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Lena Epstein
Lena Epstein (Republican Party) ran for election for an at-large seat of the University of Michigan Board of Regents. She lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Biography
Her professional experience includes co-owning her family's business, Vesco Oil Corporation, a distributor of automotive and industrial lubricants. She received her bachelor's degree from Harvard University and her M.B.A. from the University of Michigan.[1]
Elections
2022
See also: Michigan State Board of Regents election, 2022
General election
General election for University of Michigan Board of Regents (2 seats)
The following candidates ran in the general election for University of Michigan Board of Regents on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Katherine White (D) | 25.2 | 2,014,542 |
| ✔ |  | Michael Behm (D) | 24.6 | 1,966,635 |
 | Lena Epstein (R) | 23.9 | 1,914,188 | |
 | Sevag Vartanian (R) | 22.3 | 1,786,379 | |
 | Eric Larson (L) | 1.6 | 129,021 | |
 | Sherry A. Wells (G)  | 1.0 | 78,046 | |
| Joe Sanger (U.S. Taxpayers Party) | 0.9 | 71,506 | ||
| Kathleen Oakford (Natural Law Party) | 0.6 | 45,692 | ||
| Total votes: 8,006,009 | |||
| = 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Democratic convention
Democratic convention for University of Michigan Board of Regents (2 seats)
Incumbent Michael Behm and incumbent Katherine White advanced from the Democratic convention for University of Michigan Board of Regents on August 21, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Michael Behm (D) |
| ✔ | | Katherine White (D) |
| ||||
| = 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 convention
Republican convention for University of Michigan Board of Regents (2 seats)
Lena Epstein and Sevag Vartanian advanced from the Republican convention for University of Michigan Board of Regents on August 27, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Lena Epstein (R) |
| ✔ | | Sevag Vartanian (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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Green convention
Green convention for University of Michigan Board of Regents (2 seats)
Sherry A. Wells advanced from the Green convention for University of Michigan Board of Regents on April 23, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Sherry A. Wells (G) |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for University of Michigan Board of Regents (2 seats)
Eric Larson and James Lewis Hudler advanced from the Libertarian convention for University of Michigan Board of Regents on July 10, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Eric Larson (L) |
| ✔ | James Lewis Hudler (L) | |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
U.S. Taxpayers Party convention
U.S. Taxpayers Party convention for University of Michigan Board of Regents (2 seats)
Joe Sanger advanced from the U.S. Taxpayers Party convention for University of Michigan Board of Regents on July 23, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Joe Sanger (U.S. Taxpayers Party) | |
| ||||
| = 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
2018
General election
General election for U.S. House Michigan District 11
Haley Stevens defeated Lena Epstein, Leonard Schwartz, and Cooper Nye in the general election for U.S. House Michigan District 11 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Haley Stevens (D) | 51.8 | 181,912 |
| Lena Epstein (R) | 45.2 | 158,463 | |
 | Leonard Schwartz (L) | 1.7 | 5,799 | |
 | Cooper Nye (Independent) | 1.3 | 4,727 | |
| Total votes: 350,901 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = 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 U.S. House Michigan District 11
Haley Stevens defeated Tim Greimel, Suneel Gupta, Fayrouz Saad, and Nancy Skinner in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 11 on August 7, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Haley Stevens | 27.0 | 24,309 |
 | Tim Greimel | 21.8 | 19,673 | |
 | Suneel Gupta | 21.4 | 19,250 | |
 | Fayrouz Saad | 19.4 | 17,499 | |
 | Nancy Skinner | 10.4 | 9,407 | |
| Total votes: 90,138 | |||
| = 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
- Dan Haberman (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 11
Lena Epstein defeated Rocky Raczkowski, Mike Kowall, Klint Kesto, and Kerry Bentivolio in the Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 11 on August 7, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Lena Epstein | 30.9 | 26,925 |
 | Rocky Raczkowski | 25.5 | 22,216 | |
 | Mike Kowall | 18.4 | 16,011 | |
 | Klint Kesto | 14.0 | 12,213 | |
 | Kerry Bentivolio | 11.3 | 9,831 | |
| Total votes: 87,196 | |||
| = 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
- Kurt Heise (R)
- Kristine Bonds (R)
Libertarian primary election
Libertarian primary for U.S. House Michigan District 11
Leonard Schwartz advanced from the Libertarian primary for U.S. House Michigan District 11 on August 7, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Leonard Schwartz | 100.0 | 533 |
| Total votes: 533 | |||
| = 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 themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Lena Epstein did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Epstein’s campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
We must keep tuition rates affordable for Michiganders. The price of tuition continues to go up and we must prioritize reducing in-state tuition so Michigan families can send their children to the University.
We must protect free speech for all students on campus and encourage an environment that allows for robust debate and opposing views.
As a business leader, I understand the necessity of sound budget management. Michiganders deserve transparency and accountability when it comes to how their tax dollars are spent by the University.
I oppose mask and vaccine mandates at the University. The school must allow students, faculty and staff to make their own decisions when it comes to masks and the COVID-19 vaccine.[2] |
” |
| —Lena Epstein’s campaign website (2022)[3] | ||
COVID-19
I oppose mask and vaccine mandates at the University. The school must allow students, faculty and staff to make their own decisions when it comes to masks and the COVID-19 vaccine.
2018
Campaign website
Epstein’s campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
My positions on a number of issues are defined by my experiences as an automotive industry business leader, wife, and mother. I co-own and manage Vesco Oil Corporation, my family’s 3rd generation distributorship. Our company employs over 200 people, and 90% of our business in based in Michigan. I have the unique perspective of a job creator, rather than that of a career politician. I was also the Co-Chairman of the Donald J. Trump for President campaign in Michigan. Along the campaign trail, I saw firsthand how Michigan voters were inspired by his message to “Make America Great Again” and to protect our jobs with America First policies. As a proud and unapologetic conservative, I will fight for what’s most important to the people of Michigan’s 11th congressional district: Economic growth and opportunity: As a fiscal conservative, I will rein in excessive government spending, fight to reform the tax code to spur job creation and grow the economy, and let working families keep more of the money they earn. High quality education: We must have an education system in place that allows all our children to succeed and gives families the flexibility to choose what works best for their families- whether it’s in high performing public schools, at private schools or homeschools, all our children deserve an equal opportunity to reach their full potential. Affordable and sustainable health care: Congress must repeal and replace Obamacare, and ensure Americans have access to care at affordable rates. Support for the U.S.-Israel relationship: I am staunchly pro-Israel and will work tirelessly to strengthen the relationship between our two great nations. I will inspire our state and our country with a positive vision of the future. We can have an America that allows every person – regardless of background – the opportunity to succeed. I will represent every Michigan citizen as we work tirelessly to unite behind our shared ideals of freedom, safety, and opportunity for our families. I support our President, because a successful American Presidency leads to a successful America. |
” |
| —Lena Epstein’s campaign website (2018)[4] | ||
Campaign advertisements
The following is an example of an ad from Epstein's 2018 election campaign.
|
See also
2022 Elections
External links
|
Candidate University of Michigan Board of Regents |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Lena Epstein for Congress, "About Lena," accessed May 28, 2018
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Lena Epstein’s campaign website, “Priorities,” accessed September 17, 2022
- ↑ Lena Epstein for Congress, “Issues,” accessed June 15, 2018
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