Two businessmen from southwest Michigan are vying to fill a vacant seat in the state House of Representatives

KALAMAZOO, MI — Two candidates are vying for the Democratic nomination in next month’s primary for Michigan House District 40.

Lisa Brayton and Matt Longjohn are battling to advance to the November primary, which will be held on Tuesday, August 6. The candidate who gets the most votes will face Republican Kelly Sackett in the November 5 election.

Michigan’s 40th District includes the city of Portage and parts of Texas Township and Oshtemo Township.

Christine Morse, a Democrat from Texas Township, currently holds the 40th District seat. However, instead of running for the seat again, Morse is running for Ninth Circuit Court judge.

Brayton, 53, has co-owned and operated a dental business in Portage for nearly 30 years. She graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry in 1998.

Brayton ran as a Republican for the Kalamazoo County Commission in 2020 before being elected to a four-year term on the Portage City Council in 2021. She was disqualified from the city’s 2023 mayoral race due to a residency issue.

Brayton’s campaign website can be found here.

Longjohn, also 53, teaches medical students at WMed and runs his own health systems consulting firm. He also serves on the Portage Planning Commission.

Longjohn earned his bachelor’s degree from Kalamazoo College, a medical doctorate from Tulane University and a master’s degree in public health from Northwestern University’s Internal Medicine Residency. He is nationally recognized as a public health expert, according to his submitted biography.

Longjohn ran against Republican Fred Upton for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018. He faced criticism for using the MD title in campaign materials.

His campaign website can be found here.

MLive has partnered with the League of Women Voters of Michigan Education Fund to provide voters with a Vote411 election guide with information about candidates in local primaries across the state. Candidates were asked to fill out information about their campaigns and answer a list of questions compiled by the League of Women Voters.

RELATED: Michigan Voter Guide Now Available for August Primary

All voter guide responses were submitted directly by the candidate and were not edited by the League of Women Voters or MLive, other than necessary trims if a response exceeded the character limit. Spelling and grammar were not corrected. Publication of candidate statements and opinions is done solely in the interest of public service and should NOT be considered an endorsement. The League never supports or opposes any candidate or political party.

GENERAL BIOGRAPHICAL QUESTION: Why are you running for the Michigan State Legislature?

Brayton: I am running for State House Representative for District 40 because I believe in creating a brighter, more equitable future for our community. As a lifelong Michigander and community advocate, I am ready to bring our voices to the State House. My vision for District 40 is clear: a community where affordable housing is accessible, where our children’s education prepares them for success, and where the well-being of every resident is a priority. I bring experience as a City Councilmember and significant experience working with the Mayor of Portage. I will champion policies to reduce taxes, helping our elderly and low-income residents.

Long underwear: I am running for Michigan House District 40 for the same reason I went to medical school in the 1990s, the same reason I pursued a non-traditional career in healthcare, and the same reason I ran for Congress in 2018: because I have the opportunity to improve the health and quality of life of others. In 2016, I was identified as one of the nation’s top 100 healthcare innovators, and if elected, I will be the only physician in the Michigan Legislature. The opportunity to improve the health of all Michiganders is inspiring, and my goal will be to provide immediate policy leadership to make our healthcare system more accessible, equitable, and affordable.

EDUCATION: What should Michigan do to provide equitable, quality public education for all while addressing the current teacher shortage?

Brayton: Address resource allocation by ensuring equal access to funding, technology and educational materials. Highlight the importance of inclusion. Provide support to students and teachers by giving them incentives to become teachers. For example: helping educators pay off student loans.

Long underwear: To ensure equitable, quality public education in Michigan and address the teacher shortage, we must increase education funding to offer competitive salaries and benefits, attracting and retaining educators, especially in underserved areas. Recognizing and supporting all school employees, fostering a community-centered environment through collaboration with organizations like MEA and AFT, is essential. Expanding early childhood education through universal Pre-K and reducing staff turnover in these settings is critical. Additionally, we must focus on strengthening public schools and oppose the diversion of public funds to private, for-profit charter schools.

ENVIRONMENT: What do you consider to be the role of the State, if any, in mitigating the impact of climate change?

Brayton: Follow MI’s Healthy Climate Plan. Following this plan will reduce your carbon footprint. Reuse, reduce.

Long underwear: The state plays a critical role in combating climate change and promoting a sustainable future. I will champion climate justice policies, helping workers and consumers transition to a greener economy and ensuring disadvantaged communities are not left behind. I will hold polluters accountable to prevent cleanup costs from falling on taxpayers. Additionally, I will secure funding to improve water systems, address PFAS contamination, and support legislation for a modern, equitable transportation system with clean vehicle standards and investments in electric vehicle and public transit infrastructure.

RESIDENT RETENTION: What actions/proposals, if any, do you support to retain residents in our state?

Brayton: Fortunately, our state is more than just beautiful, but beauty alone won’t keep people coming. I promise to focus on building a strong economy that benefits us all. I will work tirelessly to create an economic environment that fosters innovation, supports workforce development, and ensures that prosperity is shared across all sectors.

Long underwear: To retain Michiganders, I will focus on improving quality of life through better access to health care, affordable housing, and economic opportunity. As the only physician in the legislature, I will address the physician shortage and reduce barriers, particularly when it comes to reproductive and mental health care. To promote stability, I will advocate for investment in affordable housing to help Michiganders live where they work. Additionally, ensuring living wages, good benefits, and supporting strong unions will keep residents employed within the state. These initiatives improve the health and quality of life for all Michiganders.

Information about other state, county and local primary elections can be found at Vote411.org.

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