Kris Pachla earned undergraduate degrees in mathematics, physics, and education from Grand Valley State University, followed by a Ph.D. in Education Policy. He is married and has children.

Kris is a County Commissioner. He previously worked as a high school physics teacher in public schools, as a coordinator for national STEM and workforce programs, and as a City Commissioner.

Kris Pachla - Ballotpedia

Kris has professional experience working as an educator. He began his career teaching high school physics in public schools and has subsequently worked nationally on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and workforce development programs.

Kris Pachla's campaign for the Michigan House of Representatives, District 80, is his first campaign for state office.

Kris's campaign for the Michigan House of Representatives, District 80, is his first campaign for state office.

2026 Michigan General Election

2026 Michigan Primary Election

Democrat

Nonpartisan

Republican

For Candidate Kris Pachla on Issue economy: Supports strengthening and expanding support for labor unions, prioritizing responsible contracting, and removing barriers to organizing.

Supports strengthening and expanding support for labor unions, prioritizing responsible contracting, and removing barriers to organizing.

Supports implementing at least three months of paid maternity leave and one month of family leave for the non-birth parent through a shared fund for employers.

Supports increasing the minimum wage beyond $15 per hour to a livable wage.

Supports investing in affordable housing by increasing housing stock, improving renter’s rights and eviction protections, and disincentivizing poor rental conditions and corporate ownership of housing units.

Supports getting money out of politics to uplift the voices of all people, not just the wealthy.

- Supports strengthening and expanding support for labor unions, prioritizing responsible contracting, and removing barriers to organizing.
- Supports implementing at least three months of paid maternity leave and one month of family leave for the non-birth parent through a shared fund for employers.
- Supports increasing the minimum wage beyond $15 per hour to a livable wage.
- Supports investing in affordable housing by increasing housing stock, improving renter’s rights and eviction protections, and disincentivizing poor rental conditions and corporate ownership of housing units.
- Supports getting money out of politics to uplift the voices of all people, not just the wealthy.

Economy

Supports implementing and strengthening gun safety regulations, including red flag and storage laws.

- Supports implementing and strengthening gun safety regulations, including red flag and storage laws.

Public Safety

Supports women's reproductive freedom, including the right to choose to have an abortion, as critical healthcare available to all.

Wants to increase access to mental health services by improving funding for local providers and requiring coverage as part of insurance plans.

- Supports women's reproductive freedom, including the right to choose to have an abortion, as critical healthcare available to all.
- Wants to increase access to mental health services by improving funding for local providers and requiring coverage as part of insurance plans.

Healthcare

Supports modernizing the school funding system for K-12 and preschools to ensure equitable support for students and flexibility in funding allocation.

Supports empowering educators through fair teacher pay and increased funding for school counselors, mental health professionals, and supplementary positions that enhance student well-being.

Supports permanently funding free school lunches for all children.

Supports investing in higher education for both two-year and four-year institutions by supporting operational budgets and permanently funding the Michigan Achievement Scholarship.

Supports increasing access, affordability, and quality of Pre-k programs, including innovative solutions like Tri-Share and improving capital access for more seats.

- Supports modernizing the school funding system for K-12 and preschools to ensure equitable support for students and flexibility in funding allocation.
- Supports empowering educators through fair teacher pay and increased funding for school counselors, mental health professionals, and supplementary positions that enhance student well-being.
- Supports permanently funding free school lunches for all children.
- Supports investing in higher education for both two-year and four-year institutions by supporting operational budgets and permanently funding the Michigan Achievement Scholarship.
- Supports increasing access, affordability, and quality of Pre-k programs, including innovative solutions like Tri-Share and improving capital access for more seats.

Education

For Candidate Kris Pachla on Issue energy-and-environment:  
Supports stopping backroom deals for data centers and enacting guardrails to minimize impacts on electric rates, the environment, and water resources.

Supports stopping backroom deals for data centers and enacting guardrails to minimize impacts on electric rates, the environment, and water resources.

Supports enacting a Ratepayer Bill of Rights that includes fair compensation for outages, accountability for utility rates, and expanded ability for residents to generate their own energy.

Supports protecting the Great Lakes by investing in municipal water systems, incentivizing rain capture systems, and setting limits on water consumption for high-use industries and new housing developments.

Supports holding polluters accountable for environmental destruction.

Supports incentivizing recycling by investing in infrastructure and fixing Michigan’s broken bottle bill.

Supports creating sustainability and climate policy rooted in science, emphasizing that good environmental policy benefits both the environment and the economy.

- Supports stopping backroom deals for data centers and enacting guardrails to minimize impacts on electric rates, the environment, and water resources.
- Supports enacting a Ratepayer Bill of Rights that includes fair compensation for outages, accountability for utility rates, and expanded ability for residents to generate their own energy.
- Supports protecting the Great Lakes by investing in municipal water systems, incentivizing rain capture systems, and setting limits on water consumption for high-use industries and new housing developments.
- Supports holding polluters accountable for environmental destruction.
- Supports incentivizing recycling by investing in infrastructure and fixing Michigan’s broken bottle bill.
- Supports creating sustainability and climate policy rooted in science, emphasizing that good environmental policy benefits both the environment and the economy.

Energy & the Environment

Supports improving public transportation options, including local buses, light rail, and statewide high-speed rail.

- Supports improving public transportation options, including local buses, light rail, and statewide high-speed rail.
- Supports improving public transportation options, including local buses, light rail, and statewide high-speed rail.

Transportation & Infrastructure

As of May 1, 2026, Kris Pachla’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Voting & Elections

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Kris Pachla

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Graham Shirley

Kristen Fauson

Lily Cheng-Schulting

- 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