Michigan › Bay County › Michigan House District 97
2 candidates are tracked for Michigan House District 97 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Jack Bader and Briar Bearss. Candidate information follows official Bay County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Jack Bader (Democratic), Briar Bearss (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Michigan House District 97. Not on the November ballot: Matthew Bierlein, the sitting member per the roster. Nominees were chosen at the August 4, 2026 primary, per the Michigan Secretary of State's official results; Michigan prints unopposed candidates rather than deeming them elected. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Democratic
Jack Bader is a Realtor from Vassar running as the Democratic candidate for the 97th District state House seat, which covers most of Saginaw County plus parts of Bay, northern Genesee, and Tuscola counties, per ABC12 (WJRT). No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of 2026-09-12.
Republican
Briar Bearss is a West Point graduate and Army veteran who now runs a small business and was raised in mid-Michigan, per Bearss campaign site.
Source: candidate campaign site.
Campaign site →