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State Representative District 1

August 4, 2026 · State House District 1; Michigan · State house district · primary

Vote impact: High
How do we calculate vote impact?

Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).

Representation: High · 79 out of 100

Smaller districts give each vote more weight, and this district is small for its type. About 89,290 people live here.

score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(95,071 ÷ 89,290) ÷ ln(95,071 ÷ 87,822) = 79.1, comparing state house districts in MI (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)

Decisiveness: Unknown

No past results for this contest yet.

High representation + unknown decisiveness → High vote impact.

Some data is missing, so this rating is based on partial information and capped at "High".

This office is responsible for:

  • Voting on state laws and the state budget
  • Representing their district in the statehouse
  • Serving on committees that shape bills before final votes
  • Helping district residents deal with state agencies

Affected Areas: Environment and Public Health, Reduce Wealth Gap, Anti-Corruption, Government Efficiency, Healthcare Affordability, Government Spending Reduction, Public Safety and Crime Control, Housing Affordability, Social Programs and Welfare, Public Education Quality, Gun Control, Women's Reproductive Rights, Election Integrity, Personal Income Tax Reduction, Data Privacy, Civil Rights, Corporate Accountability, Public Infrastructure

Candidates

Jermaine Tobey

Democratic · declared

Jermaine Tobey is a Democratic candidate for the Michigan House of Representatives in District 1, which covers southwest Detroit, River Rouge, and Ecorse. He filed for the August 2026 Democratic primary, challenging incumbent Representative Tyrone Carter.

Teddy Dorsette III

Democratic · declared

Teddy Dorsette III is a Democratic candidate for the Michigan House of Representatives in District 1 (southwest Detroit, River Rouge, and Ecorse), running in the August 2026 primary. He is a Deaf community advocate from Detroit and has served as a member of Michigan's Division on Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing council.

Tyrone Carter

Democratic · Incumbent · declared

Tyrone Carter is a Democratic member of the Michigan House of Representatives representing District 1, which covers parts of southwest, west, and central Detroit along with River Rouge and Ecorse. First elected in 2018, he is a graduate of Southwestern High School and Central Michigan University and spent 25 years with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, retiring as an Executive Lieutenant in 2008.

Valerie Whittaker

Republican · declared

Valerie Whittaker is the Republican candidate for the Michigan House of Representatives in District 1, which covers southwest Detroit, River Rouge, and Ecorse. She is running in the August 2026 primary and previously ran for the same seat in 2024, losing the general election to incumbent Tyrone Carter.

Election sources

Source: mi-boe.entellitrak.com