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Candidate record

Sean McCann

Michigan state senator; Democratic nominee. Campaign affiliation: Democratic.

Voter guide

Background, stated goals, record, and money

Goals come from the campaign's own platform. Record lines are official actions.

How this guide is built

Background comes from official records, and from the campaign's own biography where the bullet says so; goals are summarized from the campaign's own platform and stay attributed; the record lines are official actions with the government source attached; money is shown as filed, with the filings it covers in the note under the table, and is not evidence of why any position was taken.

Sean McCann

Background

  • A Michigan state senator for the Kalamazoo area, in his second Senate term, his caucus says.
  • Elected to the Michigan House in 2010, after five two-year terms on the Kalamazoo City Commission.
  • Ran the Vine Neighborhood Association in Kalamazoo after college at Western Michigan University.
  • Filed as a candidate with the FEC on July 14, 2025, and is the Democratic nominee.

What they say they want to do

  • Cut taxes for working families while corporations and the top 1% pay more.
  • Extend the ACA tax credits, cap insulin at 35 dollars a month and widen Medicare drug-price negotiation.
  • Ban stock trading by members of Congress and their families, and bar former members from lobbying.
  • Restore the clean energy tax credits and build more solar, wind and nuclear power in Michigan.
  • Pass a farm bill and a "Right to Repair" law for farm equipment.

What the official record shows

  • As a state representative, voted for the Healthy Michigan Plan, Michigan's Medicaid expansion (House Bill 4714), on final House passage.
  • Voted for the tax law that raised the state earned income tax credit from 6% to 30% and phased out the 2011 limits on the pension deduction (House Bill 4001).
  • Voted to repeal the 1931 law making abortion a crime (House Bill 4006). It passed the Senate 20-18.
  • Served as a Senate conferee on the 2023 and 2024 state budgets and voted for both. Each held 150 million dollars to help restart a closed nuclear plant.

Campaign money from other committees, by type

Leadership PACs 34 committees$129,000
Labor Organization PACs 10 committees$50,000
Hybrid PAC (with Non-Contribution Account) - Qualified 8 committees$38,000
PAC - Qualified 11 committees$33,950
Transfers and contributions from joint fundraising committees 3 committees$26,956
House 10 committees$22,000
Committees the FEC records no type for 6 committees$14,600
Membership Organization PACs 7 committees$13,500
PAC - Nonqualified 1 committee$10,000
Trade Association PACs 1 committee$5,000

Source: Federal Election Commission

Money from political committees in the 2025-26 cycle, through July 15, 2026 (FEC lines 11B, 11C and 12). The rows sum to 343,005.54 dollars. Donations from individuals, including through ActBlue or WinRed, are not counted here.

Words and record

What they say, and what the record shows

Each card gets one label from a fixed list and states its own limit.

Matches stated record claim

What they say

He says one of his proudest votes in the Legislature was to expand Medicaid to more than a million people in Michigan.

What the record shows ·

He voted for the Healthy Michigan Plan twice in 2013, and it became law covering adults with incomes up to 133% of the poverty level. The "over a million" figure was not checked.

Read the full check

Quotes, full record and limits

What they say

He says one of his proudest votes in the Legislature was to expand Medicaid to more than a million people in Michigan.

“one of my proudest votes in the Michigan Legislature was to expand access to Medicaid to over a million people in Michigan”

What the record shows ·

As a state representative he voted for House Bill 4714, the Healthy Michigan Plan, when it passed the House on June 13, 2013 (76-31), and again when the House approved the Senate's version on September 3, 2013 (75-32). It became Public Act 107 of 2013 and covers adults with incomes up to 133% of the poverty level.

Limit: The vote is on record. The figure of over a million people is enrollment over the years since, which this desk did not check.

Matches stated record claim

What they say

He says the Legislature expanded the working families tax cut and ended the retirement tax.

What the record shows ·

He voted for the 2023 law that raised the state earned income tax credit to 30% of the federal credit and, by 2026, let anyone deduct pension income up to a cap.

Read the full check

Quotes, full record and limits

What they say

He says the Legislature expanded the working families tax cut and ended the retirement tax.

“We expanded the working families tax cut, ended the retirement tax”

What the record shows ·

He voted for the final version of House Bill 4001 on February 16, 2023, when the Senate adopted it 20-17. As Public Act 4 of 2023, it raised Michigan's earned income tax credit from 6% to 30% of the federal credit from the 2023 tax year. By the 2026 tax year it phased out the 2011 limits that tied the pension deduction to a taxpayer's birth year. From 2026 anyone can deduct pension income up to a set cap.

Limit: He says "we": he was one of 20 senators voting for it, not its sponsor. The change phased in over four years, and pension income above the cap is still taxed.

