Kristen McDonald Rivet
Democratic candidate for U.S. House in Michigan
$3.4K
NOV 7, 2026
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Live Odds
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
Kristen McDonald Rivet is trading at 93% to win the MI-08 House winner? on prediction markets.
Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleU.S. Representative
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
Age56 years old (Jul 11, 1970)
GenderFemale
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LocationMichigan
BackgroundU.S. Representative
EducationMichigan State University (B.A., History, 1992)
Notable personal detailsKristen McDonald Rivet is a Democratic politician serving as the U.S. representative for Michigan’s 8th congressional district since 2025. She previously served in the Michigan Senate (35th District) from 2023 to 2025 and earlier held local leadership roles in Bay City. Before elected office, she worked in education and early childhood advocacy, including roles with Michigan Head Start, the Michigan Department of Education, and the Skillman Foundation.
SourcesShowHide
Political Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports policies that expand tax credits and relief for families and backs pro-worker economic measures such as prevailing wage, bringing jobs/supply chains back to the U.S., and addressing corporate price gouging. Has supported renewal of enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits at the federal level. Her public positions emphasize helping working families and investing in infrastructure and job programs rather than major tax cuts for corporations or deep spending reductions.
Healthcare
Supports expanding access to affordable health care through strengthening the Affordable Care Act and opposing cuts to Medicaid and other safety-net programs; backs federal measures to lower prescription drug costs and increase rural and veterans’ access to care. Has sponsored legislation focused on prescription drug price transparency and sought federal funding for health services and maternal/Medicare-related improvements.
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Immigration & Border
Supports modernizing the legal immigration system and a pathway for those who follow the law while endorsing stronger enforcement for migrants who commit crimes, including detention and deportation hearings for violent offenders. Seeks a system that is “fair, fast and finite” and says border security and humane enforcement can be advanced together.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports legal abortion access and reproductive freedom, has advocated for codifying protections for abortion rights at the federal level, and opposed national bans on abortion. Has voted for Michigan legislation that expanded and protected abortion access and has participated in reproductive-rights rallies.
Climate & Energy
Kristen McDonald Rivet has supported federal action on water and chemical contamination, conservation programs that reduce agricultural emissions, and affordability programs for energy assistance while opposing California-style electric vehicle mandates on the grounds of cost and job impacts. Her record includes bipartisan bills on PFAS cleanup, conservation incentives for farmers, and clean water infrastructure alongside a vote to repeal EPA waivers tied to California’s vehicle emissions rule.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports gun safety measures including universal background checks, safe-storage requirements, and court-authorized temporary removal of firearms for individuals deemed a risk; also endorsed by national gun-violence-prevention group Giffords. Has emphasized partnering with law enforcement and securing public-safety resources while backing these firearm regulations.
Latest News
Kristen McDonald Rivet is in the news because she is heading into a competitive 2026 reelection race for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District. Republicans have now settled on Thomas Smith as her general-election challenger, after a messy primary in which he had said he was suspending his campaign but still won the nomination. Rivet ran unopposed in her primary and is being defended by Democrats in a district she won by about 7 points in 2024. Earlier coverage also noted criticism over her hot-mic remarks about the Michigan State shooting, which added to the attention around her campaign.
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Campaign Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Campaign finance totals from the latest available reporting period.
2024
2026
LatestCycle 2024
Cycle 2026
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
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