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Mary Cavanagh is originally from Redford, Michigan. She studied anthropology at Michigan State University and earned a bachelor's degree in physical anthropology for Wayne State University. She lives in Redford, Michigan.

Mary previously worked as a director of project development at New Start Construction, LLC in Dearborn, Michigan. She also previously served as a program trainer at Community Opportunity Center in Livonia, and as an AmeriCorps member with City Year in Detroit. She also previously worked as an administrative assistant at New Horizons Case Management, as assistant campaign manager and community outreach coordinator for the Wayne County Executive Campaign, as assistant campaign manager for a Michigan House of Representatives campaign from 2012 to 2013. Mary also worked as and as an administrative assistant and office manager at MI Strategic Solutions in Redford. 

Wikipedia

Mary Cavanagh - Ballotpedia

Mary currently serves as State Senator for Michigan Senate District 6. She was first elected in 2022 and is serving her first term. She was previously elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2020, representing the 10th House District, and served one term. 

2026 Michigan General Election

2026 Michigan Primary Election

Democrat

Nonpartisan

Republican

Supports building an economy that works for everyone, emphasizing support for local businesses and providing workers with opportunities for skill development and high-wage employment.

Emphasizes support for local businesses and providing workers with opportunities for skill development and high-wage employment.

Supports repealing the Republican retirement tax.

Supports expanding the Working Families Tax Credit.

Supports $60 million to support small business start-ups.

Wants to pledge $60 million to support small business start-ups.

For Candidate Mary Cavanagh on Issue economy:  
Supports $10 million for minority-owned business initiatives.

Wants to provide $10 million for minority-owned business initiatives.

Supports providing over $20 million for community development financial institutions.

Supports providing $20 million in grants to address health and social services disparities.

Plans on providing $20 million in grants to address health and social services disparities.

Supports investing over $35 million to support arts and culture initiatives.

Supports $28 million for the skilled trades grant program.

Wants to allocate $28 million for the skilled trades grant program.

Supports the new Michigander fund with a $3 million investment.

For Candidate Mary Cavanagh on Issue economy:  
Supports allocating over $100 million to support housing affordability.

Wants to allocate over $100 million to support housing affordability.

- Emphasizes support for local businesses and providing workers with opportunities for skill development and high-wage employment.
- Supports repealing the Republican retirement tax.
- Supports expanding the Working Families Tax Credit.
- Wants to pledge $60 million to support small business start-ups.
- Wants to provide $10 million for minority-owned business initiatives.
- Supports providing over $20 million for community development financial institutions.
- Plans on providing $20 million in grants to address health and social services disparities.
- Supports investing over $35 million to support arts and culture initiatives.
- Wants to allocate $28 million for the skilled trades grant program.
- Supports the new Michigander fund with a $3 million investment.
- Wants to allocate over $100 million to support housing affordability.

Economy

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

Public Safety

For Candidate Mary Cavanagh on Issue healthcare: Supports access to affordable healthcare.

Supports access to affordable healthcare.

Supports lowering prescription drug costs.

For Candidate Mary Cavanagh on Issue healthcare:  
Supports expanding access to Medicaid.

For Candidate Mary Cavanagh on Issue healthcare:  
Supports mandated preventative care coverage.

Supports mandated preventative care coverage.

- Supports access to affordable healthcare.
- Wants to lower prescription drug costs.
- Supports expanding access to Medicaid.
- Supports mandated preventative care coverage.

Healthcare

For Candidate Mary Cavanagh on Issue education:  
Supports prioritizing equitable per-pupil funding.

Supports providing universal pre-K funding.

For Candidate Mary Cavanagh on Issue education: Advocates for transparency in for-profit charter schools.

Advocates for transparency in for-profit charter schools.

Supports investments in facility and technology improvements for schools.

Prioritizes special needs and at-risk students.

For Candidate Mary Cavanagh on Issue education:  
Supports funding for essential tutoring and support in education.

Supports funding for essential tutoring and support in education.

Supports ensuring access to before and after school programs.

Plans to ensure access to before and after school programs.

For Candidate Mary Cavanagh on Issue education:  
Supports providing free breakfast and lunch for all students.

Supports providing free breakfast and lunch for all students.

