--- title: "Pooley vs. McClain: 2026 Michigan’s 9th District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-mi-09" updated: "2026-08-05" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Michigan’s 9th District race: Ray Pooley (D) vs. Lisa McClain (R) Rating: Safe R · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 5, 2026 The 2026 general election for Michigan's 9th Congressional District features incumbent Republican Lisa McClain facing Democratic challenger Ray Pooley. McClain, who serves as the House Majority Conference Chair, is running on a conservative platform emphasizing tax cuts, domestic energy expansion, strict border enforcement, and small-town values. Pooley, a CNC machinist and progressive challenger, centers his campaign on working-class economic policies, Medicare for All, support for small family farms, and sweeping government ethics reform. ## Candidates - **Ray Pooley** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://www.Pooley4Congress.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ray_Pooley) - **Lisa McClain** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://www.lisamcclainforcongress.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Lisa_McClain) ## Issues ### Economy and Labor Salience: high Pooley advocates raising taxes on corporations and high earners to fund working-class relief and mandatory profit sharing, whereas McClain signed a tax-pledge commitment and voted for federal spending caps and tax relief. **Ray Pooley:** Supports union labor and manufacturing Pooley advocates bringing manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. by supporting trade schools, protecting union organizing rights, and mandating employee profit sharing. He supports raising the minimum wage, capping CEO-to-worker pay ratios, and simplifying the tax code to tax corporations and the ultra-wealthy while cutting taxes for working families. - Pass legislation to incentivize domestic manufacturing and trade schools - Raise the minimum wage and institute a maximum CEO-to-worker pay ratio - Mandate profit-sharing for profitable corporations - Simplify the tax code, close corporate loopholes, and cut taxes for working families > “If we want to bring manufacturing back, elect a manufacturer.” > — Ray Pooley, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ray_Pooley) > “The working class has carried this nation on our backs for decades; it's time we reward hard work again by paying dignity wages and lowering taxes on working families.” > — Ray Pooley, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ray_Pooley) **Lisa McClain:** Supports tax cuts and spending limits McClain advocates for fiscal conservatism, tax relief, and federal spending reductions to promote business growth. She signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge and voted for major budget reconciliation legislation including H.R. 1 (2025) and the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023. - Signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge with Americans for Tax Reform - Voted for H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) in 2025 to address tax policy and debt limits - Voted for the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 to cap federal spending and raise the debt limit - Endorsed by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce PAC and Detroit Regional Chamber PAC > “FIGHTER FOR SMALL TOWN VALUES” > — Lisa McClain, via [Campaign site](https://www.lisamcclainforcongress.com) ### Healthcare Salience: high Pooley supports a universal single-payer Medicare for All system with federal IVF and childcare guarantees, while McClain favors market-based healthcare and holds anti-abortion group endorsements. **Ray Pooley:** Supports Medicare for All and IVF Citing personal experience with cystic fibrosis and family health struggles, Pooley treats healthcare as a human right and supports a universal Medicare for All system. He also advocates for guaranteed federal access to IVF, universal childcare services, and paid parental leave for newborns. - Enact Medicare for All to guarantee healthcare coverage and eliminate out-of-pocket medical bankruptcy - Protect and expand access to IVF treatment - Establish universal childcare services and guarantee one month of paid parental leave for newborns > “Healthcare isn't just policy, it's a human right, and Medicare For All is both the fiscally responsible thing to do and will ensure everyone is covered.” > — Ray Pooley, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ray_Pooley) **Lisa McClain:** Opposes government-run healthcare programs McClain favors market-driven healthcare policies and chaired the House Oversight Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services during the 118th Congress. She maintains strong anti-abortion endorsements and consistently votes against expanding federal healthcare mandates. - Served as Chairman of the House Oversight Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services in the 118th Congress - Endorsed by Right to Life of Michigan PAC and Citizens for Traditional Values PAC - Voted to end the national COVID-19 emergency and terminate CDC vaccination proof requirements for foreign travelers ### Immigration and Border Security Salience: high McClain advocates for strict law enforcement policies including mandatory noncitizen detention and DUI deportations, whereas Pooley opposes ICE raids and focuses on creating swift pathways to citizenship. **Ray Pooley:** Supports border security with citizenship pathways Pooley favors securing the border alongside a swift and clear legal pathway to citizenship for immigrants who follow rules. He explicitly opposes ICE raids in local communities and shortcut paths based strictly on status or wealth. - Establish a clear, swift legal pathway to citizenship for immigrants - End un-American ICE raids and focus immigration policy on root causes of migration - Enforce smart border security without granting shortcuts based on money or status > “Our nations strength comes from its immigrants, but a broken system helps no one.” > — Ray Pooley, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ray_Pooley) > “End un-American ICE raids and enforce smart border policy, targeting root cause” > — Ray Pooley, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ray_Pooley) **Lisa McClain:** Supports strict enforcement and border restrictions McClain strongly supports strict immigration laws, mandatory detention, and expanded deportation authority. She voted for the Laken Riley Act, the Secure the Border Act of 2023, and voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. - Voted for the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) requiring mandatory detention of noncitizens arrested for burglary or theft - Voted for the Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2) - Voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in 2024 - Voted for H.R. 875 making DUI offenses grounds for noncitizen deportation ### Energy and Agriculture Salience: medium Pooley prioritizes renewable energy expansion and anti-monopoly agricultural regulations, while McClain votes to expand fossil fuel