Joanna Whaley is a lifelong resident of Southeast Michigan. She is a parent and identifies as a transgender woman. She is of the Christian faith.

Joanna is a spiritual care provider. She works as a self-employed spiritual care provider, where she has been since returning to college. She previously worked as a pastor at one of Michigan’s largest megachurches, leading worship for congregations of tens of thousands each weekend, and as a musician and LGBTQ rights advocate within religious communities.

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Joanna is a spiritual care provider, where she has been since returning to college. She previously worked as a pastor at one of Michigan’s largest megachurches, leading worship for congregations of tens of thousands each weekend, and as a musician and LGBTQ rights advocate within religious communities.

Joanna Whaley's campaign for Michigan State Representative, District 2 is her first entry into politics.

Joanna's campaign for Michigan State Representative, District 2 is her first entry into politics.

2026 Michigan General Election

2026 Michigan Primary Election

Democrat

Nonpartisan

Republican

Supports lowering utility bills and ensuring fair treatment of consumers.

Supports fair wages and the right to negotiate pay.

Supports job training programs for those seeking to learn new skills.

Supports medical debt relief and fair insurance practices.

Supports holding corporations accountable for paying workers below the poverty line while earning huge profits.

- Supports lowering utility bills and ensuring fair treatment of consumers.
- Supports fair wages and the right to negotiate pay.
- Supports job training programs for those seeking to learn new skills.
- Supports medical debt relief and fair insurance practices.
- Supports holding corporations accountable for paying workers below the poverty line while earning huge profits.

Economy

Supports community policing programs that build trust between residents and officers.

Supports early intervention for individuals at risk of violence.

Supports "common-sense strategies to reduce gun violence."

Supports partnering with local organizations to prevent crime.

- Supports community policing programs that build trust between residents and officers.
- Supports early intervention for individuals at risk of violence.
- Supports "common-sense strategies to reduce gun violence."
- Supports partnering with local organizations to prevent crime.

Public Safety

Supports affordable, high-quality healthcare for all.

Wants to implement "stronger oversight to prevent insurance companies from denying or delaying coverage."

Supports providing medical debt relief for those struggling to pay their medical bills and cover basic necessities.

- Supports affordable, high-quality healthcare for all.
- Wants to implement "stronger oversight to prevent insurance companies from denying or delaying coverage."
- Supports providing medical debt relief for those struggling to pay their medical bills and cover basic necessities.
- Supports abortion access.

Healthcare

As of May 7, 2026, Joanna Whaley’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Education

Energy & the Environment

Transportation & Infrastructure

Voting & Elections

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Joanna Whaley

Mauricio Mendez

Graham Shirley

Frank A. Liberati

Gary Schlack

- A state representative is an elected member of the Michigan House of Representatives, which is the lower chamber of the Michigan Legislature.
- State representatives introduce, debate, amend, and vote on bills that become state laws.
- The Michigan House of Representatives consists of 110 members, each representing a specific district within the state.
- State representatives are elected to serve two-year terms and are limited to a combined total of 12 years in the Michigan Legislature under current term limit rules.
- Candidates must be at least 21 years old, a U.S. citizen, a registered voter, and a resident of Michigan and the district they represent.
- State representatives receive a salary set by the state, which is approximately $71,000 per year.

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Michigan House of Representatives