Heather Smiley

Heather Smiley attended public schools and, according to her campaign website, was the first in her family to attend college. She earned a bachelor's degree in 1985 and a master's degree in administration in 2001, both from Central Michigan University.[1][2]

Smiley worked at Ford Motor Company from 1990 to 2022, holding global leadership roles in data insights and analytics, product and program management, strategy and planning, and supply chain. Her campaign website adds business transformation and customer service roles and work on location in Europe, and Bridge Michigan describes her positions as both union and salaried.[1][2][3] Her campaign website says she has volunteered throughout her adult life as a first responder and instructor, a youth program leader, and a supporter of emergency preparedness agencies and local charities.[2][3]

Smiley was the Republican nominee against Debbie Dingell in the 2024 general election, after an uncontested primary, and she won the party's nomination again in the August 2026 primary.[3][5][6] She lives in Riverview and describes herself on her campaign website as a Christian mother of two children.[2][3] Her campaign website said she decided to run because she believed the government had "progressively gone astray."[1][2][3] She received 30.3% of the vote to Debbie Dingell's 67.4%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[4]