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Doug Murch
Doug Murch (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Michigan House of Representatives to represent District 45. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Murch completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Doug Murch was born in Detroit, Michigan. Murch earned a high school diploma from Livonia Stevenson High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University in 1991. His career experience includes working as an educator. He has been affiliated with the Greater Albion Area Chamber of Commerce, Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce, and Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Michigan House of Representatives District 45
Incumbent Sarah Lightner defeated Doug Murch in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 45 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Sarah Lightner (R) | 69.6 | 35,411 |
 | Doug Murch (D)  | 30.4 | 15,472 | |
| Total votes: 50,883 | |||
| = 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 45
Doug Murch advanced from the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 45 on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Doug Murch | 100.0 | 4,452 |
| Total votes: 4,452 | |||
| = 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 45
Incumbent Sarah Lightner advanced from the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 45 on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sarah Lightner | 100.0 | 10,250 |
| Total votes: 10,250 | |||
| = 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
Murch received the following endorsements.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Doug Murch completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Murch's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Doug graduated from Michigan State University, College of Education where he trained as a teacher. His education shapes the way he approaches problems. For 17 years, Doug viewed his work with the Jackson County Youth Center as a teacher, mentor, and role model. Working on our juvenile justice system's front lines, he went to work every day to keep his co-workers, the residents, and our community safe. Doug is proud of his service to the community. For 10 years Doug and his wife Claudia have been small business owners in Marshall. Owning and operating an independent retail business, they struggled through the pandemic without taking any government assistance and survived to continue on. When not helping at the store Doug is busy as a professional dog trainer. Doug and Claudia are tireless supporters of the community. Their businesses are known for providing a welcoming atmosphere with outstanding service. Doug has a long history of service: Member, Albion Chamber of Commerce Member, Battle Creek Chamber of Commerce Member, Marshall Chamber of Commerce Youth Specialist of the Year, Michigan Juvenile Detention Association. President, Board of Directors, Kinderhaus Marshall. Vice President, Marshall District Library Board Marshall Zoning Board of Appeals
Chair, Board of the Jackson County Employee Retirement System.- The State of Michigan has been doing a great job of rebuilding our freeways and state highways. Meanwhile, our townships and smaller communities do not have the tax base necessary to invest in their roads and they continue to deteriorate. Investment in our rural infrastructure has not kept up with the skyrocketing cost of construction. Most of Michigan’s road funding comes from two sources: motor fuel taxes and registration taxes. Our motor fuel tax is calculated per gallon sold - not as a percentage of cost. As our vehicles have become more efficient, and with an increase in electric vehicles, our funding for roads has greatly lagged behind use. If we are to sufficiently maintain our rural roads, we must find ways to diversify revenue.
- Working families need access to adequate childcare. Dual income is a necessity for most families. As such, parents need support so they can focus on putting food on the table. Access to daycare has a major impact on the Michigan economy. Inability to acquire childcare is the leading cause of underemployment in the State. Parents who are unable to access childcare experience undue challenges making ends meet. As a Board Member of Marshall Kinderhaus, Doug is fully aware of the challenges of providing quality education for children from birth to kindergarten. He will work to make safe, quality childcare available and affordable for working families.
- The voters of Michigan have spoken. Reproductive healthcare decisions should be left to you and your healthcare professionals. Politicians like my opponent would have us return to the 1930’s. Michigan’s 1931 law made all abortions illegal and subject to up to 4 years imprisonment for both the mother and medical personnel with few exceptions. My opponent voted against repealing this law that would force women to carry life-threatening, non-viable pregnancies to term. My opponent would make victims of rape and incest carry to term the results of that attack. My opponent is extreme and out of touch with the wishes of the voters of the State of Michigan.
Supporting working families.
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.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Michigan House of Representatives District 45 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 7, 2024
