Michigan’s 8th District race

D Democratic Kristen McDonald Rivet

Supports targeted cost-lowering and workforce development

McDonald Rivet emphasizes lowering daily expenses for groceries, housing, prescription drugs, and childcare while expanding workforce training for high-wage jobs. She also targets corporate tax breaks for data centers and opposed major federal budget reconciliation and tax legislation.

• Advocates workforce investments to prepare Michiganders for high-wage jobs
• Targeted tax breaks for data centers
• Voted NAY on H.R.1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act reconciliation legislation)

“to help level the playing field for working families. Kristen works with pragmatic leaders from both parties to lower the cost of groceries, housing and prescription drugs, and to invest in child care.”

“Michigan needs more high-wage jobs. Kristen will make sure we invest in our workforce to prepare Michiganders for the jobs of tomorrow because while college isn’t for everyone, good-paying jobs should be.”

R Republican Thomas J. Smith

Advocates tax cuts, deregulation, and spending cuts

Smith aligns with Donald Trump's 'America First' economic program to reduce inflation by curbing federal government spending and eliminating burdensome regulations. He advocates lowering taxes to ensure families retain more of their earnings.

• Campaigns on President Trump's America First agenda
• Calls for cutting wasteful federal spending
• Pledges to reduce regulations and lower taxes

“advance President Trump's America First agenda to lower costs for working families and make America affordable again.”

“Cutting wasteful spending, reducing regulations, and lowering taxes so families keep more of what they earn.”

D Democratic Kristen McDonald Rivet

Supports targeted enforcement and criminal detention rules

McDonald Rivet supported legislation expanding federal detention requirements for undocumented immigrants arrested for theft, burglary, or DUIs, while allowing states to sue the federal government over enforcement failures. However, she voted against mandatory proof-of-citizenship requirements for federal voter registration.

• Voted YEA on S.5 (Laken Riley Act) to detain undocumented immigrants arrested for theft or burglary
• Voted YEA on H.R.875 making DUIs grounds for deportation or inadmissibility
• Voted NAY on H.R.22 (SAVE Act) regarding voter registration proof of citizenship

R Republican Thomas J. Smith

Supports border wall completion and restoring deportations

Smith views illegal immigration as a national security crisis. He advocates completing the southern border wall, ending catch-and-release, and fully restoring deportation enforcement.

• Complete the southern border wall
• Restore federal deportation enforcement
• End catch-and-release policies

“Finishing the wall, restoring deportations, and ending catch-and-release to stop the national security crisis.”

D Democratic Kristen McDonald Rivet

Supports stock trading bans for members of Congress

McDonald Rivet introduced legislation banning members of Congress from trading stocks or participating in prediction markets, arguing elected officials should not enrich themselves while in office. She also voted to mandate the disclosure of unclassified investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

• Introduced legislation banning congressional stock trading and prediction market trading
• Voted YEA on H.R.4405 (Epstein Files Transparency Act)

“No one in government should be using their position to enrich themselves while working people struggle, regardless of Party.”

R Republican Thomas J. Smith

Supports congressional term limits and transparency

Smith advocates structural government reforms, promising to push for congressional term limits, greater federal transparency, and heightened accountability for career politicians.

• Pushes for congressional term limits
• Advocates government transparency
• Demands accountability for career politicians

“will push for term limits, government transparency, and accountability for career politicians.”

D Democratic Kristen McDonald Rivet

Supports firearm restrictions for dangerous individuals

McDonald Rivet supports gun safety regulations designed to keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals while protecting public safety.

• Pledges to keep guns out of dangerous hands
• Supports public safety initiatives

“keeping guns out of dangerous hands.”

R Republican Thomas J. Smith

Opposes federal gun control and defends 2nd Amendment

Smith promises to stand against federal overreach and protect First and Second Amendment constitutional rights for all citizens.

• Defends 1st and 2nd Amendment rights
• Opposes federal overreach on gun control

“Protecting the 1st and 2nd Amendment rights of every American against federal overreach.”

D Democratic Kristen McDonald Rivet

Supports legal abortion access and reproductive rights

McDonald Rivet places the protection of legal abortion access at the core of her platform, securing endorsements from major reproductive rights advocacy organizations.

• Pledges to defend abortion access
• Endorsed by Planned Parenthood Action Fund and EMILY's List

“defending the right to abortion”

D Democratic Kristen McDonald Rivet

Supports federal intervention to lower healthcare costs

McDonald Rivet prioritizes healthcare affordability, backing federal efforts to lower prescription drug costs and ensure accessible care for working families.

• Works to lower prescription drug costs
• Prioritizes healthcare affordability for working families

“lower the cost of groceries, housing and prescription drugs”

D Democratic Kristen McDonald Rivet

Opposes federal ban on transgender athletes in female sports

McDonald Rivet voted against federal legislation that aimed to bar biological males from participating in athletic programs designated for women or girls.

• Voted NAY on H.R.28 (Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025)