MORE 2026 SHIFTING

The early announcement of candidates for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Gary Peters, who is not running for reelection next year, has already scrambled a number of state House and Senate races as candidates line up for likely 2026 openings. Then add to that the impact of a federal court order in 2024 to have the state redistricting commission redraw six state Senate districts, which also impacted another eight districts once the commission effort was approved in July of 2024, all of which will be decided for the first time next year. Now comes incumbent Republican state Representative Donni Steele from the 54th district who, word has it, will be announcing at some point for one of the new Senate districts – the 23rd to be exact. The district, which has no sitting incumbent, will encompass Clarkston, a part of Waterford Township, and all of the following townships: Addison, Almont, Atlas, Brandon, Dryden, Hadley, Highland, Independence, Metamora. Oakland, Orion, Oxford and Rose. Steele was first elected to the state House in 2022 and again in 2024, beating Bloomfield Township Democrat Shadia Martini by just 48 votes in 2022 and 661 votes in 2024. Before Lansing, Steele spent time as a trustee and six years as treasurer in Orion Township. She has made her bones in the state House, establishing her rep as a hard-working conservative who is not afraid to break with the party on a vote when logic dictates. Once it becomes official, watch for jockeying to fill her House seat which includes part of north Oakland, along with Bloomfield Township, Auburn Hills and Bloomfield Hills.

Donni Steele