Latest news with #Byrum
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Election administrators from across Michigan endorse Byrum for secretary of state
Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum at a press conference announcing Democrats' voting rights bill package, Nov. 3, 2021, at the Ingham County Courthouse | Laina G. Stebbins A bipartisan group of current and former county clerks from across the state has endorsed Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum's bid to receive the Democratic nomination for secretary of state. Byrum's campaign to seek the Michigan Democratic Party nomination on Monday announced that it has received support from Washtenaw County Clerk Larry Kestenbaum, Genesee County Clerk Domonique Clemons, Saginaw County Clerk Vanessa Guerra, Kalamazoo County Clerk Meredith Place, Muskegon County Clerk Karen Buie, Bay County Clerk Katie Zanotti, Midland County Clerk Ann Manary, Marquette County Clerk Linda Talsma, Menominee County Clerk Marc Kleiman, Lansing City Clerk Chris Swope and Westland City Clerk Richard LeBlanc Former Ingham clerk Mike Bryanton, former Presque Isle clerk Ann Marie Main and former Ontonagon clerk Stacy Preiss also issued support for Byrum. 'It is so humbling to be recognized by your peers and supported in my candidacy,' Byrum said in a statement. 'This bipartisan group of election administrators represents all parts of the State and a diverse array of our residents. These clerks know what it takes to run elections and I am honored that they believe that I am the right choice to be Secretary of State.' Buie said in a statement that Byrum has 'the experience, knowledge, commitment, and integrity to be our next Secretary of State.' Kleiman, the past president of the Michigan Association of County Clerks, in a statement praised Byrum's wealth of experience as an invaluable asset. 'Barb has been a leader in the election administrator community and has a strong grasp of election law and how to practically apply it to ensure that our elections are smooth and secure,' Kleiman said. Byrum announced her candidacy last month. Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie is the only other name in the race on the Democratic side. Michigan's political parties nominate candidates for secretary of state and attorney general and do not participate in the primary process. Michigan Democrats will nominate a candidate for secretary of state at their state party convention in the spring of 2026. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ingham County clerk joins secretary of state race
Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum talks about Proposal 2 in Lansing, Jan. 24, 2023 | Ward Beard Barb Byrum will seek the Michigan Democratic Party nomination for secretary of state in 2026, she announced Wednesday. As Ingham County Clerk for the last decade, Byrum has overseen 40 elections and several recounts. She made a name for herself nationally in 2014 when the Obergefell v. Hodges case – which eventually legalized same-sex marriage nationwide – was on appeal, and allowed a short window for states to recognize those marriages for the first time before the case was finalized. Byrum opened her office to those couples and performed one of the first same-sex marriage ceremonies in the state. Byrum also served in the Michigan House of Representatives for six years before being elected to as the Ingham County clerk in 2012, and previously owned and operated an Ace Hardware store in Charlotte for nearly 20 years. 'I'm running for Secretary of State because I believe elections should be fair, secure and accessible for voters today and in future generations, and that Michiganders deserve an exceptional customer service experience at every Secretary of State office,' Byrum said in a statement. 'For more than 20 years, I've served the public as a state legislator and as a County Clerk, and I'd be honored to continue serving the people of Michigan as the next Secretary of State.' Byrum is a longtime advocate for voters' rights and routinely uses her social media pages to explain complex election matters, especially in the wake of the 2020 election, when Republicans refused to accept the results of the presidential contest and fomented numerous unfounded election conspiracies. In a news release announcing her campaign, Byrum said election officials like herself take pride in ensuring Michigan's elections are secure and that every qualified voter has a chance to have their voice heard. 'I fight back against those who would seek to make it harder to vote and those who attack our democratic process because our democracy is worth fighting for,' Byrum said. 'As Michigan's next Secretary of State, I will ensure that Michigan will continue to run free, fair and secure elections, as we have these many years.' Her announcement also came with an endorsement from fellow Democratic Genesee County Clerk-Register Domonique Clemons, who called Byrum 'a leader among the clerk community and knows elections backwards and forwards.' 'She is the go-to expert for new clerks when they need assistance, and is always ready to support,' Clemons said in a statement. 'Barb is a vocal advocate for voter rights and election integrity. She is steadfast in defending democracy against those who try to undermine our election process.' Michigan campaign finance reporting documents show Byrum formed her candidate committee on May 15 with a reporting waiver requested, which typically means candidates plan to raise and spend less than $1,000 in the election cycle. At present, Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie is the only other name in the race on the Democratic side. Michigan's political parties nominate candidates for secretary of state and attorney general and do not participate in the primary process. Michigan Democrats will nominate a candidate for secretary of state at their state party convention in the spring of 2026. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Byrum will seek 2026 Secretary of State nomination
