U.S. House · Michigan's 9th District

Michigan's 'Thumb' region and northern Macomb County, including Romeo, Rochester and St. Clair, Sanilac and Lapeer counties.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

✓ Fact-checked 2026-09-25: 19 claims re-checked against their sources · 3 corrected · 0 removed

A second, independent research pass re-opened every cited source for this race and corrected or removed anything the source didn’t support.

  • Removed the unsourced claim that House Republican Conference Chair is 'the fourth-ranking position in House GOP leadership' from McClain's summary and record item -- not stated in the cited Ballotpedia source.
  • Replaced that removed detail in the record item with a verifiable fact from the same source: she defeated Kat Cammack 146-67 in the November 13, 2024 leadership election.
  • Fixed the s3b source for Pooley: url pointed to Pooley4Congress.com but the quoted priorities/positions text (manufacturing, family farms, Medicare for All, ICE raids, etc.) only appears on Pooley's Ballotpedia Candidate Connection page; repointed url to ballotpedia.org.

On the ballot · 6 candidates

Where they stand — side by side

Only positions documented in a cited source are shown. Where an officeholder’s recorded votes speak to an issue, the votes set the position (marked “votes”). A dash means we found no clear public position — not that the candidate has none.

ISSUELisa McClain
R
Ray Pooley
D
Destiny Clayton
G
Kevin Vayko
LIB
John Vlahos
U.S. Taxpayers Party
Jim Walkowicz
Working Class Party
Protect legal access to abortionOpposes[21][22]votes—————
Stricter gun lawsOpposes[19][20]votes—————
Expand immigration enforcement and deportationsSupports[9][10][11][12][13][14]votesOpposes[4]————
Raise taxes on high earners or corporationsOpposes[10][11][12][17]votesSupports[4]————
Expand public health coverageOpposes[10][11][12][15]votesSupports[4]————
Faster transition away from fossil fuelsOpposes[10][11][12][16][17]votesSupports[4]————
Raise the minimum wage—Supports[4]————
Broad tariffs on imported goodsSupports[18]votes—————
Universal, publicly funded child careOpposes[16]votesSupports[4]————

The candidates, in full

Lisa McClain

RINCUMBENTU.S. Representative (since 2021); House Republican Conference Chair

Lisa McClain is the Republican incumbent, seeking re-election. She chairs the House Republican Conference.[2]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Key votes in Congress

  • NoWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · H. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · 2026-06-03 roll call ↗The resolution directs the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress has not authorized, invoking the War Powers Resolution. It passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans.
  • NoResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · H.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · 2026-02-11 roll call ↗The resolution terminates the national emergency the President declared in February 2025 to justify a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, ending that tariff if it becomes law. It passed with a bipartisan majority, including several Republicans who broke with the administration on trade policy.
  • YesConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government funding · H.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · 2026-02-03 roll call ↗The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026.
  • NoBreaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · H.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · 2026-01-08 roll call ↗The bill extends for additional years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that were expanded in 2021 and had lapsed at the end of 2025, lowering health-insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on ACA marketplaces. It passed with support from nearly all Democrats and a small group of Republicans.
  • NoWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela · H. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · 2025-12-17 roll call ↗The resolution would have directed the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized. It failed after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela had raised questions in Congress about the administration's legal authority for military action in the region.
  • YesNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passage · S. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · 2025-12-10 roll call ↗The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. It also sets policy on military personnel, procurement, and other Defense Department programs for the year.
  • YesEpstein Files Transparency Act · H.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · 2025-11-18 roll call ↗The bill directs the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, while allowing redactions to protect victim identities, ongoing investigations, and law enforcement techniques. It passed with near-unanimous support.
  • YesContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending vote · H.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · 2025-11-12 roll call ↗The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. It also reversed shutdown-related federal layoffs and funded SNAP benefits retroactively.
  • YesCLARITY Act — digital asset market structure · H.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The CLARITY Act creates a regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It sets registration and disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other digital-asset intermediaries.
  • YesGENIUS Act — stablecoin regulation · S. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and to comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation enacted into federal law.
  • YesOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · 2025-07-03 roll call ↗H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and raises the cap on state and local tax deductions. It increases border security and defense spending while cutting projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adding new work requirements; President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025.
  • YesRescissions Act of 2025 · H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · 2025-06-12 roll call ↗The Rescissions Act canceled about $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, mostly for foreign aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was the first rescissions package Congress had approved in decades.
  • YesOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · 2025-05-22 roll call ↗H.R. 1 extends and modifies the 2017 individual and business tax cuts, creates new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and increases spending on border security and defense. It also reduces projected spending on Medicaid and food-assistance programs and adds new work requirements for some recipients.
  • YesSAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · H.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · 2025-04-10 roll call ↗The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. It also directs states to establish procedures to remove noncitizens identified on voter rolls.
  • YesFull-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 · H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · 2025-03-11 roll call ↗The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown ahead of a March 14 deadline. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations.
  • YesLaken Riley Act — final passage · S. 5 · Passed 263–156 · 2025-01-22 roll call ↗The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions.
  • YesSecure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · H.R. 2 · Passed 219–213 · 2023-05-11 roll call ↗Would have resumed border-wall construction, restricted asylum eligibility, expanded detention, and mandated E-Verify for employers.
  • NoInflation Reduction Act — final House passage · H.R. 5376 · Passed 220–207 · 2022-08-12 roll call ↗Enacted clean-energy and climate tax credits, a 15% minimum tax on large corporations' book income, a 1% excise tax on stock buybacks, and Medicare drug-price negotiation.
  • NoAssault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passage · H.R. 1808 · Passed 217–213 · 2022-07-29 roll call ↗Would have banned the sale, manufacture and import of many semiautomatic assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.
  • NoWomen's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passage · H.R. 8296 · Passed 219–210 · 2022-07-15 roll call ↗Passed after Dobbs; would have created a federal statutory right to abortion services and limited state restrictions.
  • NoBipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passage · S. 2938 · Passed 234–193 · 2022-06-24 roll call ↗Expanded background checks for buyers under 21, funded state red-flag and crisis-intervention programs, and narrowed the "boyfriend loophole."
  • NoBuild Back Better Act — House passage · H.R. 5376 · Passed 220–213 · 2021-11-19 roll call ↗Would have funded clean-energy tax credits, universal pre-kindergarten and child-care subsidies, and extended health-coverage subsidies; it did not pass the Senate.
  • NoWomen's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passage · H.R. 3755 · Passed 218–211 · 2021-09-24 roll call ↗Would have created a federal statutory right for providers to offer, and patients to receive, abortion services, limiting state restrictions.
  • NoAmerican Dream and Promise Act of 2021 — House passage · H.R. 6 · Passed 228–197 · 2021-03-18 roll call ↗Would have created a path to permanent legal status for many undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children and for certain TPS and DED holders.

On the record — official actions

  • actionAssigned to the Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Education and the Workforce for the 119th Congress (2025-2026).[2]
  • actionChaired the Health Care and Financial Services subcommittee of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in the 118th Congress (2023-2024).[2]
  • actionElected chair of the House Republican Conference for the 119th Congress, defeating Kat Cammack 146-67 in the November 13, 2024 leadership election.[2]
  • bill2023-01-20 · Reintroduced a resolution supporting the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, January 20, 2023.[5]

Positions on the issues

  • OpposesProtect legal access to abortionFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 (H.R. 3755, 2021-09-24). Voted no on Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 (H.R. 8296, 2022-07-15).[21][22]

    What they say: Says life begins at conception and she will always protect the sanctity of life; reintroduced a resolution supporting the Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision and issued a statement supporting House passage of the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.[5]

    “Life begins at conception, and I will always protect the sanctity of Life.”
  • OpposesFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits. Voted no on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19; 2022-08-12), which would have funded clean-energy tax credits.[10][11][12][16][17]

    What they say: On energy policy, says she does not believe government should direct clean-energy investment through research and development grants, favoring private-sector-led development alongside continued oil, natural gas and pipeline production such as completing the Keystone XL pipeline.[6]

    “I do not believe it is the government’s job to pick winners and losers when it comes to energy research and development grants.”
  • SupportsExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations. Voted yes on Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2, 2023-05-11). Voted no on American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 (H.R. 6, 2021-03-18).[9][10][11][12][13][14]

  • OpposesExpand public health coverageFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted no on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08).[10][11][12][15]

  • OpposesRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent. Voted no on Inflation Reduction Act (H.R. 5376, 2022-08-12), which added a 15% minimum tax on large corporations and a stock-buyback excise tax.[10][11][12][17]

  • SupportsBroad tariffs on imported goodsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11).[18]

  • OpposesUniversal, publicly funded child careFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376, 2021-11-19), which would have funded universal pre-K and child-care subsidies.[16]

