# Jim Runestad

Jim Runestad is a Republican member of the Michigan Senate for district 23.

- Party: Republican
- Seat: Michigan Senate, district 23
- Serving since: 2023-01-01
- Current term: MI 2025–26 session
- Open States ID: ocd-person/e0a8928d-8ccc-4e1e-9ca5-d7f50642ff91

Source: https://americaspoliticalpulse.com/p/e0a8928d-8ccc-4e1e-9ca5-d7f50642ff91 (America’s Political Pulse, Polarization Research Lab), data through 2026-10-27. Data under CC BY 4.0. Cite as: Westwood, Sean J., and Yphtach Lelkes. 2024. America's Political Pulse [data set].

## Headline

0% of the 25 bills Runestad sponsored got out of committee, the lowest of 38 in the Michigan Senate.

## What Runestad says (MI 2025–26 session)

552 classified statements: 552 posts on X. Each rate is the share of statements with the label, against the State Senate Republicans average; rank 1 is the highest rate.

| Label | Runestad | State Senate Republicans average | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal attacks | 7.8% | 2.3% | 29 of 354 |
| Policy criticism | 20.1% | 9.5% | 54 of 354 |
| Policy discussion | 45.8% | 37.3% | 122 of 354 |
| Bipartisanship | 1.6% | 2.3% | 169 of 354 |
| Credit claiming | 10.1% | 15.4% | 207 of 354 |
| Extreme labels | 3.3% | 1.3% | 47 of 354 |

Most discussed policy areas: Government Operations and Politics 34% (State Senate Republicans 17%); Crime and Law Enforcement 17% (State Senate Republicans 12%); Transportation and Public Works 17% (State Senate Republicans 6.0%); Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues 7.5% (State Senate Republicans 5.0%); Education 7.5% (State Senate Republicans 14%).

## Ideology (CSIP)

CSIP score +0.84 (standard error 0.03), from 192 donors and 485 roll calls. Negative is left of 0, positive right of it, on one scale for every official. 96% of State Senate Republicans score lower.

## Votes (MI 2025–26 session)

523 roll calls. Attendance 78% (Michigan Senate 95.5%). Party unity 94.8% (92.6%). 60 votes against the party majority.

Key votes:

- 2026-10-14 · voted yea · PASSED; GIVEN IMMEDIATE EFFECT ROLL CALL # 263 YEAS 31 NAYS 3 EXCUSED 4 NOT VOTING 0 · HB 5356 Vehicles: title; requirements for transfer of title by a dealer; provide for. Amends 14, 41a, 78, 217, 217c, 233, 233a, 233b, 234, 238, 239, 240, 248,… · pass · https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/HB5356/
- 2026-10-01 · voted yea · ROLL CALL: ROLL CALL # 260 YEAS 34 NAYS 2 EXCUSED 2 NOT VOTING 0 · SB 947 Natural resources: inland lakes; dam safety regulations; provide for. Amends and adds (See bill). TIE BAR WITH: HB 5485'26 · pass · https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/SB947/
- 2026-10-01 · voted yea · PASSED; GIVEN IMMEDIATE EFFECT ROLL CALL # 247 YEAS 34 NAYS 2 EXCUSED 2 NOT VOTING 0 · HB 5485 Natural resources: inland lakes; dam safety regulations; provide for. Amends secs. 31502, 31503, 31504, 31505, 31506, 31507, 31508, 31509, 31510,… · pass · https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/HB5485/
- 2026-10-01 · voted yea · PASSED; GIVEN IMMEDIATE EFFECT ROLL CALL # 253 YEAS 36 NAYS 0 EXCUSED 2 NOT VOTING 0 · HB 4598 Crimes: organized; gift card fraud; provide for. Amends sec. 4 of 2012 PA 455 (MCL 752.1084). · pass · https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/HB4598/
- 2026-10-01 · voted nay · PASSED ROLL CALL # 258 YEAS 33 NAYS 3 EXCUSED 2 NOT VOTING 0 · SB 791 Highways: memorial; portion of I-475; designate as the "St. John Street Community Memorial Highway". Amends 2001 PA 142 (MCL 250.1001 - 250.2092) by… · pass · https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/SB791/
- 2026-10-01 · voted nay · PASSED; GIVEN IMMEDIATE EFFECT ROLL CALL # 248 YEAS 32 NAYS 4 EXCUSED 2 NOT VOTING 0 · HB 4703 Insurance: health insurers; coverage for group prenatal care services; require. Amends 1956 PA 218 (MCL 500.100 - 500.8302) by adding sec. 3406ss. · pass · https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/HB4703/
- 2026-10-01 · voted nay · PASSED; GIVEN IMMEDIATE EFFECT ROLL CALL # 256 YEAS 35 NAYS 1 EXCUSED 2 NOT VOTING 0 · HB 5514 Children: other; prohibition of use of certain restraint while transporting youths to certain youth residential treatment programs; provide for.… · pass · https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/HB5514/
- 2026-10-01 · voted yea · PASSED; GIVEN IMMEDIATE EFFECT ROLL CALL # 250 YEAS 36 NAYS 0 EXCUSED 2 NOT VOTING 0 · HB 4302 Vehicles: emergency vehicles; exception to commercial driver license for authorized emergency vehicles of Michigan Mutual Aid Box Alarm System;… · pass · https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/HB4302/
- 2026-10-01 · voted yea · ROLL CALL: ROLL CALL # 259 YEAS 36 NAYS 0 EXCUSED 2 NOT VOTING 0 · SB 433 State agencies (existing): health and human services; educational materials regarding health dangers for youth using high-potency THC and cannabis… · pass · https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/SB433/
- 2026-10-01 · voted yea · PASSED; GIVEN IMMEDIATE EFFECT ROLL CALL # 249 YEAS 36 NAYS 0 EXCUSED 2 NOT VOTING 0 · HB 4301 Vehicles: emergency vehicles; definition of authorized emergency vehicle; expand. Amends secs. 2 & 698 of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.2 & 257.698). TIE BAR… · pass · https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/HB4301/

