Sara Cambensy is an American politician who served in the Michigan House of Representatives, representing the 109th District, and is a member of the Democratic Party. Prior to her election to the state legislature, Cambensy served on the Marquette City Commission and the Marquette Planning Commission and was the director of adult and continuing education for Marquette Community Schools.
Sara Cambensy | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 109th district | |
| In office November 16, 2017 – December 31, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | John Kivela |
| Succeeded by | Jenn Hill |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Marquette, Michigan |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Marquette, Michigan |
| Alma mater | Northern Michigan University (BS 2002, MPA 2011) |
| Website | 109 |
Biography
editCampbensy is a lifelong resident of Marquette, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. She has two degrees from Northern Michigan University, a bachelor's degree in education earned in 2002 and a master's degree in public administration in 2011.[1]
Political career
editIn April 2017, Cambensy announced her campaign to seek the Democratic nomination in the 109th District in the Michigan House of Representatives, to succeed three-term state Rep. John Kivela, who was term-limited and was running for state Senate.[2]
The 109th district seat became vacant on May 9, 2017, when Kivela committed suicide just hours after his second drunken driving arrest during his five years in the House.[3] On May 18, 2017, Governor Rick Snyder announced a special election to fill the remainder of Kivela's term, with a special primary election on August 8, and the special general election on November 7, 2017.[4] On May 23, Cambensy announced that she would run in the special election as well.[5] She won the Democratic primary, taking 36 percent of the vote, winning by just 133 votes in a four-person field.[6] She then won the special general election to finish the last 14 months of Kivela's term, defeating Republican nominee Rich Rossway and Green Party candidate Wade Roberts, receiving 57 percent of the vote.[7] She was sworn in on November 28, 2017[8] and served in the state House until she was term limited in 2022.[9]
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sara Cambensy | 3,477 | 36.1 | |
| Democratic | Jeremy Hosking | 3,344 | 34.7 | |
| Democratic | Joe Derocha | 2,435 | 25.3 | |
| Democratic | Tom Curry | 386 | 4.0 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sara Cambensy | 11,721 | 56.7 | ||
| Republican | Rich Rossway | 8,690 | 42.0 | ||
| Green | Wade Roberts | 276 | 1.3 | ||
| Democratic hold | |||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "About Sara". Elect Sara Cambensy.
- ^ Wardel, Mary (April 18, 2017). "Cambensy running for state House". The Mining Journal. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
- ^ Egan, Paul; Gray, Kathleen; Haxel, Chris (May 9, 2017). "Lawmaker Dies from Apparent Suicide after 2nd Drunk Driving Arrest". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
- ^ "Gov. Rick Snyder Calls Special Election to Fill Seat in 109th State House District". Office of Gov. Rick Snyder (Press release). May 18, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
- ^ LaCombe, Andrew (May 23, 2017). "Sara Cambensy, Joe Derocha running in 109th special election". WLUC-TV. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
- ^ Hunter, Wil (August 8, 2017). "Breaking: Sara Cambensy wins Democratic nomination for 109th District". WJMN-TV – UPMatters.com. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
- ^ Zaniewski, Ann; Gray, Kathleen (November 7, 2017). "Democrats Tenisha Yancey, Sara Cambensy Win State House Seats". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
- ^ Michigan House Democratic Caucus [@MIHouseDems] (September 12, 2017). "It's official! Please welcome Sara Cambensy to the House of Representatives" (Tweet). Retrieved November 28, 2017 – via Twitter.
- ^ MacLean, Brianna (November 28, 2022). "Sara Cambensy reflects on her time as state representative for 109th district". UP Matters. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
- ^ "2017 Michigan Election Results". Michigan Department of State. August 17, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
- ^ "2017 Michigan Election Results". Michigan Department of State. November 16, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2017.