# Joe Bellino

Joe Bellino is a Republican member of the Michigan Senate for district 16.

- Party: Republican
- Seat: Michigan Senate, district 16
- Serving since: 2023-01-01
- Current term: MI 2025–26 session
- Open States ID: ocd-person/e394293d-abd7-46a9-a60f-6c75e369468e

Source: https://americaspoliticalpulse.com/p/e394293d-abd7-46a9-a60f-6c75e369468e (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

3.4% of Bellino’s statements discuss policy, in the bottom 5% of State Senate Republicans (average 37%).

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

566 classified statements: 566 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 | Bellino | State Senate Republicans average | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal attacks | 2.5% | 2.3% | 105 of 354 |
| Policy criticism | 0.7% | 9.5% | 296 of 354 |
| Policy discussion | 3.4% | 37.3% | 345 of 354 |
| Bipartisanship | 0.0% | 2.3% | 311 of 354 |
| Credit claiming | 0.0% | 15.4% | 342 of 354 |
| Extreme labels | 1.4% | 1.3% | 95 of 354 |

Most discussed policy areas: Education 42% (State Senate Republicans 14%); Economics and Public Finance 26% (State Senate Republicans 12%); Government Operations and Politics 16% (State Senate Republicans 17%); Commerce 11% (State Senate Republicans 4.5%); Immigration 11% (State Senate Republicans 4.1%).

## Ideology (CSIP)

CSIP score +0.62 (standard error 0.02), from 258 donors and 884 roll calls. Negative is left of 0, positive right of it, on one scale for every official. 85% of State Senate Republicans score lower.

## Votes (MI 2025–26 session)

523 roll calls. Attendance 98.4% (Michigan Senate 95.5%). Party unity 93.1% (92.6%). 73 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 nay · 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 nay · 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 yea · 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 yea · 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 49 bills: 49 reached committee, 11 passed one chamber, 2 passed both, 2 became law. Cosponsored 138. 22.4% of sponsored bills got out of committee (Michigan Senate 38.2%; rank 29 of 38).

Recent sponsored bills:

- SB 1165: Aeronautics: unmanned aircraft systems; adoption of federal safety regulations; provide for. Creates new act. (in committee, 2026-09-10) https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/SB1165/
- SB 952: Education: special education; Michigan special education accountability act; establish. Amends secs. 1310d, 1311, 1526, 1527, 1531 & 1711 of 1976 PA 451 (MCL… (in committee, 2026-05-12) https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/SB952/
- SB 944: Insurance: other; processing fees; allow premium finance companies to collect. Amends sec. 1510 of 1956 PA 218 (MCL 500.1510). (in committee, 2026-05-07) https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/SB944/
- SB 935: Mobile homes: other; mobile home commission act; revise. Amends secs. 17, 18, 25, 28, 28a & 29 of 1987 PA 96 (MCL 125.2317 et seq.) & adds secs. 28d & 28e.… (passed one chamber, 2026-05-19) https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/SB935/
- SB 833: Elections: election officials; township to contract with an accredited individual to perform election law duties in the absence of a township clerk;… (in committee, 2026-03-11) https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/SB833/
- SB 775: Civil rights: open meetings; audio recordings; require for all public body meetings. Amends sec. 9a of 1976 PA 267 (MCL 15.269a). (in committee, 2026-02-04) https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/SB775/
- SR 89: A resolution to recognize January 25-31, 2026, as Catholic Schools Week. (passed one chamber, 2026-01-22) https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/SR89/
- SB 715: Economic development: Michigan strategic fund; compliance with the Uyghur forced labor prevention act; provide for. Amends sec. 4 of 1984 PA 270 (MCL… (in committee, 2025-11-13) https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/SB715/
- SB 669: Economic development: other; natural resources and environmental protection act; amend to reflect elimination of the Michigan strategic fund. Amends secs.… (in committee, 2025-10-30) https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/SB669/
- SB 637: Economic development: other; Michigan trust fund act; amend to reflect elimination of the Michigan strategic fund. Amends secs. 2, 7, 8 & 11 of 2000 PA 489… (in committee, 2025-10-30) https://openstates.org/mi/bills/2025-2026/SB637/

## Campaign money (2026 cycle)

Itemized receipts $72.9K (State Senate Republicans median $46.2K). 99% of itemized individual money came from in state. Aggregates only; no individual donors.

## Recent statements

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

- 2026-10-25 · Post on X · https://x.com/jbellinojr/status/2114176049647132680
- 2026-10-25 · Post on X · https://x.com/jbellinojr/status/2114363351413277035
- 2026-10-18 · Post on X · https://x.com/jbellinojr/status/2111806840912941430
- 2026-10-17 · Post on X · https://x.com/jbellinojr/status/2111265624009617706
- 2026-10-15 · Post on X · https://x.com/jbellinojr/status/2110541319970160949
- 2026-10-15 · Post on X · labels: policy discussion · https://x.com/jbellinojr/status/2110541662086914405
- 2026-10-14 · Post on X · https://x.com/jbellinojr/status/2110447843135623451
- 2026-10-14 · Post on X · https://x.com/jbellinojr/status/2110462803383623792
- 2026-10-14 · Post on X · https://x.com/jbellinojr/status/2110463597193150849
- 2026-10-13 · Post on X · https://x.com/jbellinojr/status/2109836287041560666

## Links

- Official site: https://www.senatorjosephbellino.com/
- X: https://x.com/jbellinojr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/electjoebellino/

Full profile, with every chart and the methods: https://americaspoliticalpulse.com/p/e394293d-abd7-46a9-a60f-6c75e369468e