Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.
Sara Cambensy
Sara Cambensy (Democratic Party) was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, representing District 109. She assumed office on November 16, 2017. She left office on January 1, 2023.
Cambensy (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Michigan House of Representatives to represent District 109. She won in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2021-2022
Cambensy was assigned to the following committees:
- Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Committee
- House Agriculture Committee
- Commerce and Tourism Committee (decommissioned), Minority vice-chair
2019-2020
Cambensy was assigned to the following committees:
- Commerce and Tourism Committee (decommissioned), Minority Vice Chair
- House Regulatory Reform Committee
- Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Committee
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.
Elections
2022
Sara Cambensy was not able to file for re-election due to term limits.
2020
See also: Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Michigan House of Representatives District 109
Incumbent Sara Cambensy defeated Melody Wagner, Jim Hafeman, and Deborah LaFaive in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 109 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Sara Cambensy (D) | 56.6 | 26,419 |
 | Melody Wagner (R)  | 42.1 | 19,643 | |
| Jim Hafeman (U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan) | 1.4 | 644 | ||
| Deborah LaFaive (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | ||
| Total votes: 46,706 | |||
| = 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 109
Incumbent Sara Cambensy advanced from the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 109 on August 4, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sara Cambensy | 100.0 | 12,935 |
| Total votes: 12,935 | |||
| = 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 109
Melody Wagner defeated Matthew Goss in the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 109 on August 4, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Melody Wagner | 52.2 | 3,278 |
| Matthew Goss | 47.8 | 3,004 | ||
| Total votes: 6,282 | |||
| = 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 of Michigan convention
U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan convention for Michigan House of Representatives District 109
Jim Hafeman advanced from the U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan convention for Michigan House of Representatives District 109 on July 25, 2020.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Jim Hafeman (U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan) | |
| ||||
| = 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
See also: Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2018
General election
General election for Michigan House of Representatives District 109
Incumbent Sara Cambensy defeated Melody Wagner in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 109 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sara Cambensy (D) | 58.1 | 21,669 |
| Melody Wagner (R) | 41.9 | 15,631 | |
| Total votes: 37,300 (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 Michigan House of Representatives District 109
Incumbent Sara Cambensy advanced from the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 109 on August 7, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sara Cambensy | 100.0 | 9,987 |
| Total votes: 9,987 | |||
| = 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 109
Melody Wagner advanced from the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 109 on August 7, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Melody Wagner | 100.0 | 5,961 |
| Total votes: 5,961 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2017
A special election for the position of Michigan House of Representatives District 109 took place on November 7, 2017. A primary election took place on August 8, 2017. The filing deadline was June 6, 2017.[1]
The seat became vacant on May 9, 2017, when John Kivela (D) committed suicide following his second drunk driving incident.[2]
Sara Cambensy defeated Tom Curry, Joe Derocha, and Jeremy Hosking in the Democratic primary. Rich Rossway was unopposed in the Republican primary.[3] Cambensy defeated Rossway and Wade Roberts (Green Party) in the special election.[4][5]
| Michigan House of Representatives, District 109, Special Election, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Sara Cambensy |
56.7% | 11,721 | |
| Republican | Rich Rossway | 42% | 8,690 | |
| Green | Wade Roberts | 1.3% | 276 | |
| Total Votes | 20,687 | |||
| Source: Michigan Department of State | ||||
| Michigan House of Representatives, District 109 Democratic Primary, 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
|
Sara Cambensy |
36.1% | 3,477 | ||
| Jeremy Hosking | 34.7% | 3,344 | ||
| Joe Derocha | 25.3% | 2,435 | ||
| Tom Curry | 4% | 386 | ||
| Total Votes | 9,642 | |||
| Source: Michigan Department of State |
||||
2016
Elections for the Michigan House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on August 2, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was April 19, 2016.
Incumbent John Kivela defeated Kevin Pfister and Wade Roberts in the Michigan House of Representatives District 109 general election.[6]
| Michigan House of Representatives, District 109 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | John Kivela Incumbent |
62.31% | 25,380 | |
| Republican | Kevin Pfister | 34.11% | 13,892 | |
| Green | Wade Roberts | 3.58% | 1,457 | |
| Total Votes | 40,729 | |||
| Source: Michigan Secretary of State | ||||
Incumbent John Kivela defeated Sara Cambensy in the Michigan House of Representatives District 109 Democratic primary.[7][8]
| Michigan House of Representatives, District 109 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | John Kivela Incumbent |
63.64% | 7,168 | |
| Democratic | Sara Cambensy | 36.36% | 4,095 | |
| Total Votes | 11,263 | |||
Kevin Pfister defeated Melody Wagner Patterson in the Michigan House of Representatives District 109 Republican primary.[7][8]
| Michigan House of Representatives, District 109 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Kevin Pfister |
58.01% | 2,600 | |
| Republican | Melody Wagner Patterson | 41.99% | 1,882 | |
| Total Votes | 4,482 | |||
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Sara Cambensy did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
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 Michigan scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2022
In 2022, the Michigan State Legislature was in session from January 12 to December 28.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Legislators are scored on labor issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to agriculture.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Legislators are scored on a number of bills selected by the editor of MIRS, a state capitol newsletter.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2021, the Michigan State Legislature was in session from January 13 to December 31.
|
2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2020, the Michigan State Legislature was in session from January 8 to December 31.
|
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2019, the Michigan State Legislature was in session from January 9 through December 31.
|
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2018, the Michigan State Legislature was in session from January 10 through December 31.
|
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2017, the Michigan State Legislature was in session from January 11 through December 31.
|
See also
2020 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Mlive.com, "Special election called to fill Kivela's House seat after his suicide," May 18, 2017
- ↑ Mlive.com, "Suicide listed as cause of death for Michigan Rep. John Kivela," accessed May 11, 2017
- ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, "2017 Michigan Candidate Listing," accessed June 7, 2017
- ↑ Detroit Free Press, "Marquette city commissioner wins primary, advancing to November general election," August 8, 2017
- ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, "2017 Michigan Candidate Listing," accessed September 5, 2017
- ↑ Michigan Secretary of State, "2016 official general election results," accessed May 2, 2017
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Michigan Secretary of State, "2016 Michigan Candidate Listing," accessed April 22, 2016
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Michigan Secretary of State, "2016 Michigan Election Results," accessed August 2, 2016
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Michigan House of Representatives District 109 2017-2023 |
Succeeded by Jenn Hill (D) |
