2 Southwest Michigan business owners vie to fill open seat in state House

KALAMAZOO, MI — Two candidates are vying for the Democratic nomination in next month’s primary for Michigan’s 40th House district.

Lisa Brayton and Matt Longjohn are battling to advance to November in the Tuesday, Aug. 6, primary. The top vote-getter will face Republican Kelly Sackett in the Nov. 5 election.

Michigan’s 40th district includes the city of Portage and parts of Texas Township and Oshtemo Township.

Christine Morse, D-Texas Township, currently holds the 40th district seat. However, instead of running for the seat again, Morse is running for 9th Circuit Court judge.

Brayton, 53, has co-owned and operated a dentistry business in Portage for almost 30 years. She graduated from University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry in 1998.

Brayton ran as a Republican for the Kalamazoo County Commission in 2020 before she was elected to a four-year term on the Portage City Council in 2021. She was disqualified from the city’s mayoral race in 2023 due to a residency issue.

Brayton’s campaign website can be found here.

Longjohn, also 53, teaches medical students at WMed and runs his own health systems consulting business. He also serves on the Portage Planning Commission.

Longjohn earned his bachelor’s degree from Kalamazoo College, an M.D. from Tulane University and a master’s in public health from Northwestern University, Internal Medicine Residency. He is nationally recognized as a public health expert, according to his submitted biography.

Longjohn ran against Republican Fred Upton for a U.S. House seat in 2018. He faced criticism for using the title M.D. in campaign materials.

His campaign website can be found here.

MLive has partnered with the League of Women Voters of Michigan Education Fund to provide voters with a Vote411 election guide with information about candidates in local primary races across the state. Candidates were asked to fill out information about their campaigns and answer a list of questions compiled by the League of Women Voters.

RELATED: Michigan voter guide now live for August primary

All responses in the voter guide were submitted directly by the candidate and have not been edited by the League of Women Voters or MLive, except for necessary cuts if a reply exceeded character limitations. Spelling and grammar were not corrected. Publication of candidate statements and opinions is solely in the interest of public service and should NOT be considered as an endorsement. The League never supports or opposes any candidates or political parties.

GENERAL BIO QUESTION: Why are you running for the Michigan State Legislature?

Brayton: I’m running for State House Representative, District 40 because I believe in creating a brighter, more equitable future for our community. As a lifelong resident of Michigan and a community advocate, I am ready to bring our voices to the State House. My vision for District 40 is clear, a community where affordable housing is accessible, where our children’s education sets them up for success, and where every resident’s well-being is a priority. I bring experience as a city councilwoman and significant experience working with the Portage mayor. I will champion policies to lower taxes, helping our elderly and low-income residents.

Longjohn: I am running for MI House District 40 for the same reason I went to medical school in the 1990s, the same reason I led a non-traditional career in health care, and the same reason I ran for Congress in 2018—because I have the opportunity to improve the health and quality of life of others. In 2016 I was identified as one of the nation’s top 100 innovators in health care, and if elected I’ll be the only physician in the MI Legislature. The opportunity to improve the health of all Michiganders is inspiring, and my focus will be to provide immediate leadership on policies to make our healthcare system more accessible, equitable, and affordable.

EDUCATION: What should Michigan do to provide an equitable, quality public education for all while addressing the current teacher shortage?

Brayton: Addressing resource allocation by ensuring equal access to funding, technology, and educational materials. Emphasize the importance of inclusivity. Provide support to students/teachers by giving incentives to become a teacher. Ie.: Help educators pay off student loans.

Longjohn: To ensure equitable, quality public education in MI and address the teacher shortage, we must increase education funding to offer competitive salaries and benefits, attracting and retaining educators, especially in underserved areas. It’s essential to recognize and support all school employees, fostering a community-focused environment through collaboration with organizations like MEA, AFT. Expanding early childhood education through Universal Pre-K and reducing turnover in these settings is critical. Additionally, we must focus on strengthening public schools and oppose the diversion of public funds to private, for-profit charter schools.

ENVIRONMENT: What do you see as the state’s role, if any, in mitigating the impact of climate change?

Brayton: To follow the MI Healthy Climate Plan. Following this plan will reduce the carbon footprint. Reuse, reduce.

Longjohn: The state plays a critical role in addressing climate change and fostering a sustainable future. I will advocate for climate justice policies, aiding workers and consumers in transitioning to a greener economy and ensuring disadvantaged communities are not left behind. I will hold polluters accountable for contamination to prevent cleanup costs from falling on taxpayers. Additionally, I will secure funding to upgrade water systems, address PFAS contamination, and support legislation for a modern, equitable transportation system with clean vehicle standards and investments in electric vehicle infrastructure and public transit.

RESIDENT RETENTION: What actions/proposals, if any, do you support to retain residents in our state?

Brayton: Luckily our state is beyond beautiful. But beauty itself will not accomplish the goal to have folks stay. I promise to focus on creating a robust economy that benefits all of us. I will work tirelessly to create an economic environment that fosters innovation, supports workforce development, and ensures that prosperity is shared across all sectors.

Longjohn: To retain residents in Michigan, I will focus on improving quality of life through better healthcare access, affordable housing, and economic opportunities. As the only physician in the legislature, I will address physician shortages and reduce barriers, particularly for reproductive and mental health care. To promote stablity, I will advocate for investing in affordable housing to help Michiganders live where they work. Additionally, ensuring livable wages, good benefits, and supporting strong labor unions will keep residents employed within the state. These initiatives improve the health and quality of life of all Michiganders.

Information on other state, county and local primary races can be found at Vote411.org.

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