Denise Mentzer
Denise Mentzer (Democratic Party) is a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, representing District 61. She assumed office on January 1, 2023. Her current term ends on January 1, 2027.
Mentzer (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the Michigan House of Representatives to represent District 61. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026. She advanced from the Democratic primary on August 4, 2026.
Mentzer completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Denise Mentzer was born in Mount Clemens, Michigan. Mentzer earned a high school diploma from L'Anse Creuse High School, an associate degree from Macomb Community College in 1999, a bachelor's degree from Baker College in 2009, and additional education from Grand Valley University and the Academy of Professional Small Business Consultants in 2011. Her career experience includes working as the senior buyer for Macomb County and as a government administrator. Mentzer has served as the vice president of the Mount Clemens Optimist Club and on the board of the Mount Clemens Public Library Board of Friends.[1][2][3][4]
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Committee assignments
2025-2026
Mentzer was assigned to the following committees:
2023-2024
Mentzer was assigned to the following committees:
- House Appropriations Committee
- Labor Committee (decommissioned), Majority Vice Chair
Elections
2026
See also: Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2026
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for Michigan House of Representatives District 61
Incumbent Denise Mentzer (D) and Robert Wojtowicz (R) are running in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 61 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
Denise Mentzer (D) | ||
Robert Wojtowicz (R) | ||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary
Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 61
Incumbent Denise Mentzer (D) defeated Mahbube Khan (D) in the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 61 on August 4, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Denise Mentzer | 77.3 | 3,176 | |
| Mahbube Khan | 22.7 | 935 | ||
| Total votes: 4,111 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary
Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 61
Robert Wojtowicz (R) defeated John Grossenbacher (R) in the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 61 on August 4, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Robert Wojtowicz | 72.4 | 4,935 | |
| John Grossenbacher | 27.6 | 1,882 | ||
| Total votes: 6,817 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- James Perry (R)
Campaign finance
Endorsements
- See also: Our approach to covering endorsements
Denise Mentzer received the following endorsements and voter guide recommendations. To view a full list of Mentzer's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
- International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW)
- Michigan AFL-CIO
- 92% Club (Sway voting group by Kenya Anissa)
- Equality Michigan Action
- MI List
- Michigan League of Conservation Voters
- Michigan's Progressive Voter Guide (Sway voting group by Justin Mendoza)
- Sierra Club Michigan
- vagina voters (Sway voting group by nikkivinck)
Pledges
Mentzer signed the following pledges. To send us additional pledges, click here.
2024
See also: Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Michigan House of Representatives District 61
Incumbent Denise Mentzer defeated Robert Wojtowicz in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 61 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Denise Mentzer (D) ![]() | 50.7 | 25,449 | |
| Robert Wojtowicz (R) | 49.3 | 24,728 | ||
| Total votes: 50,177 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 61
Incumbent Denise Mentzer advanced from the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 61 on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Denise Mentzer ![]() | 100.0 | 7,930 | |
| Total votes: 7,930 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 61
Robert Wojtowicz defeated Russ Cleary and John Grossenbacher in the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 61 on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Robert Wojtowicz | 45.3 | 2,845 | |
Russ Cleary ![]() | 39.8 | 2,496 | ||
John Grossenbacher ![]() | 14.9 | 938 | ||
| Total votes: 6,279 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign finance
Endorsements
- See also: Our approach to covering endorsements
Denise Mentzer received the following endorsements and voter guide recommendations. To view a full list of Mentzer's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here.
2022
See also: Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Michigan House of Representatives District 61
Denise Mentzer defeated Mike Aiello in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 61 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Denise Mentzer (D) ![]() | 52.0 | 20,126 | |
Mike Aiello (R) ![]() | 48.0 | 18,559 | ||
| Total votes: 38,685 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 61
Denise Mentzer advanced from the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 61 on August 2, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Denise Mentzer ![]() | 100.0 | 7,828 | |
| Total votes: 7,828 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Patrick Maceroni (D)
- Alex Bronson (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 61
Mike Aiello defeated Austin Negipe in the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 61 on August 2, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Mike Aiello ![]() | 84.8 | 6,864 | |
Austin Negipe ![]() | 15.2 | 1,231 | ||
| Total votes: 8,095 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign finance
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Denise Mentzer completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Mentzer's responses.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Denise Mentzer completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Mentzer's responses.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Denise Mentzer completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Mentzer's responses.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Michigan State Legislature in 2025.
- Michigan AFL-CIO Advocates — Legislators are scored on labor issues.
- Michigan League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on environmental issues.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Michigan State Legislature in 2024.
- Michigan AFL-CIO Advocates — Legislators are scored on labor issues.
- Michigan Chamber of Commerce — Legislators are scored on business-related bills.
- Michigan Farm Bureau — Legislators are scored on agriculture-related bills.
- Michigan League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on environmental issues.
- National Federation of Independent Business — Legislators are scored on business-related bills.
- The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.
Below you can find the scorecards found for the Michigan State Legislature in 2023.
- Michigan AFL-CIO Advocates — Legislators are scored on labor issues.
- Michigan League of Conservation Voters — Legislators are scored on environmental issues.
- The American Conservative Union — Legislators are scored on conservative issues.
- The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Michigan House of Representatives District 61 |
Officeholder Michigan House of Representatives District 61 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 14, 2022
- ↑ Denise Mentzer for State Representative, "Meet Denise," accessed May 3, 2023
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 7, 2024
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 27, 2026
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Christine Morse (D) |
Michigan House of Representatives District 61 2023-Present |
Succeeded by - |
