 24, 2025, Aric Nesbitt voted against Senate Bill 3 to create a prescription-drug cost and affordability review board; the Senate passed it 20-15.
April 24, 2025Opposes Healthcare Affordability
Source: michiganvotes.org · researched July 10, 2026
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 1 support · 4 oppose
Co-sponsored Senate Bill 273 to update water-quality protection fees and extend the program through 2030; the bill passed the Senate unanimously and became Public Act 26.
October 7, 2025Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: michiganvotes.org · researched July 25, 2026
On November 8, 2023, Aric Nesbitt voted against Senate Bill 273, part of Michigan's clean-energy and local-siting policy package; the Senate concurred in the House substitute 20-18.
November 8, 2023Opposes Environment and Public Health
Source: michiganvotes.org · researched July 10, 2026
Nesbitt's leadership committee, the Nesbitt Majority Fund, received three $10,000 donations from members of the Balkema family, owners of Michigan landfill and waste-hauling businesses, on March 29, 2021. An eight-bill recycling and solid-waste package (House Bills 4454-4461) that passed the House 87-17 in April 2021 sat in the Senate Regulatory Reform Committee he chaired with no hearing until the full Senate took it out of that committee in December 2022.
April 19, 2022Opposes Environment and Public Health
Source: mcfn.org · researched July 10, 2026
Aric Nesbitt sponsored House Bill 4885, signed on April 1, 2014 as Public Act 82, which reduced Michigan's severance tax on oil produced through enhanced-recovery projects.
April 1, 2014Opposes Environment and Public Health
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
On April 26, 2012, the Michigan House Natural Gas Subcommittee chaired by Aric Nesbitt released a report encouraging increased natural-gas production in Michigan.
April 26, 2012Opposes Environment and Public Health
Source: michiganpublic.org · researched July 10, 2026
Track record — Anti-Corruption
Anti-Corruption · 2 support · 1 oppose
Asked Michigan's auditor general to audit the Child Development and Care Program for fraud, waste, and appropriate use of more than $540 million in child-care subsidies.
January 2, 2026Supports Anti-Corruption
Source: misenategopcdn.s3.amazonaws.com · researched July 25, 2026
Aric Nesbitt co-sponsored Senate Bill 614, signed on December 8, 2023, which required personal financial disclosures from candidates for state office.
December 8, 2023Supports Anti-Corruption
Source: legislature.mi.gov · researched July 10, 2026
Nesbitt's leadership committee, the Nesbitt Majority Fund, received three $10,000 donations from members of the Balkema family, owners of Michigan landfill and waste-hauling businesses, on March 29, 2021. An eight-bill recycling and solid-waste package (House Bills 4454-4461) that passed the House 87-17 in April 2021 sat in the Senate Regulatory Reform Committee he chaired with no hearing until the full Senate took it out of that committee in December 2022.
April 19, 2022Opposes Anti-Corruption
Source: mcfn.org · researched July 10, 2026
Track record — Government Efficiency
Government Efficiency · 3 support
On April 28, 2026, Aric Nesbitt called for the immediate firing of a Michigan State Police deputy director after a new allegation of perjury.
April 28, 2026Supports Government Efficiency
Source: michiganadvance.com · researched July 10, 2026
On April 28, 2026, Aric Nesbitt called for the immediate firing of a Michigan State Police deputy director after a new allegation of perjury.
April 28, 2026Supports Government Efficiency
Source: senatoraricnesbitt.com · researched July 10, 2026
Asked Michigan's auditor general to audit the Child Development and Care Program for fraud, waste, and appropriate use of more than $540 million in child-care subsidies.
January 2, 2026Supports Government Efficiency
Source: misenategopcdn.s3.amazonaws.com · researched July 25, 2026
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 3 support
On May 14, 2025, Aric Nesbitt voted against Senate Bill 173, the fiscal-year 2025-2026 general-government budget; the Senate passed it 19-17.
