Lena Epstein
Republican · MI
Lena Epstein is a co-owner and executive of Vesco Oil Corporation and a fourth-generation University of Michigan graduate with a Ross MBA. Her stated priorities are keeping tuition and housing affordable, and opening more seats to in-state students.
Where Lena Epstein stands, based on their records
Supports
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties (2 records), Civil Rights (2 records)
Mixed record
Government Spending Reduction (1 support · 3 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 1 support · 3 oppose
Publicly supported the Paycheck Protection Program, saying the federal business loan program helped keep small businesses afloat.
June 22, 2020Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: govinfo.gov
Joined unanimous votes expanding child abuse prevention grants from eight to twelve and approving $523,500 for local prevention programs. The local funding covered three years.
December 14, 2016Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: irp.cdn-website.com
Joined a unanimous board vote setting the Children’s Trust Fund’s cash reserve target at $600,000 to $700,000.
April 13, 2016Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: irp.cdn-website.com
Moved to approve the Children’s Trust Fund’s proposed 2013 budget. The motion passed; the minutes gave no vote count.
April 11, 2012Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: irp.cdn-website.com
Track record — Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties · 2 support
Criticized government and donor pressure on campus speech at a University of Michigan Faculty Senate candidate forum.
September 24, 2026Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: michigandaily.com
Condemned racism and antisemitism after Charlottesville while defending Trump’s response and the right to free speech.
August 16, 2017Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: foxnews.com
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 2 support
Criticized the University of Michigan’s hesitation to identify antisemitism and defended Jewish students’ equal protection.
May 21, 2026Supports Civil Rights
Source: jewishinsider.com
Condemned racism and antisemitism after Charlottesville while defending Trump’s response and the right to free speech.
August 16, 2017Supports Civil Rights
Source: foxnews.com
Track record — General
General · 32 records
Epstein received The Detroit News editorial board's endorsement for the University of Michigan Board of Regents.
September 29, 2026
Source: bluewaterhealthyliving.com
Received Citizens for Traditional Values’s endorsement for the University of Michigan Board of Regents in the 2026 election.
September 15, 2026
Source: ctvmichigan.org
Received the Eastside Republican Club political action committee’s endorsement for University of Michigan regent.
September 6, 2026
Source: eastside-republican-club.com
Joined Michael Schostak in criticizing Derek Peterson’s political commencement remarks and his selection as speaker.
May 3, 2026
Source: jpost.com
Received the Michigan Republican Party’s endorsement for the University of Michigan Board of Regents.
March 28, 2026
Source: cbsnews.com
Amended her estate plan to include a six-figure planned gift supporting Detroit Historical Society operations.
January 16, 2026
Source: detroithistorical.org
Received Maggie’s List’s endorsement in her 2018 campaign for Michigan’s 11th Congressional District.
June 24, 2025
Source: maggieslist.org
Served as finance co-chair of the Michigan Republican Party.
October 14, 2024
Source: cbsnews.com
Helped establish an electric vehicle department at Vesco Oil. Served on Detroit Historical Society and Community Foundation boards. Also served on the Detroit Regional Chamber’s executive board and her family’s charitable foundation board.
January 24, 2024
Source: voyagemichigan.com
Received Rudy Giuliani’s endorsement for Michigan Republican Party chair. Claimed liberal counties had engaged in ballot dumping.
February 9, 2023
Source: jpost.com
Lost the University of Michigan regent general election, finishing third with 1,914,188 votes in the two-seat race.
November 8, 2022
Source: mvic.sos.state.mi.us
Served on the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Economic Equity and Inclusion Committee.
July 25, 2022
Source: detroitchamber.com
Helped organize a protest against Anthony Fauci’s commencement appearance at the University of Michigan.
May 7, 2022
Source: michiganadvance.com
Received the Michigan Republican Party’s regent endorsement and support from Rudy Giuliani at its convention.
April 23, 2022
Source: bridgemi.com
Called on Michigan Republican Party chair Ron Weiser to resign at the party’s convention.
April 23, 2022
Source: bridgemi.com
Donated to the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Powering the Economy committee during 2017–2018, according to Deadline Detroit.
October 23, 2021
Source: deadlinedetroit.com
Publicly backed James Craig for governor, praising his law enforcement work and community relationships in Detroit.
July 7, 2021
Source: foxnews.com
Lost Michigan’s 11th Congressional District general election to Haley Stevens, receiving 158,463 votes, or 45.16 percent.
November 6, 2018
Source: mvic.sos.state.mi.us
Received the National Rifle Association’s and The Detroit News’s endorsements for Michigan’s 11th Congressional District.
October 31, 2018
Source: wdet.org
Received Donald Trump’s and the Republican Jewish Coalition’s endorsements for her 2018 congressional campaign.
October 17, 2018
Source: timesofisrael.com
Was named to Crain’s Detroit Business’s 2018 Forty Under Forty class, according to the Detroit Regional Chamber.
September 6, 2018
Source: detroitchamber.com
Received the Susan B. Anthony List’s endorsement for Michigan’s 11th Congressional District.
April 13, 2018
Source: sbaprolife.org
Published a column supporting the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, praising its business deductions and lower income tax rates.
March 14, 2018
Source: theoaklandpress.com
Received VIEWPAC’s congressional endorsement and encouraged more conservative women to run for office in an interview.
February 15, 2018
Source: thestoryexchange.org
Expressed disagreement with President Trump over funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at a Detroit Regional Chamber panel.
June 2, 2017
Source: detroitchamber.com
Co-chaired Donald Trump’s Michigan campaign and publicly maintained her support after reports of his comments about women.
October 18, 2016
Source: interlochenpublicradio.org
Was reappointed to Michigan’s Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board for a term ending December 19, 2017. Also served on Temple Beth El and Anti-Defamation League boards, and Detroit Country Day’s alumni council.
December 19, 2014
Source: michigan.gov
Co-led Vesco Oil when it gained national certification as a business owned and controlled by women.
January 10, 2014
Source: vescooil.com
Backed Michigan’s consumer warning about falsely labeled motor oil and urged drivers to use oil meeting industry standards.
September 17, 2013
Source: theautochannel.com
Was appointed to Michigan’s Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board, which funded local prevention programs. Also served on the Alzheimer’s Association of Michigan board and a Jewish Federation marketing committee.
March 23, 2012
Source: michigan.gov
Co-invented a patented system that displayed sales videos to vehicle occupants and sent audio through their car radios.
October 27, 2009
Source: patentimages.storage.googleapis.com
Became marketing general manager at Vesco Oil, where she also served on the board. Helped introduce a company information system.
December 1, 2008
Source: prlog.org
Past race Lena Epstein ran in:
- Regent of the University of Michigan · November 3, 2026 · Michigan