Kelly Tebay ZemkeKelly Tebay Zemke

Voters will elect two members to the Michigan State University Board of Trustees this November, and we recommend Democratic candidates Brianna Scott and Kelly Tebay-Zemke  as the most progressive candidates in this race. 

Brianna Scott is running for re-election to the Michigan State University Board of Trustees where she currently serves as the Chair. She is from Muskegon and received her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and her J.D. from Wayne State University Law School. After graduating from law school, she was hired as the first African American assistant prosecutor in the Muskegon County Prosecutor’s office, and in 2005 opened her law firm, Brianna T. Scott & Associates, PLLC, in Muskegon, Michigan.  Scott remains dually licensed to practice law in Michigan and New York. She was first elected to the board in 2018 and became the chair in 2025. Scott’s tenure has centered on integrity, transparency, equity, and accountability, serving as a fearless advocate for Michigan's Spartan community, students, and taxpayers. As a steward of public trust, Scott has prioritized holding the administration accountable, correcting past oversights, ensuring student access and well-being, and retaining top talent across the university. She's now seeking re-election on a platform rooted in inclusion, progress, and integrity.

Kelly Tebay-Zemke is running for re-election to the Michigan State University Board of Trustees. Tebay-Zemke was born and raised in Michigan and received her bachelor’s degree  in International Relations, with a specialization in Muslim studies from Michigan State University. After graduation she worked in state government with Congressman Sander Levin and then pursued a M.S. in Law Enforcement Intelligence and Analysis with certificates in Homeland Security and Critical Thinking, from MSU. She currently works in government and external relations for a museum. Since being elected in 2018, Tebay-Zemke has delivered on her pledge to transform campus culture, increase accountability, and listen to the MSU community. Tebay-Zemke priorities focus on building on this progress. On affordability, she aims to expand the Spartan Advantage free-tuition program to reach even more Michigan students, while extending similar support to room and board so every Spartan can access a complete, affordable education. She’s also committed to a holistic approach to student success, breaking down barriers before, during, and after a student’s time on campus to fulfill MSU’s land-grant mission of accessible education and degree completion. On healthcare, she wants to build on current cost-free health services to move toward a “wherever, whenever” model of care for all students.

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Brianna Scott and Kelly Tebay-Zemke have been endorsed by the following progressive partner organizations: Equality Michigan Action Network, Michigan AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers - Michigan, Michigan Education Association. They are also endorsed by the Michigan Democratic Party.

The two Republican choices for this race are Julie Maday and Roger Victory. Maday strongly agrees with eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and that organizations such as Planned Parenthood should not be funded by taxpayers for college students. Victory is a member of the Michigan State Senate, representing District 31. His term ends January 1 2027. He has supported restricting voting rights, is anti-reproductive rights, and holds irresponsible right-wing views on guns. 

Brianna Scott and Kelly Tebay-Zemke are the most progressive choices in this election.