Matches stated record claim

What they say

He says he was proud to vote in the Senate to repeal Michigan's 1931 abortion ban.

What the record shows ·

He voted for House Bill 4006 in March 2023, which passed the Senate 20-18 and removed the 1931 law as Public Act 11 of 2023.

Read the full check

Quotes, full record and limits

What they say

He says he was proud to vote in the Senate to repeal Michigan's 1931 abortion ban.

“In the Michigan Senate, I was proud to vote to repeal the 1931 abortion ban”

What the record shows ·

He voted for House Bill 4006 on March 8, 2023. It repealed sections 14 and 15 of the 1931 penal code and passed the Senate 20-18. It became Public Act 11 of 2023 on April 5, 2023.

Limit: The vote removed the 1931 law from the books. His Planned Parenthood board service, on the same page, was not checked.

Matches stated record claim

What they say

He says he supported funding in the Senate to help reopen the Palisades nuclear plant.

What the record shows ·

He voted for the 2023 and 2024 state budgets, which each held $150 million to restart a closed nuclear plant that fits Palisades, but cast no separate Palisades vote.

Read the full check

Quotes, full record and limits

What they say

He says he supported funding in the Senate to help reopen the Palisades nuclear plant.

“In the Michigan Senate, I supported funding to help reopen the Palisades Nuclear Plant”

What the record shows ·

He was one of three Senate conferees on the 2023-24 state budget, House Bill 4437, and voted for the final version on June 28, 2023 (26-10). It holds 150 million dollars to help restart a Michigan nuclear plant of under 1,000 megawatts that was in service on January 1, 2022 and no longer producing power. It became Public Act 119 of 2023. He was again a Senate conferee on the 2024 budget bill, Senate Bill 747, which added another 150 million dollars for the same restart, and voted for it on June 27, 2024 (21-17). It became Public Act 121 of 2024.

Limit: The laws describe the plant without naming it; Palisades in Van Buren County is the plant that fits. The money depends on a federal Energy Department commitment. He voted for two whole budgets, not separate Palisades votes.

Matches stated record claim

What they say

He says he helped make free school breakfast and lunch available to every K-12 student.

What the record shows ·

He voted for the 2023-24 school aid budget, which pays schools that opt in to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to every pupil, pre-K to 12.

Read the full check

Quotes, full record and limits

What they say

He says he helped make free school breakfast and lunch available to every K-12 student.

“make free school breakfasts and lunch available to all K-12 students”

What the record shows ·

He voted for the final 2023-24 school aid budget, Senate Bill 173, on June 28, 2023 (29-8). As Public Act 103 of 2023, its section 30d pays schools to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to every pupil, pre-K to 12.

Limit: This checks the 2023 budget only; later budgets were not read. Schools must opt in and take part in the federal school lunch program. The other items in the same sentence (teachers, social workers, pre-K) were not checked.

Issues in this record

Follow the evidence by issue.

Costs, taxes and jobsFederal spending and the debtHealth careEnergyThe Great Lakes and drinking waterThe border and immigrationSchools and education

Evidence timeline

Dated records, with sources attached.

  1. race event

    Official candidate listing

    The state's official listing named three candidates for the November 3 ballot: McCann, Huizenga and Barnett. Kalamazoo County's list of September 14 matches.

  2. race event

    Primary election

    McCann and Huizenga won their parties' nominations and appear on the November listing.

  3. race event

    Last report before the primary

    The pre-primary reports close. McCann reported 1,686,239.57 dollars in cash and Huizenga 2,268,746.60 dollars.

  4. finance

    FEC filing snapshot

    Pre-Primary 2026, principal campaign committee SEAN MCCANN FOR CONGRESS.

  5. race event

    McCann files for the ballot

    McCann filed nominating petitions with the state.

  6. race event

    McCann files with the FEC

    Sean McCann registered as a candidate, with Sean McCann for Congress as his campaign committee.

See something wrong or incomplete? Report it for review.

