Democratic nominee for attorney general Dana Nessel listens to Democratic nominee for state representative Julie Brixie on Oct. 22, 2018 at Wells Hall. Nessel is running for Michigan attorney general in the upcoming election.
Julie Brixie, Michigan’s new representative from the 69th state House District, is following in the footsteps of notable politicians to occupy the seat.
Term-limited Michigan House Minority Leader Sam Singh (D-East Lansing) will hold the seat until Brixie takes office. Before his term, East Lansing Mayor Mark Meadows represented the district for six years.
Who represented East Lansing prior to Meadows? Michigan's Governor-elect Gretchen Whitmer.
“We have had a great history and great legacy of leadership with this seat,” Brixie said. “I’m working hard to achieve the same level of leadership that my predecessors did, and I hope to count on them for mentorship and advice in terms of doing the best job possible for the residents of the 69th House District.”
Brixie soundly defeated Republican challenger George Nastas III, garnering 27,352 votes to Nastas’ 10,847. As results continued to favor Michigan Democrats throughout the night, Brixie reacted with joy from her campaign watch party at Pizza House in East Lansing.
She said she is excited to serve the highly educated and engaged constituents from the 69th District.
“I had a really fabulous team; I’m very honored and humbled by the whole process,” Brixie said. “I’m just really very grateful for my husband, my family, my faith and my team for helping me to achieve the things that I have been able to achieve today.”
Brixie has served on the Meridian Township Board since 2000 as both trustee and treasurer and worked with township officials to balance Meridian’s unfunded pension liabilities.
Brixie previously told The State News that protecting LGBT Michiganders and repealing a state law requiring women to purchase additional insurance for abortion costs were her top priorities if elected.
Now that she’s achieved victory, Brixie said a continued Republican majority in the state Legislature might slow the advance of Democratic policy, but she’s more than willing to reach across the aisle.
“If we have Republican majorities in the House and Senate, it does make it more difficult for us to put forth the Democratic agenda,” Brixie said, “I am eager to work with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. I got my start in local government working with a bipartisan board … for over eight years, and I’m eager to work with my future colleagues to put forth legislation that will improve the state of Michigan."
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