TRAVERSE CITY — Republican State Representative John Roth is seeking a fourth term in the Michigan House of Representatives to continue representing the 104th State House District, facing a political challenge from Democratic nominee Mitchell Ryan Distin.
The 104th District encompasses portions of six Northern Michigan counties, including Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Manistee, and Wexford. Roth, who was first elected to the seat in 2020 and won reelection most recently with 63% of the vote, is running against Distin, a first-time candidate who describes himself as a scientist turned reluctant politician.
In statements provided to a local news report regarding the major state-level issues for 2026, both candidates highlighted distinct priorities for Northern Michigan. Roth emphasized the necessity of strong regional representation in Lansing and pointed to his current role as chair of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Human Services Committee, which handles child services ranging from juvenile justice to foster care. He identified mental health as a continuing challenge statewide and expressed a desire to remain involved in legislative fixes for the state.
Distin framed economics as the overarching state-level issue, stating that rising costs have forced him and his wife to work multiple jobs. He advocated for an economic framework known as Localism, which emphasizes building systems as close as possible to the people they affect. Distin questioned the concept that bigger systems are inherently better and argued against large-scale government, corporate, and banking structures in favor of local businesses, family farms, community banks, tradespeople, and community-level institutions.
Addressing economic challenges and policies, Roth identified inconsistency in Michigan’s state economic strategy across gubernatorial administrations as a key hurdle. He expressed support for site readiness programs to prepare locations for incoming or expanding businesses, along with establishing a consistent regulatory climate so companies can reliably build within the state.
Distin argued that state economic progress should focus on keeping wealth circulating locally. Citing research compiled by the American Independent Business Alliance, Distin noted that about 53 cents of every dollar spent at an independent local retailer recirculates locally, compared to roughly 14 cents spent at national chains. To support this local multiplier effect, Distin advocated for prioritizing local companies in state procurement, increasing capital access for small businesses and family farms, and eliminating corporate subsidies. He suggested evaluating economic success by whether ordinary residents can afford a dignified life rather than relying solely on metrics like gross domestic product or stock performance.
Regarding the cost of living, both candidates discussed specific sectors affecting residents. Roth pointed to property taxes and regulatory costs as primary points of friction. He noted that building regulations can add $97,000 to the cost of constructing a house before work begins. To address property taxes, Roth advocated for reforms such as allowing residents to transfer their State Equalized Value when moving to a smaller home, preventing tax uncapping that creates barriers for downsizing seniors. He also proposed capping senior property taxes or implementing property tax cuts to assist seniors in staying in their homes.
Distin proposed addressing cost-of-living burdens by eliminating unnecessary middlemen in healthcare and insurance, strengthening consumer protections, and increasing transparency. He advocated for challenging public utility monopolies by increasing rate oversight and expanding community-owned utilities, energy cooperatives, and local energy independence. Distin also called for supporting food independence by easing regulatory barriers for community food producers, encouraging local food cooperatives, and aiding family and hobby farmers.
Ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3, voters are reminded that absentee ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on Tuesday night. Same-day voter registration remains available through Election Day, with additional details available at michigan.gov/vote.