Sources28 source records

How we use sources

  1. Senator Sean McCann, biographyhttps://senatedems.com/mccann/bio/

    Michigan Senate Democrats · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    His Senate caucus biography: Vine Neighborhood Association, five terms on the Kalamazoo City Commission, elected to the state House in 2010, now in his second Senate term.

    official office record

    For: Current role; Background, goals, record and campaign money

  2. Meet Seanhttps://seanmccannforcongress.com/about/

    Sean McCann for Congress · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Campaign-controlled source, "Paid for by Sean McCann for Congress". The FEC lists this site for his committee. Biography and reasons for running.

    candidate statement

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money

  3. MCCANN, SEAN, candidate H6MI04204https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/H6MI04204/

    Federal Election Commission · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Candidate record: first filed July 14, 2025, Democratic, House, Michigan 4th, 2026 cycle. Principal committee Sean McCann for Congress (C00911784).

    fec filing

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; McCann files with the FEC

  4. Official Candidate Listing, General Election, November 3, 2026https://mi-boe.entellitrak.com/etk-mi-boe-prod/page.request.do?electionType=GEN&electionYear=2026&page=page.miboePublicReport

    Michigan Department of State · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    The state's listing for every state and federal office, headed official and stamped as of September 4, 2026. Lists three candidates for the 4th District: McCann (Democratic Party), Huizenga (Republican Party) and Barnett (Green Party), with filing date and method. It marks no incumbent for this seat.

    official election record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; Official candidate listing; Primary election; McCann files for the ballot

  5. Sean McCann releases plan to cut taxes and lower costs for Michigan familieshttps://seanmccannforcongress.com/sean-mccann-releases-plan-to-cut-taxes-and-lower-costs-for-michigan-families/

    Sean McCann for Congress · Published Jul 27, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Campaign press release with his cost-of-living plan.

    candidate statement

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money

  6. Sean's Plan for Michiganhttps://seanmccannforcongress.com/issues/

    Sean McCann for Congress · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Campaign-controlled source. His issue positions and the claims about his own legislative record that the cards test. The page carries no date.

    candidate statement

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; Voting to expand Medicaid; The working families tax credit and the retirement tax; Repealing the 1931 abortion ban; Money to reopen the Palisades nuclear plant; Free school meals for every student

  7. Sean McCann releases plan to restore trust in governmenthttps://seanmccannforcongress.com/sean-mccann-releases-plan-to-restore-trust-in-government-and-prevent-powerful-politicians-from-getting-rich-at-michigans-expense/

    Sean McCann for Congress · Published Aug 28, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Campaign press release with his ethics plan. Its lines about his opponent are not used.

    candidate statement

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money

  8. Journal of the House, September 3, 2013 (No. 69) (document)

    Michigan House of Representatives · Published Sep 3, 2013 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Roll call 265, concurring in the Senate substitute for House Bill 4714.

    official legislative record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; Voting to expand Medicaid

  9. House Bill 4714 of 2013 (Public Act 107 of 2013)https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2013-HB-4714

    Michigan Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Bill history: House passage June 13, 2013 (roll call 241, 76-31); House concurred in the Senate substitute September 3, 2013 (roll call 265, 75-32); signed September 16, 2013.

    official legislative record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; Voting to expand Medicaid

  10. Journal of the Senate, February 16, 2023 (No. 17) (document)

    Michigan Senate · Published Feb 16, 2023 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Roll call 22, adopting the conference report on House Bill 4001.

    official legislative record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; The working families tax credit and the retirement tax

  11. Public Act 4 of 2023 (document)

    Michigan Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    The enacted text: the state earned income tax credit rises from 6% to 30% of the federal credit from 2023. Sec. 30(10) phases out the 2011 birth-year limits on the pension deduction over 2023-2025; from the 2026 tax year anyone may deduct pension income, but public and private pensions alike are capped at the subsection (1)(f)(iv) maximum (42,240 dollars single, 84,480 joint, indexed from 2007).

    official legislative record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; The working families tax credit and the retirement tax

  12. Journal of the Senate, March 8, 2023 (No. 24) (document)

    Michigan Senate · Published Mar 8, 2023 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Roll call 47 on House Bill 4006, which repeals sections 14 and 15 of the 1931 penal code. The "Huizenga" voting no in this journal is state Senator Mark Huizenga, not Bill Huizenga.

    official legislative record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; Repealing the 1931 abortion ban

  13. House Bill 4006 of 2023 (Public Act 11 of 2023)https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2023-HB-4006

    Michigan Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Bill history: Senate passage March 8, 2023 (roll call 47, 20-18); signed April 5, 2023 as Public Act 11 of 2023.

    official legislative record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; Repealing the 1931 abortion ban

  14. Journal of the Senate, June 28, 2023 (No. 63) (document)

    Michigan Senate · Published Jun 28, 2023 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Conference reports on House Bill 4437 (roll call 445) and Senate Bill 173 (roll call 446). McCann signs the House Bill 4437 report as a Senate conferee; the third named conferee, Bumstead, did not sign.

    official legislative record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; Money to reopen the Palisades nuclear plant; Free school meals for every student

  15. Public Act 119 of 2023 (document)

    Michigan Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    The enacted 2023-24 budget. Section 616 directs the 150 million dollar "targeted energy investment" to restarting a Michigan nuclear plant of under 1,000 megawatts that was in service on January 1, 2022 and is not producing power. It does not name Palisades.

