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MI · Officeholder

Matt Koleszar

DState Representative · District 22

On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: Michigan Senate District 5

Biography

Matt Koleszar is a Democratic state representative from Michigan's District 22, first elected in 2018, who is the Democratic candidate for Michigan State Senate District 5 in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1][2] A former high school social studies teacher, he chaired the House Education Committee in 2023-2024.[1]

Matt Koleszar was born in Michigan.[1] He earned a bachelor's degree in history teacher education from Saginaw Valley State University in 2006 and a master's degree in English studies from Eastern Michigan University in 2011.[1] His career experience includes working as a high school social studies teacher with Airport Community Schools.[1]

Koleszar has served in the Michigan House of Representatives since 2019 and is not seeking re-election to District 22 in 2026.[1] In the 2025-2026 session he was assigned to the Education, Elections and Ethics, and Transportation committees, and he chaired the Education Committee in 2023-2024.[1] He advanced from the Democratic primary for State Senate District 5 on August 4, 2026.[1]

In a 2024 Ballotpedia survey, Koleszar described himself as a public school teacher of 12 years and said he was the lead sponsor of Michigan's distracted driving law.[3] He also said he sponsored a fix to the Police and Fire Survivors' tuition grant so that children of officers and firefighters who die in the line of duty can attend college tuition-free in Michigan.[3]

  1. 1.Matt Koleszar · Ballotpedia Reference
  2. 2.Michigan State Senate elections, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
  3. 3.Matt Koleszar Candidate Connection survey (2024) · Ballotpedia Candidate's own words

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.

Michigan Senate District 5

Matt Koleszar is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Michigan Senate District 5 as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.

Ballotpedia ↗

Other candidates for this seat

Votes by issue

Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 21 of 208 party-divided votes on file.

Most often on: Rights & public safety (11), Jobs & cost of living (4), Education & families (3)

  • The Michigan penal code: amend section 520d

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 21–25, Republicans 56–1

    Sep 23, 2026Official record ↗

  • The Michigan penal code: amend section 520c

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 22–24, Republicans 56–1

    Sep 23, 2026Official record ↗

  • The code of criminal procedure: amend section 16y of chapter XVII

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 21–25, Republicans 56–1

    Sep 23, 2026Official record ↗

  • The revised school code: amend section 1347

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 20–26, Republicans 56–1

    Sep 23, 2026Official record ↗

  • The Michigan penal code: amend section 543f

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 18–30, Republicans 56–2

    Jun 3, 2026Official record ↗

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

See all their split votes

Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.

HB 6263 · MI HOUSE

The Michigan penal code: amend section 520e

YesVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Passed 79–24·Substantive·Sep 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 6262 · MI HOUSE

The Michigan penal code: amend section 520d

YesVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Passed 77–26·Substantive·Sep 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 6261 · MI HOUSE

The Michigan penal code: amend section 520c

YesVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Passed 78–25·Substantive·Sep 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 6260 · MI HOUSE

The Michigan penal code: amend section 520b

YesVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Passed 79–24·Substantive·Sep 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 6259 · MI HOUSE

The code of criminal procedure: amend section 16y of chapter XVII

YesVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Passed 77–26·Substantive·Sep 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 6302 · MI HOUSE

The revised school code: amend section 1347

YesVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Passed 76–27·Substantive·Sep 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 6282 · MI HOUSE

Prohibit former legislators from accepting employment with certain entities; and to provide penalties.

YesVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Passed 88–15·Substantive·Sep 23, 2026Roll call ↗
HB 4135 · MI HOUSE

Authorize the state administrative board to convey state-owned property in Jackson County; to prescribe conditions for the conveyance; to provide for powers and duties of state departments, agencies…

YesVOTED

Motion: Concur in amendments made by the Senate

Passed 101–2·Substantive·Sep 22, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 433 · MI HOUSE

The revised school code: add section 1509.

YesVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Passed 99–4·Substantive·Sep 22, 2026Roll call ↗
SB 413 · MI HOUSE

Public health code: amend sections 18221, 18223, 18233, and 18237

YesVOTED

Motion: Third reading and passage

Passed 100–3·Substantive·Sep 22, 2026Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 613 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.