Michigan House of Representatives District 77 candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in Michigan, 2022

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This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Michigan House of Representatives District 77 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

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• Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for Michigan House of Representatives District 77

Emily Dievendorf defeated John Magoola in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 77 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Emily Dievendorf (D)	62.4	25,269
		John Magoola (R)	37.6	15,214

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 40,483
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

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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.

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Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Emily Dievendorf (D)

There is no excuse for a lack of living wage. Every resident should make enough to both survive AND thrive. There should be no expectation of families to sacrifice one basic need over another to sustain, and that includes the need to rest from labor.

Public schools must be funded well, equitably, and funded as the long-term, consistent investment our future success and community should be. Our students and educators deserve schools and resources that allow them to create and grow in safe and modern institutions that will ensure every student can receive the unique approach they need to participate and succeed fully in the world upon graduation. Educators and students deserve mental health support staff, training, and resources that will support them in being healthy and whole beings.

In the 77th District and nationally we need to address gun violence. We can all agree that we want more safety for our families and that responsible gun ownership is a reasonable expectation in order to save lives. Continuing to fight for reforms that both push back against irresponsible gun sales and ownership practices, and supporting community programs that work to prevent and otherwise address gun violence is essential to the safety of everyone.

John Magoola (R)

Staunchly pro-2nd Amendment; I believe in pushing for Constitutional carry and state nullifying of federal gun restrictions

Pro-parental rights in education; I am vehemently opposed to forcing parents to use public schools as well as against racial and gender indoctrination in public schools

Staunchly pro-life; I am absolutely opposed to unfettered abortion and in favor of the defending of the human rights of unborn children

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Emily Dievendorf (D)

Emily is particularly passionate about equity. She has been involved in her community throughout her career on a myriad of justice issues, particularly LGBTQIA equality, racial justice and equality, immigration, sexual and domestic violence, voting rights and ending HIV/AIDS.

John Magoola (R)

I am most passionate about issues regarding education and the 2nd Amendment. On the former, I believe that parents should not be forced to use public schools that they do not want to use and instead should be given the means (such as via vouchers) to use the school of their choice up to and including homeschooling; I am also against the leftist indoctrination in public schools, particularly of the racial and gender variety.

On the 2nd Amendment, I am a believer that when it says "shall not be infringed," that's exactly what it means. I am in favor of Constitutional carry as well as the creation of "2nd Amendment sanctuaries," nullifying unconstitutional federal laws such as "assault weapons" bans.

I am also very passionate about my pro-life position. I believe life begins at conception and that abortion is a clear violation of the rights of unborn children as well as a shirking of responsibility for children by their parents. Related to this, I am also for the reform of family courts which, in their current iteration, only encourages the breakage of families, which can further incentivize the pressure to make abortion look like a more attractive option for many.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

John Magoola (R)

My original childhood hero is Dr. Ben Carson. I read his autobiography several times as a child and I loved his story and how he overcame so many difficulties to become so successful. I also greatly respect and look up to Steven Crowder. I have always respected and sought to emulate people who could simultaneously entertain and speak truth and I see Crowder as especially skilled at that.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

John Magoola (R)

I believe first and foremost, an elected official is a servant of the people. He or she should use their judgement and will inevitably have principles different from many of the people he or she is elected to represent, but those principles should be used to as much as possible serve the electorate.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

John Magoola (R)

I see myself as a person driven to take action in my community. The reason I chose to run for office is because I seek to serve, but also to make changes to my community and my state that I believe to be important. I am not politically experience, of course, but I believe that this is a time for people who have a connection to the people they serve more than for those with a political background.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

John Magoola (R)

The first I can honestly remember is 9/11. I was 17 at the time and I was still in high school.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

John Magoola (R)

My first job was as a paperboy for a local newspaper when I was 15. I worked it for about a year.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

John Magoola (R)

My favorite fictional character is Byakuya Kuchiki from Bleach. He's often seen as arrogant and condescending, but I love him because he has the ability and skill to back up his words. When he says he's better than you, it's because he is in fact better than you.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

John Magoola (R)

I think the governor, being the executive, is there to execute the laws set forth by the legislature. However, I think the governor also has the role of setting a general tone for what he or she hopes to see from said legislature. Since the legislature serves, generally, as the voice of the people, if the people do not want to follow the vision of the governor, it will be made apparent by the legislation passed. In short, the governor must strike a balance between having a vision and executing the laws set forth by the people's representatives.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

John Magoola (R)

I believe it depends on the times. When ideas and practices become stagnant and show themselves to not be functional or working, it becomes useful for people with new ideas to come in and make changes and ofttimes, those are not going to be people with political experience.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

John Magoola (R)

There are certain principles that cannot be compromised, but in terms of policy, compromise is often necessary as one will always be dealing with people with dissimilar principles.

See also

More about these elections:

• Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2022

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