## Legislation (MI 2025–26 session)

Sponsored 25 bills: 25 reached committee, 0 passed one chamber, 0 passed both, 0 became law. Cosponsored 63. 0.0% of sponsored bills got out of committee (Michigan Senate 38.2%; rank 38 of 38).

Recent sponsored bills:

- SB 1189: Human services: fraud; falsely identifying a person as a biological parent; prohibit. Amends secs. 57e & 57g of 1939 PA 280 (MCL 400.57e & 400.57g). (in committee, 2026-10-01) https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/SB1189/
- SB 1188: Family law: child support; cancellation of child support; allow under certain circumstances. Amends secs. 3, 19 & 27 of 1982 PA 295 (MCL 552.603 et seq.) &… (in committee, 2026-10-01) https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/SB1188/
- SB 1156: Vehicles: bicycles; regulations for use of e-bikes by minors; provide for. Amends sec. 662a of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.662a). (in committee, 2026-09-10) https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/SB1156/
- SB 1147: Education: curriculum; certain prohibitions concerning curriculum; provide for. Amends 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1 - 380.1852) by adding sec. 1167. (in committee, 2026-09-09) https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/SB1147/
- SB 1131: Law enforcement: other; guidelines for use of registration plate reader systems; provide for. Creates new act. (in committee, 2026-07-29) https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/SB1131/
- SB 1088: Human services: food assistance; certain data of individuals who receive SNAP benefits; require to be shared with certain governmental agencies. Amends 1939… (in committee, 2026-07-02) https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/SB1088/
- SB 1078: Public utilities: other; certain money spent by electric or natural gas utilities; require to be reported to the public service commission. Amends 1939 PA 3… (in committee, 2026-06-25) https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/SB1078/
- SB 1031: Public utilities: rates; use of actual cost for setting utility rates; require. Amends sec. 6a of 1939 PA 3 (MCL 460.6a). (in committee, 2026-06-10) https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/SB1031/
- SB 1019: Businesses: other; Michigan zoning enabling act; make subject to the data center regulation act. Amends sec. 205 of 2006 PA 110 (MCL 125.3205). TIE BAR… (in committee, 2026-06-04) https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/SB1019/
- SB 1018: Businesses: other; moratorium on certain approvals for and operation of any new data centers; provide for. Creates new act. TIE BAR WITH: SB 1019'26 (in committee, 2026-06-04) https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/SB1018/

## Campaign money (2026 cycle)

Itemized receipts $1,250 (State Senate Republicans median $46.2K). Aggregates only; no individual donors.

## Recent statements

Newest first. Posts on X are listed by date and link only.

- 2026-10-26 · Post on X · https://x.com/RunWithRunestad/status/2114528955789443549
- 2026-10-26 · Post on X · https://x.com/RunWithRunestad/status/2114558144764624988
- 2026-10-22 · Post on X · https://x.com/RunWithRunestad/status/2113076945839886346
- 2026-10-22 · Post on X · https://x.com/RunWithRunestad/status/2113284593876926684
- 2026-10-16 · Post on X · https://x.com/RunWithRunestad/status/2110891121836704232
- 2026-10-16 · Post on X · https://x.com/RunWithRunestad/status/2111174924719321263
- 2026-10-14 · Post on X · https://x.com/RunWithRunestad/status/2110457993749999727
- 2026-10-14 · Post on X · https://x.com/RunWithRunestad/status/2110458049509089606
- 2026-10-12 · Post on X · https://x.com/RunWithRunestad/status/2109470811816079737
- 2026-10-09 · Post on X · https://x.com/RunWithRunestad/status/2108603076990963939

## Links

- Official site: https://www.senatorjimrunestad.com/
- Campaign site: https://www.runwithrunestad.com/
- X: https://x.com/RunWithRunestad
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenJimRunestad/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimrunestad/

Full profile, with every chart and the methods: https://americaspoliticalpulse.com/p/e0a8928d-8ccc-4e1e-9ca5-d7f50642ff91