6 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
6 candidates · ballot order · Debbie Dingell currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Automotive industry policy and manufacturing jobs, drawing on her career at General Motors.
Environmental protection and the Great Lakes; she is endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund.
Gun violence prevention; she is endorsed by Giffords.
Labour rights and public education; she is endorsed by the Michigan AFL-CIO and the Michigan Education Association.
Engagement with Michigan's Arab American and Muslim communities; she is endorsed by Emgage Action.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative since January 2015, for the 6th District since 2023; re-elected in 2024 with 62%.
Former General Motors executive; widow of Rep. John Dingell, who held a version of this seat for 59 years.
Unopposed for the Democratic nomination in the August 4, 2026 primary.
Arguments in favor
State labour and teachers' organisations endorsed her, alongside the main environmental and gun safety groups.
— Michigan AFL-CIO, Michigan Education Association, League of Conservation Voters Action Fund and Giffords
Middle East diplomacy and Arab American civic organisations also endorsed her, in a district with one of the largest Arab American populations in the country.
— J Street, the Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs and Emgage Action
Arguments against
The Republican National Committee's research operation circulated a clip in June 2026 of her repeatedly swearing while defending her record on Cuba and Venezuela, which Republicans used to argue she reacts badly to scrutiny of her voting record.
— RNC Research, reported by the Daily Caller
What we couldn’t verify
The clip was distributed by a party research operation and reported by an openly conservative outlet; Dingell's own account of the exchange was not located.
No criticism of her by name from Heather Smiley's campaign or from the National Republican Congressional Committee was located.
Her 2026 fundraising was not established from sources read.
LGBTQ inclusion within the Republican Party; she is endorsed by the Log Cabin Republicans.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Unopposed for the Republican nomination in the August 4, 2026 primary.
Endorsed by the Log Cabin Republicans.
Has not held elected office.
We found no published arguments for or against this candidate.
What we couldn’t verify
Smiley's biography and most of her policy positions could not be established: no campaign website, candidate questionnaire or news profile covering her was located beyond the primary result. The positions list is limited to what her single reported endorsement indicates.
No published criticism of Smiley by name could be found. Sources checked: her name with 'criticism', against Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee material, against Debbie Dingell's campaign, and against Michigan Daily, Michigan Advance and Detroit News coverage.
Her fundraising was not established from sources read; the district voted Democratic by more than twenty points in 2024.
Libertarian candidate for Michigan's 6th District in the November 3, 2026 general election.
We found no published arguments for or against this candidate.
What we couldn’t verify
Teagan's biography and policy positions could not be established: no campaign website, candidate questionnaire or news profile was located. The positions list is left empty rather than filled with guesses.
No published criticism of Teagan by name could be found, and no published case for this candidacy beyond the ballot listing.
U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate for Michigan's 6th District in the November 3, 2026 general election.
We found no published arguments for or against this candidate.
What we couldn’t verify
Mickevicius's biography and policy positions could not be established: no campaign website, candidate questionnaire or news profile was located. The positions list is left empty rather than filled with guesses.
No published criticism of Mickevicius by name could be found, and no published case for this candidacy beyond the ballot listing.
Green Party candidate for Michigan's 6th District in the November 3, 2026 general election.
We found no published arguments for or against this candidate.
What we couldn’t verify
Shabazz's biography and policy positions could not be established: no campaign website, candidate questionnaire or news profile was located. The positions list is left empty rather than filled with guesses.
No published criticism of Shabazz by name could be found, and no published case for this candidacy beyond the ballot listing.
Working Class Party candidate for Michigan's 6th District in the November 3, 2026 general election.
We found no published arguments for or against this candidate.
What we couldn’t verify
Rayburn's biography and policy positions could not be established: no campaign website, candidate questionnaire or news profile was located. The positions list is left empty rather than filled with guesses.
No published criticism of Rayburn by name could be found, and no published case for this candidacy beyond the ballot listing.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Michigan held its primary on August 4, 2026. Democratic incumbent Debbie Dingell and Republican Heather Smiley both secured their nominations unopposed, according to the Michigan Daily; the Michigan Bureau of Elections' general election listing confirms Dingell as the Democratic nominee. Four minor-party candidates are also on the ballot: Libertarian Timothy A. Teagan, U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate Mike Mickevicius, Green Party candidate Clyde Shabazz and Working Class Party candidate Linda Rayburn. The district covers Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County plus parts of western and southern Wayne County. Roster confirmed against Ballotpedia and the Michigan Daily. Criticism of Smiley or of the four minor-party candidates by name could not be found, so their entries carry no arguments in either column. Candidates are listed in the order of the Michigan Bureau of Elections' general election candidate listing.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Michigan ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.