- Prioritizes equitable per-pupil funding.
- Supports providing universal pre-K funding.
- Advocates for transparency in for-profit charter schools.
- Supports investments in facility and technology improvements for schools.
- Prioritizes special needs and at-risk students.
- Supports funding for essential tutoring and support in education.
- Plans to ensure access to before and after school programs.
- Supports providing free breakfast and lunch for all students.

Education

Supports investing in regional transportation to connect communities.

- Supports investing in regional transportation to connect communities.

Transportation & Infrastructure

For Candidate Mary Cavanagh on Issue energy-and-environment:  
Supports transitioning to equitable clean energy.

Prioritizes transitioning to equitable clean energy.

- Prioritizes transitioning to equitable clean energy.

Energy & the Environment

Voting & Elections

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Mary Cavanagh

Supports delivering real results for families and future through various reforms and support initiatives.

Supports opportunities for students to pursue career and technical education.

Mary Cavanagh is from Redford Township, Michigan. She has a bachelor 27s degree in anthropology from Wayne State University. 

Before taking public office, Mary worked as a director for a company dedicated to preserving home ownership and community revitalization. She also worked as a direct care worker for individuals with behavioral and intellectual challenges and served as an AmeriCorps member, working in Detroit Public Schools to combat the school-to-prison pipeline. 

Mary is currently a member of the Michigan State Senate representing District 6. She was elected in 2022 and is currently serving her first term. Before her election to the Senate, she served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2021 to 2022.

Supports investments in affordable housing, small businesses, and access to affordable healthcare, while advocating for the expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit and the repeal of the Retirement Tax.

For Candidate Mary Cavanagh on Issue economy:  
Supports providing relief and grant opportunities to small businesses.

Supports maintaining funding for the MI Reconnect Program.

Prioritizes funding for Black and Brown start-up businesses.

Supports increasing workforce development and skilled-trade opportunities.

Supports investing in technological advances for the state.

Supports expanding paid sick leave for Michigan workers.

Supports universal and affordable childcare options.

Wants to hold utility companies accountable for outages and pollution.

For Candidate Mary Cavanagh on Issue economy:  
Supports cracking down on corporate price gouging.

Supports preventing source of income discrimination in rental applications.

For Candidate Mary Cavanagh on Issue public-safety:  
Supports safeguarding access to the ballot box.

Supports protecting reproductive rights for all.

Supports equitable funding in underserved areas for healthcare.

Supports increased access and awareness to mental health supports.

Supports prioritizing equitable per-pupil funding.

For Candidate Mary Cavanagh on Issue education:  
Advocates for transparency in for-profit charter schools.

Supports investing in students who want to pursue teaching degrees.

Mary is a state senator. Before taking office, she served in the Michigan House of Representatives. She has also worked as a director for a company dedicated to preserving home ownership and community revitalization, as a direct care worker for those with behavioral and intellectual challenges, and as an AmeriCorps member, serving in Detroit Public Schools. 

Supports repealing the "Republican retirement tax."

Supports expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Supports providing relief and grant opportunities to small businesses.

Supports maintaining funding for the Michigan Reconnect Program, which provides financial assistance for adults seeking to earn a college degree or vocational training in Michigan.

Supports prioritizing funding for Black and Brown start-up businesses.

Supports investing in technological advances for Michigan.

Supports universal and affordable childcare.

Supports holding utility companies accountable for outages and pollution.

Supports reducing corporate price increases.

Supports "continuing to prioritize equitable per-pupil funding."

Supports providing universal pre-kindergarten education.

Supports transparency in for-profit charter schools.

Supports investing in facility and technology improvements for K-12 schools.

Supports students pursuing career and technical education.

Supports prioritizing special needs and at-risk students.

Supports funding for essential tutoring and academic support.

Supports access to before and after school programs.

Supports transitioning to "equitable clean energy."

Pavel Tantchev

Graham Shirley

Stephen Jensen

- Your state representative represents the interests of your district in the Michigan State Senate.
- Your state senator can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws after going through the legislative process.
- The State Senate, along with the State House of Representatives, makes up your state's lawmaking body: the Michigan Legislature.
- There are 38 Michigan senators, each representing a single district.
- State Senators are elected to four-year terms. They are paid a yearly salary of $71,685 and a yearly per diem of $10,800.

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Michigan State Senate.