May 14, 2025Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: michiganvotes.org · researched July 10, 2026
Supported bipartisan supplemental budget bills addressing a $2.2 billion deficit through spending cuts, hiring freezes, rainy-day funds, and federal relief, including $555 million for schools, $200 million for higher education, and $350 million for local governments.
July 22, 2020Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: misenategop.com · researched July 25, 2026
On June 30, 2011, Aric Nesbitt voted for Senate Bill 7, which required most government employees to contribute at least 20% toward employer-provided health benefits; the House passed it 56-52.
June 30, 2011Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: michiganvotes.org · researched July 10, 2026
Track record — Public Education Quality
Public Education Quality · 5 support
Supported bipartisan supplemental budget bills addressing a $2.2 billion deficit through spending cuts, hiring freezes, rainy-day funds, and federal relief, including $555 million for schools, $200 million for higher education, and $350 million for local governments.
July 22, 2020Supports Public Education Quality
Source: misenategop.com · researched July 25, 2026
A March 22, 2018 official release reported that under Lottery Commissioner Aric Nesbitt's management, the Michigan Lottery provided a record $924.1 million to the School Aid Fund.
March 22, 2018Supports Public Education Quality
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
As Michigan Lottery commissioner, wrote to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions asking him to preserve the federal Wire Act interpretation allowing online lottery sales, citing a projected $480 million in additional funding for Michigan schools over eight years.
May 15, 2017Supports Public Education Quality
Source: justice.gov · researched July 25, 2026
On June 9, 2016, Aric Nesbitt voted for House Bill 5384, part of the Detroit school restructuring package; the final House vote was 55-54 and the bill became Public Act 192.
June 9, 2016Supports Public Education Quality
Source: michiganvotes.org · researched July 10, 2026
On March 20, 2014, Aric Nesbitt voted for House Bill 4369 to codify the Education Achievement Authority for low-performing schools; the House passed it 56-54.
March 20, 2014Supports Public Education Quality
Source: michiganvotes.org · researched July 10, 2026
Track record — Gun Control
Gun Control · 1 oppose
On April 19, 2023, Aric Nesbitt voted against concurring in the House version of Senate Bill 83, Michigan's extreme-risk protection order law; the Senate concurred 20-17.
April 19, 2023Opposes Gun Control
Source: michiganvotes.org · researched July 10, 2026
Track record — Women's Reproductive Rights
Women's Reproductive Rights · 3 oppose
On December 12, 2024, Aric Nesbitt voted against Senate Bill 1152, which would limit use of civil process against reproductive-health providers and create a cause of action protecting access to reproductive-health services; the Senate passed it 20-16.
December 12, 2024Opposes Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: michiganvotes.org · researched July 10, 2026
On March 8, 2023, Aric Nesbitt voted against House Bill 4006, which repealed Michigan's criminal prohibition on administering drugs to procure a miscarriage; the Senate passed it 20-18.
March 8, 2023Opposes Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: michiganvotes.org · researched July 10, 2026
On July 1, 2022, Aric Nesbitt voted for House Bill 5559 to prohibit fetal-tissue research using tissue obtained from abortions; the Senate passed it 21-16.
July 1, 2022Opposes Women's Reproductive Rights
Source: michiganvotes.org · researched July 10, 2026
Track record — Data Privacy
Data Privacy · 1 support
Aric Nesbitt sponsored House Bill 5523, signed on December 27, 2012 as Public Act 478, which prohibited employers and educational institutions from requiring access to personal internet accounts.
December 27, 2012Supports Data Privacy
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 10, 2026
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 1 oppose
On June 16, 2026, Aric Nesbitt voted against Senate Bill 961 to create a Michigan Voting Rights Act; the Senate passed it 20-17.
June 16, 2026Opposes Civil Rights
Source: michiganvotes.org · researched July 10, 2026
Track record — Corporate Accountability
Corporate Accountability · 1 oppose
On June 25, 2026, Aric Nesbitt voted against Senate Bill 1042, which would prohibit excessive price increases for certain goods and services during a declared emergency; the Senate passed it 20-15.
