McClusky upsets DeBoer in state's 86th, earning historic win; Huizenga, McCann in dead heat

OTTAWA COUNTY — As election results rolled in on Wednesday morning, a major national "blue wave" reshaped the political landscape across the United States.

Democrats scored significant victories nationwide, picking up the Michigan U.S. Senate seat, crucial governorships and securing majorities in Congress alongside top-of-the-ticket triumphs in Michigan.

Read More: El-Sayed wins historic Senate race as blue wave flips power in Congress, keeps Dems in Lansing

Ottawa County also saw an upset with Democrat Joseph McClusky unseating two-term Republican incumbent Nancy DeBoer in Michigan’s 86th State House District.

As of 4:35 a.m., McClusky had 22,737 votes to DeBoer's 21,236, with 93% of precincts reporting.

“Tonight, the voters of House District 86 sent a clear message that they are ready for leadership focused on lowering costs, strengthening our schools, protecting good jobs, and making government more accountable for the people it serves,” McClusky said in a statement declaring victory.

“I am deeply grateful to every voter who placed their trust in me, every volunteer who knocked doors and made calls, and everyone who supported this campaign along the way. We built this campaign by listening to people across the district and focusing on the issues that matter most in their daily lives.”

Read More: Joseph McClusky on state seat run as Ottawa Democrat: ‘We can and we must do better’

McClusky made history as being the first Democrat to ever be elected to represent the Holland area in the state House.

“From day one, this campaign has been about making life more affordable, government more accountable, and bringing forward the Holland that we know to be true," McClusky said. "Tonight, voters here in Holland showed that this community is ready for a new generation of leadership.”

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to represent this district in Lansing. Now the real work begins, and I’m ready to get to work for every person in House District 86, whether they voted for me or not.”

DeBoer, the former Holland mayor, is the sitting chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee. The defeat marks a stunning upset in a historical Republican stronghold district.

Fourth Congressional race too close to call

Meanwhile, the race between incumbent Republican Bill Huizenga and Democratic State Sen. Sean McCann remained too close to declare a winner.

As of 4:37 a.m., Huizenga had a razor-thin lead over McCann by just 2,647 votes, with 87% of precincts reporting — in a race with 324,509 ballots counted so far.

The district's footprint spans Ottawa, Allegan, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, Calhoun and Berrien counties and will determine who will represent the shoreline in Washington.

Huizenga is seeking a seventh two-year term in the House. McCann served two terms in the Michigan House before serving eight years in the Michigan Senate.

Moss elected to state House

Other races of note included far-right Republican Joe Moss, co-founder of the conservative platform Ottawa Impact, winning the race for Michigan's 89th District.

Moss defeated Democrat Meegan Zickus 62.4%-37.6%, with 99% of precincts reporting, to fill the open seat.

Because Moss is a sitting Ottawa County commissioner, the body must appoint someone to serve the rest of his current term, which expires at the end of 2028.

Wetzel beats Kleinjans in Senate race

West Michigan businessman John Wetzel, a Republican, defeated former Ottawa County Commissioner Chris Kleinjans, a Democrat, in the race for the state Senate's 89th District, 57.7-42.3%, with 97% of precincts reporting.

The seat was open because current Sen. Roger Victory (R-Hudsonville) is term-limited.

Victory, a Republican, was seeking a seat on Michigan State University's Board of Trustees, but came in third to Democrat incumbents Branna Scott and Kelly Tebay Zemke.

Other races

• Michigan Senate District 30: Democrat Carol Glanville defeated incumbent Mark Huizenga, 54.9%-45.1%. The district has been highly contested since Huizenga defeated Democrat David LaGrand, who serves as Grand Rapids’ mayor, by less than 400 votes in the 2022 election.
• Michigan House District 85: Republican incumbent Brad Slagh won a fifth term to the House, defeating Democratic challenger Richard Abraham, 67.5%-32.5%.
• Michigan House District 88: Republican incumbent Greg VanWoerkem beat Democrat Kiel Reid 53.9%-46.1%, earning a fifth term.

Parks millage increase passes

County voters also passed a 10-year parks and conservation millage by a 55% to 45% margin, securing a dedicated funding stream for local outdoor space and recreational infrastructure through 2036.

The newly approved ballot measure increases the county’s total taxable property rate limitation under Article IX, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution of 1963 by up to 0.20 mills — or 20 cents per $1,000 of taxable value.

The vote builds on momentum from the August primary election, when voters approved the renewal and Headlee restoration of the baseline 0.33-mill Parks and Open Space Millage.

While the August renewal ensures ongoing funding for primary park operations, maintenance, and facility upkeep, the November 0.20-mill increase provides dedicated expansion capital to meet the demands of a growing population.

If levied in full, the 0.20-mill increase is projected to raise an estimated $3,763,230 in 2027, its first calendar year. Combined with the restored 0.33-mill base rate, the county's total parks millage rate will reach up to 0.53 mills starting in 2027.

School efforts receive mixed verdicts

Voters across Ottawa, Kent, Muskegon, and Allegan counties delivered a mixed verdict on local school ballot measures, approving a major capital bond in Grand Haven while showing strong fiscal pushback against school tax proposals in Hudsonville and Kenowa Hills.

Major $98.5M bond victory in Grand Haven

Grand Haven Area Public Schools secured voter approval for its $98,550,000 bond proposal, passing 56% to 44%.

The general obligation unlimited tax bond allows the district to issue debt in one or more series to finance comprehensive infrastructure improvements across Ottawa and Muskegon counties.

The passage marks a victory for the district, which saw voters reject two similar efforts in 2023.

District funds will go toward constructing, remodeling, and expanding school buildings and facilities, furnishing and equipping academic spaces with instructional technology, upgrading athletic play fields, playgrounds, and outdoor structures, and purchasing new school buses.

Hudsonville splits votes: Operating millage passes, sinking fund fails

Voters in Hudsonville Public Schools, spanning Ottawa and Allegan counties, took a divided approach, narrowly approving state-mandated operating revenue while rejecting facility maintenance funding.

Voters approved the operating millage renewal by a vote of 52% to 48%, authorizing a five-year renewal from 2028 to 2032 of up to 19.6911 mills on non-homestead properties such as businesses and second homes. This measure allows the district to levy the standard 18 mills required to receive its full state funding allowance, raising approximately $9,560,000 in 2028.

In contrast, voters rejected the sinking fund millage renewal by a 51% to 49% margin. The defeat halts a five-year renewal of the district's 0.9709-mill building and site sinking fund, blocking a projected $2,740,000 in annual revenue starting in 2028 that would have funded land acquisition, building repairs, technology upgrades, and security improvements.

Kenowa Hills voters reject 10-year operating millage

In Kenowa Hills Public Schools, serving Kent and Ottawa counties, voters decisively rejected the district's operating millage renewal proposal by a margin of 59% to 41%.

The 10-year proposal for 2027 through 2036 asked to authorize up to 20 mills on non-homestead property to maintain the statutory 18-mill levy needed for the district's full per-pupil state funding allowance. The defeat puts roughly $17,226,786 in annual operating revenue in jeopardy following the expiration of the previous authorization.

Turnout

Voter turnout in Ottawa County was 65.14%, according to the county clerk's office, with more than 161,526 ballots cast.

The turnout was lower than the 75.58% of voters who cast ballots in the 2024 presidential election year; however, it was in line with midterm turnout in 2022 (64.66%) and 2018 (68.11%)

For a list of full results, click here.

— Sarah Leach is the executive editor of the Ottawa News Network. Contact her at sleach@ottawanewsnetwork.org. Follow her on Twitter @ONNLeach.