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Sarah Lightner

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Sarah Lightner
Image of Sarah Lightner

Republican Party

Michigan House of Representatives District 45
Tenure

2023 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

2

Predecessor
Prior offices
Michigan House of Representatives District 65
Predecessor: Brett Roberts

Compensation

Base salary

$71,685/year

Per diem

No per diem is paid. Legislators receive an expense allowance of $10,800/year for session and interim.

Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 5, 2024

Personal
Profession
Paralegal
Contact

Official website

Official Facebook

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign YouTube

Personal Facebook

Personal Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

Sarah Lightner (Republican Party) is a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, representing District 45. She assumed office on January 1, 2023. Her current term ends on January 1, 2027.

Lightner (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Michigan House of Representatives to represent District 45. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

Sarah Lightner's career experience includes co-operating a crop farm and working as a paralegal. Lightner has been affiliated with the Jackson County Farm Bureau, the Springport FFA Alumni and Boosters, and the National Association of Counties.[1]

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

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
✔
Image of Sarah Lightner
Sarah Lightner (R)
 
69.6
 
35,411
Image of Doug Murch
Doug Murch (D) Candidate Connection
 
30.4
 
15,472

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 50,883
Candidate Connection = 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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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
✔
Image of Doug Murch
Doug Murch Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
4,452

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 4,452
Candidate Connection = 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
✔
Image of Sarah Lightner
Sarah Lightner
 
100.0
 
10,250

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 10,250
Candidate Connection = 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

Lightner received the following endorsements.

  • Citizens for Traditional Values – PAC

2022

See also: Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Michigan House of Representatives District 45

Incumbent Sarah Lightner defeated Ron Hawkins in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 45 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Sarah Lightner
Sarah Lightner (R) Candidate Connection
 
67.6
 
27,506
Image of Ron Hawkins
Ron Hawkins (D) Candidate Connection
 
32.4
 
13,170

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 40,676
Candidate Connection = 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

Ron Hawkins advanced from the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 45 on August 2, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ron Hawkins
Ron Hawkins Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
4,431

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 4,431
Candidate Connection = 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 2, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Sarah Lightner
Sarah Lightner Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
11,117

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 11,117
Candidate Connection = 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


2020

See also: Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Michigan House of Representatives District 65

Incumbent Sarah Lightner defeated Nancy Smith in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 65 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Sarah Lightner
Sarah Lightner (R)
 
64.8
 
31,444
Image of Nancy Smith
Nancy Smith (D) Candidate Connection
 
35.2
 
17,116

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 48,560
Candidate Connection = 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 65

Nancy Smith defeated Dave Rowland in the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 65 on August 4, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Nancy Smith
Nancy Smith Candidate Connection
 
80.2
 
5,015
Image of Dave Rowland
Dave Rowland Candidate Connection
 
19.8
 
1,240

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 6,255
Candidate Connection = 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 65

Incumbent Sarah Lightner advanced from the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 65 on August 4, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Sarah Lightner
Sarah Lightner
 
100.0
 
11,403

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 11,403
Candidate Connection = 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 65

Sarah Lightner defeated Terri McKinnon and Jason Rees in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 65 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Sarah Lightner
Sarah Lightner (R)
 
59.3
 
21,774
Image of Terri McKinnon
Terri McKinnon (D)
 
37.9
 
13,942
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Jason Rees (L) Candidate Connection
 
2.8
 
1,026

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 36,742
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = 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 65

Terri McKinnon advanced from the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 65 on August 7, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Terri McKinnon
Terri McKinnon
 
100.0
 
6,369

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 6,369
Candidate Connection = 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 65

Sarah Lightner defeated Todd Brittain, Carl Rice Jr., and Matt Eyer in the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 65 on August 7, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Sarah Lightner
Sarah Lightner
 
51.1
 
5,730
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Todd Brittain
 
26.6
 
2,986
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Carl Rice Jr.
 
14.7
 
1,644
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Matt Eyer
 
7.6
 
858

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 11,218
Candidate Connection = 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 primary election

Libertarian primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 65

Jason Rees advanced from the Libertarian primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 65 on August 7, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Jason Rees Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
101

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 101
Candidate Connection = 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

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Sarah Lightner did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Candidate Connection

Sarah Lightner completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Lightner's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

I am a wife, mom, farmer, small business owner. I was a criminal defense paralegal for over 11 years before entering the political world. My husband and I have two teenage boys that go to Springport Public Schools.
  • I will continue to fight for tax reform. You deserve to keep more of your hard earned money and I will be your voice in Lansing to work for that.
  • Parents should be involved in their child's education. As a mom, and wife of a school board member, I know how important it is to be involved so we raise productive members of society.
  • I will continue to fight for business in Michigan. Working with stakeholders to make our region more site ready will increase the attraction to Michigan. We want our future generations to stay, work and play in MIchigan.
Currently, I serve on Appropriations. That gives me great insight as to how government works and the many departments that we have. My passion lies in the justice system and agriculture. From my prior experience as a paralegal, I have many contacts in my network who work in the justice system and help me better understand what is going on and how to make it better. Agriculture is a part of my daily life and making sure my neighbors, friends, and other farmers we know are able to have the tools in place to be productive to our state. We can't grow more farm land and we need to preserve what we have and take care of what we have to make sure we thrive in the ag world for years to come.

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.

2020

Sarah Lightner did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

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.

Sarah Lightner campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Michigan House of Representatives District 45Won general$60,460 $0
2022Michigan House of Representatives District 45Won general$106,667 $0
2020Michigan House of Representatives District 65Won general$81,490 N/A**
2018Michigan House of Representatives District 65Won general$66,642 N/A**
Grand total$315,259 N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

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.

2023-2024

Lightner was assigned to the following committees:

2021-2022

Lightner was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Lightner was assigned to the following committees:

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Michigan

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.


2024


2023


2022


2021


2020


2019






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External links

Candidate

Michigan House of Representatives District 45
  • Website
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    		•

    Officeholder

    Michigan House of Representatives District 45
  • Website
  • Facebook
    		•

    Personal

  • Facebook
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    		•

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Michigan House Republicans, "About Sarah Lightner," accessed May 3, 2023

    Political offices
    Preceded by
    Mark Tisdel (R)     		Michigan House of Representatives District 45
    2023-Present    		 Succeeded by
    -
    Preceded by
    Brett Roberts (R)     		Michigan House of Representatives District 65
    2019-2023    		 Succeeded by
    -


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