    official legislative record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; Money to reopen the Palisades nuclear plant

  16. Journal of the Senate, June 27, 2024 (No. 64) (document)

    Michigan Senate · Published Jun 27, 2024 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Conference report on Senate Bill 747, signed by McCann as a Senate conferee, and roll call 330 adopting it, 21-17. The "Huizenga" voting no is state Senator Mark Huizenga, not Bill Huizenga.

    official legislative record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; Money to reopen the Palisades nuclear plant

  17. Public Act 121 of 2024 (document)

    Michigan Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    The enacted 2024 budget bill. Article 16, supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2023-24, holds another 150 million dollar "targeted energy investment"; its section 811 ties it to restarting a Michigan nuclear reactor of under 1,000 megawatts that was in service on January 1, 2022. The governor's line-item vetoes do not touch it.

    official legislative record

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money; Money to reopen the Palisades nuclear plant

  18. SEAN MCCANN FOR CONGRESS, receipts from political committeeshttps://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/?committee_id=C00911784&two_year_transaction_period=2026&line_number=F3-11C

    Federal Election Commission · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Read with tools/fec-money/money.py on October 1, 2026: lines 11B (none), 11C (123 rows, 4 memo rows not counted) and 12 (30 rows, 27 memo rows not counted), through July 15, 2026. Each line reconciles to the filed total: 316,050.00 dollars on 11C and 26,955.54 dollars on 12.

    fec filing

    For: Background, goals, record and campaign money

  19. Journal of the House, June 13, 2013 (No. 59) (document)

    Michigan House of Representatives · Published Jun 13, 2013 · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Roll call 241 on House Bill 4714.

    official legislative record

    For: Voting to expand Medicaid

  20. Public Act 107 of 2013 (document)

    Michigan Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    The enacted text: medical assistance for adults with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level, the Healthy Michigan Plan.

    official legislative record

    For: Voting to expand Medicaid

  21. House Bill 4001 of 2023 (Public Act 4 of 2023)https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2023-HB-4001

    Michigan Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Bill history: the Senate adopted the conference report February 16, 2023 (roll call 22, 20-17); signed March 7, 2023.

    official legislative record

    For: The working families tax credit and the retirement tax

  22. House Bill 4437 of 2023 (Public Act 119 of 2023)https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2023-HB-4437

    Michigan Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Bill history: Senate conferees named June 27, 2023 (Anthony, McCann, Bumstead); the Senate adopted the conference report June 28, 2023 (roll call 445, 26-10); signed with line-item vetoes July 31, 2023.

    official legislative record

    For: Money to reopen the Palisades nuclear plant

  23. Senate Bill 747 of 2024 (Public Act 121 of 2024)https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2024-SB-0747

    Michigan Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Bill history: Senate conferees named June 20, 2024 (Anthony, McCann, Bumstead); the Senate adopted the conference report June 27, 2024 (roll call 330, 21-17); signed with line-item vetoes July 24, 2024; assigned Public Act 121 of 2024.

    official legislative record

    For: Money to reopen the Palisades nuclear plant

  24. Senate Bill 173 of 2023 (Public Act 103 of 2023)https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2023-SB-0173

    Michigan Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Bill history: the Senate adopted the conference report June 28, 2023 (roll call 446, 29-8); signed July 20, 2023.

    official legislative record

    For: Free school meals for every student

  25. Public Act 103 of 2023 (document)

    Michigan Legislature · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    The enacted 2023-24 school aid budget. Section 30d pays schools that serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all students, pre-K to 12.

    official legislative record

    For: Free school meals for every student

  26. Official Candidate List, Kalamazoo County, November 3, 2026 General Election (document)

    Kalamazoo County Clerk · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    County list headed "Official Candidate List" and updated September 14, 2026; its web address still says unofficial. Same three 4th District candidates, same order, as the state listing.

    official election record

    For: Official candidate listing

  27. SEAN MCCANN FOR CONGRESS, Pre-Primary 2026 (document)

    Federal Election Commission · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Principal campaign committee, covering July 1 to July 15, 2026, received July 23, 2026 (file 2001621). Read from OpenFEC on October 1, 2026 as the latest report both campaigns have filed; not amended.

    fec filing

    For: Last report before the primary; FEC filing snapshot

  28. HUIZENGA FOR CONGRESS, Pre-Primary 2026 (amended) (document)

    Federal Election Commission · Reviewed Oct 1, 2026

    Principal campaign committee, covering July 1 to July 15, 2026. The amended report received August 3, 2026 (file 2003741) replaces the July 23 original; the totals are the same.

    fec filing

    For: Last report before the primary