June 25, 2026Opposes Corporate Accountability
Source: michiganvotes.org · researched July 10, 2026
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 1 support
On November 3, 2015, Aric Nesbitt voted for House Bill 4736, which increased vehicle registration taxes as part of Michigan's road-funding package; the final House vote was 54-53.
November 3, 2015Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: michiganvotes.org · researched July 10, 2026
Track record — General
General · 15 records
On June 22, 2026, Aric Nesbitt suspended his campaign for Governor and endorsed John James for Governor.
June 22, 2026
Source: michiganadvance.com · researched July 10, 2026
Nesbitt's press secretary and senior adviser co-founded a petition firm that was paid $40,000 by a political action committee backing his rival John James. Political operatives called it a conflict of interest, and the report said it broke no Michigan election law.
October 31, 2025
Source: michiganadvance.com · researched July 10, 2026
Offered two amendments to Senate Bill 6's prevailing-wage mandate: one allowing contracting agencies to opt out and another requiring an impact report and three-year sunset; both amendments failed 17-20.
March 14, 2023
Source: michiganvotes.org · researched July 25, 2026
On November 10, 2022, Michigan Senate Republicans elected Aric Nesbitt as Senate Republican Leader for the 2023-2026 term.
November 10, 2022
Source: misenategop.com · researched July 10, 2026
By July 26, 2022, Aric Nesbitt had endorsed Matthew DePerno for Michigan attorney general.
July 26, 2022
Source: axios.com · researched July 10, 2026
On December 9, 2021, Aric Nesbitt voted for Senate Bill 278, part of a Republican election-rules package; the Senate passed it 21-16.
December 9, 2021
Source: michiganvotes.org · researched July 10, 2026
On October 26, 2021, Aric Nesbitt voted for Senate Bill 603 to restrict school face-mask mandates; the Senate passed it 19-15.
October 26, 2021
Source: michiganvotes.org · researched July 10, 2026
Sponsored Senate Bill 434 to permit licensing of mobile cosmetology salons; Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the bill into law.
January 27, 2020
Source: michigan.gov · researched July 25, 2026
On December 15, 2016, the Michigan Legislature passed a major energy-policy rewrite after House Energy Policy chair Aric Nesbitt offered amendments and helped negotiate the package.
December 15, 2016
Source: michiganpublic.org · researched July 10, 2026
On December 14, 2016, an official Michigan House tribute credited Aric Nesbitt with serving as Majority Floor Leader, chairing energy committees, and sponsoring more than 25 public acts during his House tenure.
December 14, 2016
Source: renderpdf.legislature.mi.gov · researched July 10, 2026
On May 4, 2016, Aric Nesbitt sent a request asking Michigan's attorney general to take action against Detroit Public Schools teachers who participated in sickouts.
May 4, 2016
Source: wxyz.com · researched July 10, 2026
On December 16, 2015, Aric Nesbitt voted for Senate Bill 13 to eliminate Michigan's straight-ticket ballot option; the House passed it 54-52.
December 16, 2015
Source: michiganvotes.org · researched July 10, 2026
Aric Nesbitt sponsored House Bill 5606, signed on October 21, 2014 as Public Act 354, which expanded Michigan's motor-vehicle dealer restrictions affecting manufacturer direct sales.
October 21, 2014
Source: michiganvotes.org · researched July 10, 2026
Sponsored House Bill 4591 to exempt licensed security-alarm providers installing home-monitoring systems from electrician-licensing requirements; it became Public Act 69 after passing the House 106-2 and Senate 37-0.
June 25, 2013
Source: michiganvotes.org · researched July 25, 2026
On December 11, 2012, Aric Nesbitt voted for House Bill 4003 to prohibit most public-sector union contracts from requiring employees to join or financially support a union as a condition of employment.
December 11, 2012
Source: michiganvotes.org · researched July 10, 2026
Past race Aric Nesbitt ran in:
- Governor · August 4, 2026 · Michigan
Profile last researched August 7, 2026.