Jon Elgas

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Jon Elgas

Libertarian Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 8, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

Saginaw Valley State University, 2005

Personal

Birthplace

Brighton, Mich.

Religion

Born Again Christian

Profession

Manufacturing

Jon Elgas (Libertarian Party) ran for election to the Michigan State Senate to represent District 22. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Elgas completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Jon Elgas was born in Brighton, Michigan. Elgas earned a bachelor's degree from Saginaw Valley State Univiersity in 2005. His career experience includes working in manufacturing.

Elections

2022

See also: Michigan State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Michigan State Senate District 22

Incumbent Lana Theis defeated Jordan Genso, Jon Elgas, and Victoria McCasey in the general election for Michigan State Senate District 22 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lana Theis (R)	60.7	83,957
		Jordan Genso (D)	36.7	50,738
		Jon Elgas (L)	1.8	2,478
	Submit photo	Victoria McCasey (U.S. Taxpayers Party)	0.9	1,198

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 138,371
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Michigan State Senate District 22

Jordan Genso advanced from the Democratic primary for Michigan State Senate District 22 on August 2, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jordan Genso	100.0	19,299

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 19,299
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Michigan State Senate District 22

Incumbent Lana Theis defeated Mike Detmer in the Republican primary for Michigan State Senate District 22 on August 2, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lana Theis	57.6	24,384
		Mike Detmer	42.4	17,939

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 42,323
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Michigan State Senate District 22

Jon Elgas advanced from the Libertarian convention for Michigan State Senate District 22 on July 10, 2022.

		Candidate
✔		Jon Elgas (L)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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U.S. Taxpayers Party convention

U.S. Taxpayers Party convention for Michigan State Senate District 22

Victoria McCasey advanced from the U.S. Taxpayers Party convention for Michigan State Senate District 22 on July 23, 2022.

		Candidate
✔	Submit photo	Victoria McCasey (U.S. Taxpayers Party)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= 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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2020

See also: Michigan State Board of Regents election, 2020

General election

General election for Wayne State University Board of Governors (2 seats)

The following candidates ran in the general election for Wayne State University Board of Governors on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Terri Lynn Land (R)	24.4	2,368,966
✔		Shirley Stancato (D)	24.3	2,352,785
		Eva Garza Dewaelsche (D)	24.2	2,343,395
		Don Gates (R)	23.7	2,291,880
		Jon Elgas (L)	1.3	126,102
		Christine Schwartz (U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan)	1.1	106,274
	Submit photo	Susan Odgers (G)	1.0	99,953
	Submit photo	Lloyd Conway (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	386

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 9,689,741
= 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

• Diane Dunaskiss (R)

Democratic convention

Democratic convention for Wayne State University Board of Governors (2 seats)

Incumbent Shirley Stancato and Eva Garza Dewaelsche advanced from the Democratic convention for Wayne State University Board of Governors on August 29, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Shirley Stancato (D)
✔		Eva Garza Dewaelsche (D)

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican convention

Republican convention for Wayne State University Board of Governors (2 seats)

Diane Dunaskiss and Don Gates advanced from the Republican convention for Wayne State University Board of Governors on August 29, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Diane Dunaskiss (R)
✔		Don Gates (R)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= 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 Wayne State University Board of Governors (2 seats)

Susan Odgers advanced from the Green convention for Wayne State University Board of Governors on June 20, 2020.

		Candidate
✔	Submit photo	Susan Odgers (G)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= 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 Wayne State University Board of Governors (2 seats)

Jon Elgas advanced from the Libertarian convention for Wayne State University Board of Governors on July 18, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Jon Elgas (L)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= 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 Wayne State University Board of Governors (2 seats)

Christine Schwartz advanced from the U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan convention for Wayne State University Board of Governors on July 25, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Christine Schwartz (U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan)

---

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

2018

See also: Michigan State Board of Regents election, 2018

General election

General election for Wayne State University Board of Governors (2 seats)

The following candidates ran in the general election for Wayne State University Board of Governors on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bryan Barnhill (D)	25.6	1,728,678
✔		Anil Kumar (D)	23.7	1,599,209
		Diane Dunaskiss (R)	23.4	1,575,211
	Submit photo	David Nicholson (R)	21.6	1,456,627
		Christine Schwartz (U.S. Taxpayers Party)	2.0	135,427
		Jon Elgas (L)	1.5	102,590
	Submit photo	John Hargenrader (L)	1.2	80,417
		Marc Joseph Sosnowski (U.S. Taxpayers Party)	1.0	66,278

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,744,437 (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.

2016

See also: Michigan House of Representatives elections, 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 Lana Theis defeated Timothy Johnson and Jon Elgas in the Michigan House of Representatives District 42 general election.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 42 General Election, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Lana Theis Incumbent	63.59%	34,015
	Democratic	Timothy Johnson	32.36%	17,309
	Libertarian	Jon Elgas	4.05%	2,167
Total Votes				53,491
Source: Michigan Secretary of State

Timothy Johnson ran unopposed in the Michigan House of Representatives District 42 Democratic primary.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 42 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate
	Democratic	Timothy Johnson  (unopposed)

Incumbent Lana Theis ran unopposed in the Michigan House of Representatives District 42 Republican primary.