MASON, Mich. (WLNS) — The 'worst-kept secret' in political circles is out—Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum has officially filed for the Democratic Nomination for Secretary of State. 'Yeah, yeah, yeah. Perhaps one of the worst-kept secrets is that I'm running for the nomination — for the Democratic nomination for Secretary of State,' Bryum tells 6 News in an exclusive television interview about her run. The 47-year-old already has an opponent. Michigan's current Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Ederbie announced his candidacy for the post in January. Current Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to the post. She's seeking the 2026 Democratic nomination for governor — in a crowded field. Republicans have no official candidates for Secretary of State. In Michigan, partisan gubernatorial candidates will be selected in an open primary in August 2026. However, candidates for Secretary of State, Attorney General and positions on various state university board as well as the state Board of Education are selected during a statewide party convention. Byrum says she expects the convention could happen as soon as April 2026. Byrum, who is married with two teenage sons, has served three terms in the state House of Representatives. She represented a district that was competitively split between Republican and Democratic voters. After being term-limited from the House, Byrum sought — and won — the Ingham County Clerk post. She's served in that position for 12 years. In November 2024, she cruised to an easy re-election, garnering 66.8% of Ingham County's vote, reports Ballotpedia. As clerk, her X account has become a go-to for commentary on election concerns, including election denialism. She says she is ready to roll if chosen by the Democratic Party to run for the position. 'Michigan deserves a secretary of state who's ready to hit the ground running,' she tells 6 News. 'I have been on the ground. I have ran 40 elections already in my 12 years as county clerk. I have conducted numerous recounts. Presidential 2016 presidential recount was my first. And I am experienced. I'm time-tested. I've been elected multiple times and I have the experience necessary to run elections and, quite frankly, to go toe to toe with election deniers or anyone who attacks our elections or the integrity of our elections, for that matter.'Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrat Barb Byrum launches campaign to become Michigan Secretary of State
Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum, a Democrat, announced Wednesday, May 21, she will enter the race to become Michigan Secretary of State next year. Byrum, who was elected clerk in Ingham County in 2012 and spent six years as a lawmaker in the Michigan House of Representatives before that, said she's well suited to become Michigan's top election official because of her experience overseeing elections, as well as being a vocal proponent of election workers amid increased scrutiny on voting security nationwide. "I'm not afraid to go toe-to-toe to stand up for elections," Byrum, 47, said in a Tuesday interview with the Free Press ahead of her announcement. Byrum becomes the second Democrat to formally enter the race for secretary of state, which Michigan voters will vote for next November. Aghogho Edevbie, who is currently deputy secretary of state, announced in January he would seek the state's top elections role. Current Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is term-limited under state law and cannot run for the position again in 2026. Benson has launched a campaign to become Michigan's next governor. Online campaign finance records show Byrum formed a committee to run for secretary of state on May 15. She said she had been encouraged to run for the position. Along with overseeing elections in Michigan, the secretary of state's office is also responsible for handling things like driver's license and state ID distribution, vehicle title registrations and renewals and more. Byrum said she hopes to ensure Michigan residents don't have to deal with long wait times at branch offices and are able to easily get appointments there, something she commended Benson for. "People know me," she said. "I've been around for decades and I'm going to continue to be around." Some Republicans in the state Legislature have been critical of how Michigan's elections have been run under Benson, a Democrat. Byrum said she's willing to correct the record on election misinformation, regardless of the party it originates from, saying "elections are not a partisan issue." "When they're attacking our elections, they're attacking our democracy," she added. Byrum is the daughter of former Michigan lawmaker and Michigan State University Trustee Dianne Byrum. She also owns a hardware store in Charlotte. Secretary of state is one of several statewide positions up for election next year. Voters in Michigan will also elect a new governor and attorney general, and decide on races for the U.S. Senate and two seats on the Michigan Supreme Court during the November 2026 election. So far, no Republican candidates have formally announced they are seeking to become secretary of state next year. Unlike some other statewide positions, party nominations for secretary of state and attorney general are made at each party's nominating convention ahead of the election. Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Barb Byrum will run for Michigan Secretary of State
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Henderson County Colonel heading to Super Regional
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) — On Sunday, Liberty Softball took down the number one overall seed in the NCAA tournament to advance to their first Super Regional. On the Flames is Henderson County's JaMaya Byrum who played a big role by scoring the winning run. The former Colonel entered the game in the bottom of the 5th to play shortstop. Eventually walking and scoring on a go-ahead home run by the team's best player. Since the win, Byrum has been overwhelmed with the support form her roots in Henderson. 'Lots of family and friends of course,' said Byrum. 'I have lots of hometown friends that were watching the game — people that I haven't heard from in a while — it was so good to hear from them and sweet to know I have so many people supporting me.' Byrum and the Flames will play Oregon on Friday at 9 p.m. CST in the Supers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
