Brenda CarterBrenda Carter

Brenda Carter is an incumbent Democrat running for her fifth term in the Michigan House of Representatives for the 48th District. Prior to her service in the Michigan House she served on the Pontiac School Board for eight years. Carter has built a legislative record centered on economic and social justice. She was a lead sponsor of gun reform legislation after the Michigan State University shooting, backing universal background checks, secure storage laws, and extreme risk protection orders. She founded and co-chairs the bipartisan Poverty and Homelessness Caucus, led task forces on criminal justice reform, minority health, and veterans' support, and pushed for equitable school funding from her years leading the Pontiac Board of Education. As a healthcare advocate she's focused on minority maternal health and access for underserved populations, and has had five of her own bills signed into law. Her committee work chairing Insurance and Financial Services, plus national roles with NCSL and NCOIL, rounds out an economic focus alongside broader priorities like environmental protection and infrastructure investment. Carter's priorities focus on the practical needs of her constituents and the state. She emphasizes fixing roads and infrastructure, and increasing public school funding and the opportunities that come with it. She also pushes for greater transparency in state government. On the economy, she supports raising the minimum wage and ensuring fair labor and wage practices for trade workers. Environmental safety and impact round out her agenda. Carter has been endorsed by the following progressive partner organizations: American Federation of Teachers - Michigan, Equality Michigan Action Network, Michigan AFL-CIO, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, Michigan Association for Justice, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, and Service Employees International Union - Michigan. Carter is running against Republican Melissa Schultz Brenda Carter is the most progressive choice in this race.