Michigan House of Representatives, District 42 Republican Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate
	Republican	Lana Theis Incumbent (unopposed)

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

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

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a disciple of Christ who will work to shrink the size of government

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?

• Abolish State Income Tax
• establish a gold backed state currency
• stop clock changing

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Don't trust the government.

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

Jesus. He showed everyone how to live, accepted everyone who chose to follow him, loved those who didn't and was never afraid to speak out against those in power.

My Dad, who expected nothing but the truth ( a lesson it took me a long time to learn).

My mom, who continually helps me find ways to express ideas in ways that allows others to be more accepting of them.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The books would be the Bible, and Atlas Shrugged. Anything by the Ron Paul will also work

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

Integrity is the single most important characteristic anyone can posses. I don't expect to share many viewpoints as any politician, but I do expect them to be honest with me, and actually work towards the what they claim.

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

I am 6 years sober, and the lessons I have learned to be sober will help me be successful. These lessons include being honest, be willing to accept help when needed, and to live with integrity.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

They need to help those who can't help themselves, and those who don't know where to begin.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Quite frankly I don't care if people remember me, but for those that do I want them to think of me as principled.

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

I remember watching my mom vote for Ronald Regan in 1984.

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

I stocked my aunts party store in 1994, I had it for summer vacation.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Bible; It allows me to know who God is.

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

I would like to have the observation of Sherlock Homes.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Nicki by Aplogitix

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I struggled with Alcohol, and accepting who I am. Something I started becoming successful with 6 years ago.

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

The state legislature should be equal, but should be the ones driving state policy.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Encouraging small business to start or grow here. A great way to do that is by getting rid of property taxes for everyone.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?

a benefit would be that of a more efficient legislative branch, A drawback would be less people for lobbyists to corrupt. A great work around would be to have a unicameral legislature, and bill that gets passed and signed, would be passed on to each county. If a majority of counties agree that the bill would become law. This would allow for an efficient legislative branch, allow politics to become more local (which is where it should be) and make it harder for lobbyists to bribe politicians.

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

I believe that the more experience one has in government or politics the more likely they are to be corrupt.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Yes. Other legislators will need to trust me, and the best way to build that trust in to get to know them, and have them get to know me.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

A committee that is selected by the counties, not by and elected official or bureaucrat.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Appropriations, elections, and regulatory reform

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I would like to have the principled stance of Justin Amash, the boldness of Rand Paul, and the charisma of Barack Obama.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

I would run for State Rep, county or township trustee, or a school board.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I have heard from someone who lost their sole income during the lock downs, because their business couldn't withstand a year of no revenue. When the business closed they complemented suicide. I will work so that stories like that will not happen again

Tell us your favorite joke.

Did you know bees are allergic to pollen?
when exposed to too much they develop hives.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

the legislature should oversee use of emergency powers, and when the governor oversteps they have the authority to force change.

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

Yes. There will be times when I need to give a little to get some of what I want (which is less government)

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

Jon Elgas did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

See also

2022 Elections

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Footnotes

[show]

Current members of the Michigan State Senate

Senators

District 1

Erika Geiss (D)

District 2

Sylvia Santana (D)

District 3

Stephanie Chang (D)

District 4

Darrin Camilleri (D)

District 5

Dayna Polehanki (D)

District 6

Mary Cavanagh (D)

District 7

Jeremy Moss (D)

District 8

Mallory McMorrow (D)

District 9

Michael Webber (R)

District 10

Paul Wojno (D)

District 11

Veronica Klinefelt (D)

District 12

Kevin Hertel (D)

District 13

Rosemary Bayer (D)

District 14

Sue Shink (D)

District 15

Jeff Irwin (D)

District 16

Joseph Bellino (R)

District 17

Jonathan Lindsey (R)

District 18

Thomas Albert (R)

District 19

Sean McCann (D)

District 20

Aric Nesbitt (R)

District 21

Sarah Anthony (D)

District 22

Lana Theis (R)

District 23

Jim Runestad (R)

District 24

Ruth Johnson (R)

District 25

Dan Lauwers (R)

District 26

Kevin Daley (R)

District 27

John Cherry (D)

District 28

Sam Singh (D)

District 29

Winnie Brinks (D)

District 30

Mark Huizenga (R)

District 31

Roger Victory (R)

District 32

Jon Bumstead (R)

District 33

Rick Outman (R)

District 34

Roger Hauck (R)

District 35

Vacant

District 36

Michele Hoitenga (R)

District 37

John Damoose (R)

District 38

Ed McBroom (R)

Democratic Party (19)

Republican Party (18)

Vacancies (1)