Nine Bipartisan Local Leaders Endorse Kevin Hertel for State Senate

Bipartisan coalition underscores Hertel’s track record of working across party lines to deliver for the communities he serves

ST. CLAIR SHORES, Mich. (Aug. 19, 2026) — Today, nine city leaders announced their endorsement of Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shores) in the race for Michigan’s 12th State Senate District, citing his strong record of working across party lines and delivering results. These endorsers join over a dozen local leaders, labor unions, and community advocacy groups.

“During my time in the Michigan Senate, there are few working relationships I value more than the ones I share with local leaders across our lakeshore district,” said Hertel. “By working together across party lines, we’ve been able to achieve some great things for our region — from investing in local schools and public safety efforts to protecting Lake St. Clair and securing the future of Selfridge. That progress was only possible because we set aside politics and built relationships around the shared goal of creating opportunity for the families who call our community home.”

The nine local leaders endorsing Hertel are:

• Sheila Tomkowiak, City of Grosse Pointe Mayor

• Arthur Bryant, Grosse Pointe Woods Mayor

• Valerie Kindle, Harper Woods Mayor

• Kip Walby, St. Clair Shores Mayor

• Paul Gieleghem, Clinton Township Supervisor

• Laura Kropp, Mount Clemens Mayor

• Brad Kersten, Chesterfield Township Supervisor

• Tom Semaan, New Baltimore Mayor

• Rocky Gillis, Algonac Mayor

These bipartisan endorsements are a testament to the strong relationships Hertel has built with local leaders. In the Legislature, he has made staying connected with city officials a priority — working directly with them to identify community needs, advocate for local priorities, and secure nearly $300 million in state funding for projects that make a difference in residents’ everyday lives.

“I've seen Kevin's commitment to our community firsthand: he brings people together, follows through on his promises, and works tirelessly to deliver real results,” said Grosse Pointe Mayor Sheila Tomkowiak. “That leadership has helped bring hundreds of thousands of dollars back to our schools, strengthen our water infrastructure, and invest in the future of our community. Grosse Pointe has a champion in Kevin Hertel, and I’m proud to support his re-election.”

“St. Clair Shores’ priorities have been Kevin Hertel’s priorities from day one: strong schools, safe communities, and a clean, healthy Lake St. Clair,” said St. Clair Shores Mayor Kip Walby. “I’ve watched Kevin work across party lines to turn those priorities into real results, securing tens of millions of dollars to strengthen our water infrastructure, stop sewage from going out into the lake, and prevent our basements from flooding so often. Kevin doesn’t just talk about fighting for St. Clair Shores — he actually delivers. And that’s exactly the kind of representation our community needs in Lansing.”

“Actions speak louder than words, and Senator Kevin Hertel has certainly backed up his words with real results for Chesterfield,” said Chesterfield Township Supervisor Brad Kersten. “When I first became Supervisor, Kevin was one of the first people to reach out and ask what he could do in Lansing to help our community. Since that first conversation, he has delivered a great deal — helping direct more than $6 million to Chesterfield to strengthen our infrastructure and support exciting projects that are moving our township forward. Kevin has shown us what it looks like to have a true partner in Lansing, and I’m proud to endorse him for re-election.”

“I’ve never cared much for politics. I care about getting things done for our community — and thankfully, Senator Kevin Hertel does too,” said New Baltimore Mayor Tom Semaan. “Kevin doesn’t look at whether someone has an ‘R’ or a ‘D’ next to their name. He looks for good ideas, finds people willing to work together, and actually gets results. That’s the kind of leadership our lakeshore communities deserve.”

“As someone who grew up in a small town in St. Clair County, I never expected much from Lansing — that is, until Kevin Hertel began representing us,” said Algonac Mayor Rocky Gillis. “From his first day in office, Kevin has been someone who Algonac can count on to show up and get things done for our community. He helped secure more than $1.5 million for projects that matter deeply to our city — proving that when state and local leaders put politics aside and work together, even small communities like ours can accomplish big things. He’s got my fullest support as he runs for re-election.”

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Senate District 12 includes the communities of Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe Shores, Grosse Pointe Woods, Harper Woods, St. Clair Shores, Harrison Township, a part of Clinton Township, Mount Clemens, Chesterfield Township, New Baltimore, Ira Township, Clay Township, and Algonac. Hertel won the district by a mere 404 votes in 2022, just two years before Trump carried it by 7 points — making it one of the most competitive seats this cycle.

To learn more about Senator Kevin Hertel and his growing list of endorsements, visit KevinHertelForSenate.com/endorsements.