production and repeal green energy tax credits. **Ray Pooley:** Supports clean energy and small family farms Pooley supports achieving energy independence through American-made solar and wind technologies while holding corporate polluters accountable. As a homesteader, he aims to protect small family farms by breaking up agribusiness monopolies, regulating AI data centers, and eliminating PFAS contamination. - Expand domestic solar and wind energy production to lower home utility bills - Break up seed and meat packer monopolies and combat PFAS in food and water - Heavily regulate AI data centers to prevent farmland conversion and resource drain - Protect farmers' freedom to install solar arrays on their properties > “Take care of the land, the water, the air, and they'll take care of you.” > — Ray Pooley, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ray_Pooley) > “Today, farmers are getting squeezed by seed and meat packer monopolies, land consolidation, higher input costs, PFAS getting into our food and water supplies, and AI data centers moving in.” > — Ray Pooley, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ray_Pooley) **Lisa McClain:** Supports expanding domestic fossil fuel production McClain supports increasing domestic energy production across oil, natural gas, and coal, and reducing environmental permitting delays. Endorsed by the Michigan Farm Bureau AgriPAC, she voted to repeal green energy tax credits under the Limit, Save, Grow Act. - Voted for the Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1, 118th Congress) to expand domestic oil, gas, and coal development - Voted to repeal green energy tax credits in the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 - Endorsed by the Michigan Farm Bureau AgriPAC - Voted for H.J.Res. 30 disapproving Department of Labor ESG investment rules ### Government Reform and Elections Salience: medium Pooley seeks structural campaign finance reform, term limits, and ranked-choice voting, whereas McClain focuses on stricter voting regulations like mandatory proof of citizenship. **Ray Pooley:** Supports campaign finance reform and term limits Pooley champions systemic government reforms, including overturning Citizens United, implementing public campaign financing, and adopting ranked-choice voting. He advocates for term limits for members of Congress and Supreme Court Justices, alongside a strict ban on stock trading by sitting officials. - Overturn Citizens United and establish a public campaign financing system - Implement ranked-choice voting to eliminate partisan gerrymandering - Enact term limits for members of Congress and Supreme Court Justices - Ban stock trading by sitting elected officials and restrict lobbying > “Our democracy should be owned by voters, not corporate donors.” > — Ray Pooley, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ray_Pooley) > “We will end the revolving door of lobbyists, enact term limits for congress and SCOTUS to ensure fresh perspectives, and ban stock trading by sitting officials.” > — Ray Pooley, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ray_Pooley) **Lisa McClain:** Supports mandatory voter citizenship verification McClain focuses her election reform efforts on strict voter eligibility requirements. She voted for the SAVE Act to mandate documentary proof of citizenship for federal voter registration and publicly opposed Michigan's 2022 Proposal 2 constitutional amendment expanding voting access. - Voted for the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register for federal elections - Opposed Michigan Proposal 2 (2022 Voting Policies in Constitution Amendment) - Voted for H.R. 1526 (NORRA) to restrict nationwide federal court injunctions ### Gun Policy Salience: medium Pooley supports universal background checks and raising the firearm purchasing age, while McClain highlights her identity as a gun owner opposed to federal firearm restrictions. **Ray Pooley:** Supports universal background checks and age limits Pooley advocates for common-sense firearm restrictions, including universal background checks, raising the purchasing age for firearms, closing domestic violence purchasing loopholes, and expanding mental healthcare funding, while maintaining respect for Second Amendment rights. - Mandate universal background checks for all gun sales - Raise the minimum purchasing age for firearms - Close legal loopholes that permit domestic violence abusers to access firearms - Expand mental healthcare access and school security funding > “Responsible gun owners know that safe communities and 2A rights are NOT mutually exclusive.” > — Ray Pooley, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ray_Pooley) **Lisa McClain:** Supports Second Amendment rights McClain prominently identifies as a gun owner and opposes new federal restrictions on firearm ownership, framing Second Amendment defense as a core component of her platform. - Identifies publicly as a proud gun owner and defender of Second Amendment rights - Opposes federal gun control legislation and restrictions on firearm sales > “proud CHRISTIAN, MOTHER, gun owner, BUSINESSWOMAN, DOG MOM” > — Lisa McClain, via [Campaign site](https://www.lisamcclainforcongress.com) ### Foreign Policy and Defense Salience: low Pooley advocates for military restraint and an end to the Gaza conflict, whereas McClain consistently votes to authorize federal national defense budgets as an Armed Services Committee member. **Ray Pooley:** Supports diplomacy and ending Gaza conflict Pooley advocates using military strength strictly for deterrence while relying primarily on diplomacy and human rights. He explicitly calls for an end to the conflict in Gaza and stopping the genocide in Palestine. - Prioritize diplomacy, economic partnerships, and human rights over military conflict - Call for an immediate end to the genocide in Palestine - Maintain military deterrence without engaging in endless foreign wars > “A strong America doesn't seek endless war; it uses its power to create a more peaceful world, ensuring our security, and holding our leaders to a moral standard.” > — Ray Pooley, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ray_Pooley) > “Our allies are our responsibility; stop the genocide in Palestine” > — Ray Pooley, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ray_Pooley) **Lisa McClain:** Supports national defense funding McClain served on the House Armed Services Committee and regularly votes in favor of national defense spending bills. She also supported the Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023. - Served on the House Armed Services Committee during the 117th and 118th Congresses - Voted for National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAA) for FY 2024 and FY 2025 - Voted for the Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023 (H.R. 6090) ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/mi-09-house-election-winner) — MI-09 House Election Winner: Republicans 96.5%, Democrats 3.0% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXHOUSERACE-MI09-26) — MI-09 House winner?: Lisa McClain 96.4%, Ray Pooley 3.6% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-mi-09)