As Republican lawmakers try to cut maternal health care resources in Michigan and beyond, these ‘Ganders are pushing back—by trying to replace them.
As attacks on maternal and infant health care continue to threaten the stability of communities across the country, even more women, particularly moms, are joining the campaign trail.
Among the over 7,000 state legislators in the US, more than 25% are mothers, and just under 8% are mothers with children under the age of 18, according to research from the Vote Mama Foundation. Michigan was named among the top five states with the highest percentage of moms with young children working in the state Legislature, at 13.5%.
Hoping to be among that growing number are Lisa McIntyre and Sarah Pounds—two Michigan women eyeing seats in their southeast Michigan districts during the 2026 election cycle.
Making noise in Northville
While raising her three children in Northville over the last 13 years, Lisa McIntyre said she’s seen the city fall short in offering reproductive health care and other community resources.
“There are resources here, but a lot of them require insurance,” said McIntyre, adding that while Northville appears to be an affluent area, the uninsured members of her community and their families are slipping through the cracks.
“Those parents deserve to have easily accessible programs, rather than having to drive to communities that take them out of their work day or out of caring for their children at home—it just adds a layer of stress to families that isn’t needed.”
It’s one of the many reasons that McIntyre, who also works as a therapist and is the president of the Northville School Board, is entering the race to represent Michigan’s 22nd District, which includes the cities of Plymouth and Northville, along with portions of Livonia and Plymouth Township.
If she wins the November 2026 election, McIntyre said she’ll be the first Northville woman and mom to have been elected to the seat.
At the top of her priority list is a strong public school system that benefits all residents.
During her tenure as Northville’s school board president, McIntyre led efforts to stabilize the district following the COVID-19 pandemic, led initiatives for school safety, and ensured that students and staff had the mental and physical support they needed to remain successful. Under her leadership, Northville remains one of the state’s top public school systems.
“I think we all want Michigan to be a strong economic force, and the way to do that is education and caring for the kids who will be the future leaders of our state,” said McIntyre.
Fighting for Lake Orion
While she never really thought about running for office growing up, Sarah Pounds said that she’s thought about it a lot since Donald Trump reclaimed the presidency earlier this year. Pounds said his leadership has emboldened Republican lawmakers in Michigan to back legislation to slash funding for Medicaid—putting health care access out of reach for the 2.6 million Michiganders who rely on the federal insurance program—and to challenge reproductive rights hard-won by voters.
“I’ve got four kids. I’m not going to look my daughters in the eye and tell them I did nothing when their rights are being trampled on at the national and state level,” said Pounds.
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While working alongside Kids Empowered on the Move, a program that helps women and children experiencing homelessness in Oakland County, Pounds has seen firsthand how having access to stable housing leads to better health outcomes for pregnant women and their babies.
“I have seen women and children who are living in care because they’ve fled a dangerous situation at home and have nowhere else to go. These programs and initiatives are the only way their kids are getting diapers and food,” said Pounds, adding that it has been disheartening to see Michigan House Republicans attempt to cut funding for similar programs as a way to eliminate what they’re calling “waste, fraud, and abuse.”
“The point of democracy is being represented in a place of power by someone like you, and is most likely to make decisions on your behalf. I certainly don’t see that kind of reputation in my district,” said Pounds.
It’s all the more reason she’s campaigning to represent Michigan’s 54th District, which includes the city of Bloomfield Hills, Orion Township, and portions of Auburn Hills.
“We need more working moms in Lansing,” said Pounds.
“Together, we can build a stronger, brighter future for Michigan.”