  • OpposesStricter gun lawsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 (H.R. 1808, 2022-07-29). Voted no on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (S. 2938, 2022-06-24).[19][20]

In their words — priorities

  • Our economic system of capitalism provides the most significant opportunity for all Americans. It has proven time and again that it can raise all by incentivizing businesses to create jobs, raise wages, and provide competitive benefits that create more prosperity for the American worker and their families.[7]
  • I will continue to push my colleagues in Congress to support a robust military that is the premier fighting force in the world. We can achieve peace through strength.[8]
  • Life begins at conception, and I will always protect the sanctity of Life.[5]

Background

  • Lives in Romeo, Michigan.[2]
  • Earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Northwood University.[2]
  • Founded and worked as president of North End Support Team before entering Congress.[2]
  • Elected chair of the House Republican Conference in the 119th Congress.[2]

Campaign money

Raised $5.2M · spent $4.3M · $1.5M cash on hand (through 2026-07-15) FEC filing ↗

Ray Pooley

D

Ray Pooley is a machinist making his first run for Congress, campaigning on manufacturing jobs, family farms and Medicare for All.[1]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsExpand public health coverage

    Supports Medicare for All.[4]

    “...providing the security and peace of mind you deserve through Medicare For All.”
  • SupportsUniversal, publicly funded child care

    Supports providing childcare services for all families.[4]

    “...we have the means and capability to provide childcare services for all, and therefore the responsibility to do so.”
  • SupportsRaise the minimum wage

    Supports raising the minimum wage alongside a cap on the ratio between CEO and worker pay.[4]

    “...raising the minimum wage while putting a maximum ratio for CEO pay...”
  • SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporations

    Supports simplifying the tax code so that higher earners pay more and closing corporate tax loopholes.[4]

    “That means simplifying the tax code so the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share, allowing us to cut taxes for working families, as well as closing all the tax loopholes these corporations take advantage of.”
  • SupportsFaster transition away from fossil fuels

    Supports domestic solar and wind power development over reliance on foreign oil.[4]

    “By harnessing American-made solar, wind, and other innovative technologies, we can produce abundant, cheap, and clean power right here at home.”
  • OpposesExpand immigration enforcement and deportations

    Opposes what he calls 'un-American ICE raids' while supporting a secure border and a faster legal immigration process.[4]

    “End un-American ICE raids and enforce smart border policy, targeting root cause.”

In their words — priorities

  • Bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. and protecting the right to unionize.[4]
  • Supporting family farms against large agribusiness.[4]
  • Medicare for All and expanded childcare services.[4]

Background

  • Earned a high school diploma from Hartland High School.[3]
  • Career experience includes working as a machinist.[3]

Campaign money

Raised $8,084 · spent $3,142 · $4,942 cash on hand (through 2026-07-15) FEC filing ↗

Destiny Clayton

G

Destiny Clayton is the Green Party candidate on the November general-election ballot for this district.[1]

Little public record found for this candidate.

Kevin Vayko

LIB

Kevin Vayko is the Libertarian Party candidate on the November general-election ballot for this district.[1]

Little public record found for this candidate.

John Vlahos

U.S. Taxpayers Party

John Vlahos is the U.S. Taxpayers Party candidate on the November general-election ballot for this district.[1]

Little public record found for this candidate.

Jim Walkowicz

Working Class Party

Jim Walkowicz is the Working Class Party candidate on the November general-election ballot for this district.[1]

Little public record found for this candidate.

Sources · 22

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 2.Lisa McClain · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  3. 3.Ray Pooley · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  4. 4.Pooley's Candidate Connection survey responses, quoted by Ballotpedia · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  5. 5.Life · Office of Rep. Lisa McClain · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  6. 6.Energy · Office of Rep. Lisa McClain · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  7. 7.Jobs and the Economy · Office of Rep. Lisa McClain · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  8. 8.National Security/Military · Office of Rep. Lisa McClain · 2026-09-25 Candidate's own words
  9. 9.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  10. 10.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  11. 11.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  12. 12.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  13. 13.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
  14. 14.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-03-18 Official record
  15. 15.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  16. 16.Roll call: Build Back Better Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-11-19 Official record
  17. 17.Roll call: Inflation Reduction Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-08-12 Official record
  18. 18.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
  19. 19.Roll call: Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-29 Official record
  20. 20.Roll call: Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — final House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-06-24 Official record
  21. 21.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2021-09-24 Official record
  22. 22.Roll call: Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2022-07-15 Official record