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Michigan Senate District 33 Republican Primary

MI-33 Republican Senate Primary

January 26, 2026

Michigan Politics • Elections • State Senate

Michigan Senate District 33 (SD-33): 2026 Republican Primary Guide

This page compiles verifiable, link-first reference material on Michigan’s 33rd Senate District and the 2026 Republican primary, including the open-seat context created by term limits.

Quick facts

Status (2026) Open seat due to term limits for incumbent Sen. Rick Outman. (Leadership + service dates reflected in legislative directory.)
Primary date August 4, 2026 (Michigan Secretary of State election dates PDF).
District map (post-2021 apportionment) Official map PDF available below under Sources.

For SEO and clarity: “SD-33,” “Senate District 33,” and “Michigan’s 33rd Senate District” are used interchangeably and refer to the same state senate district.

2026 Republican primary candidates (filed)

Filed-candidate list below reflects the Kent County “Partisan Section” candidate/proposal document dated January 5, 2026. (Note: filings can be updated; always confirm against the newest clerk/SoS documents.)

Candidate

Katie DeBoer (Republican)

Kent County Commissioner (District 4) Filed by fee

  • Filing entry: Listed as “REP Katie DeBoer” for “State Senator – 33rd District” (mailing address shown as Greenville; filing by fee dated 9/23/2025).
  • Campaign positioning (self-described): Her campaign site describes founding a Christian homeschool co-op during a local mask-mandate period.
  • Local press: Reported candidacy coverage from a Montcalm-area outlet.

Official site: katie4mi.com

Local coverage: Daily News (Dec. 22, 2025)

Candidate

Joseph D. Fox (Republican)

State Representative (HD-101) Filed by fee

  • Filing entry: Listed as “REP Joseph D. Fox” for “State Senator – 33rd District” (mailing address shown as Fremont; filing by fee dated 6/3/2025).
  • Current office confirmation: Ballotpedia lists Fox as representing Michigan House District 101, assuming office January 1, 2023.
  • Campaign messaging (self-described): His campaign site describes “faith” and conservative identity messaging.

Official site: votejosephfox.com

Ballotpedia: Joseph Fox

Facebook: Joseph Fox for State Senator

Candidate

Gina Johnsen (Republican)

State Representative (HD-78) Filed by fee

  • Filing entry: Kent County “Partisan Section” list shows “REP Gina Johnson” for “State Senator – 33rd District” (address shown as Portland; filing by fee dated 12/22/2025). Campaign branding and other public references use “Gina Johnsen.”
  • Current office confirmation: Ballotpedia lists Johnsen as representing Michigan House District 78, assuming office January 1, 2023.
  • Campaign positioning (self-described): Her site emphasizes education, “healthcare freedom,” jobs, and election integrity.

Official site: ginaformichigan.com

Ballotpedia: Gina Johnsen

Facebook: Gina Johnsen for State Senate

What “filed” means here (and what it does not mean)

“Filed” refers to appearance on the clerk’s candidate list document cited below. It does not, by itself, establish ballot qualification beyond the scope of that list, and it may not reflect late changes, withdrawals, or corrections. Always confirm with the newest clerk/SoS posting.

District Legacy: Sen. Rick Outman (R–Six Lakes), SD-33 (2019–2026)

Legislative directories list Rick Outman as serving in the Michigan Senate from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2026, including service as Senate Assistant Minority Leader (2023–2026).

Profile (as reported in official and directory sources)
  • Birth / residence: Born December 15, 1963 (Lakeview); long associated with Six Lakes/Lakeview-area roots.
  • Education: Teaching degree in biology and Spanish from Grand Valley State University.
  • Work: Owner/operator of Outman Excavating (described as a multi-generation small business in directory material).
  • Military: U.S. Army service (including Beirut, Lebanon, per state biography materials) and Michigan National Guard service (1073rd unit / Support Maintenance Company in Greenville described in sources).
  • Community: Directory sources list church committee service and coaching at Lakeview High School.
  • Religious identification (handle carefully): A legislative directory lists his religion as “Baptist,” while also describing involvement with New Life United Methodist Church—treat as “reported in sources” rather than a single definitive label without independent corroboration.
Electoral performance (district-level signal)
  • 2022 general: Directory lists 77,239 of 116,592 (66%).
  • 2018 general: Directory lists 49,856 of 84,864 (58%).
  • Takeaway (non-editorial): These margins are consistent with a strong Republican baseline within the district as carried by Outman across cycles.
Governing lane: leadership + appropriations + oversight architecture

Committee assignments include Appropriations and multiple appropriations subcommittees (including minority vice chair roles), along with Veterans and Emergency Services and Energy/Environment committee work—consistent with a record tied to budgets, compliance, and targeted statutory revisions.

Outman’s record: enacted laws (plain-English summaries)

The items below are framed as “name + effect,” with links to the enrolled acts and/or official analyses. Where appropriate, this page distinguishes between enacted outcomes and messaging lanes.

Public Act 160 of 2022 (SB 991) — Underground storage tank setbacks near wells

Official analysis describes codifying setback distances (previously handled by administrative rules) prohibiting installation of underground storage tanks within specified distances of existing wells, while allowing a limited replacement pathway if certified as safer (improved prevention/detection) and otherwise compliant.

Documents: Bill page (MI Legislature) • SFA Analysis (as enacted, PDF)

Public Act 333 of 2020 (SB 1160) — Certificate of Need (CON) change for small extended-care programs

Enrolled act and Senate Fiscal Agency analysis describe a targeted change to Michigan’s CON framework for hospitals initiating an “extended care services program” with up to 10 beds, including removing a specified application requirement.

Documents: Public Act 333 (PDF) • SFA Analysis (PDF)

Public Acts 168 & 169 of 2024 (SB 881 / SB 880) — Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund (LIEAF) updates

Michigan Public Service Commission consumer-facing guidance states that Public Acts 168 and 169 of 2024 make changes to LIEAF (which funds MEAP), including removing the prior fund cap and permitting the monthly surcharge to increase in $0.25 increments up to $2.00 for utilities opting in, and requiring opt-out utilities to provide an equivalent assistance program.

Documents: SB 881 (MI Legislature) • Public Act 168 (PDF) • Public Act 169 (PDF) • MPSC: Energy Assistance / LIEAF updates

Public Act 69 of 2024 (SB 235) — “Blue Star Mothers Day” (February 1)

Enrolled act designates February 1 of each year as “Blue Star Mothers Day” in Michigan; Senate Fiscal Agency analysis identifies Sen. Rick Outman as sponsor.

Documents: Public Act 69 (HTML) • SFA Analysis (PDF)

Messaging lane: “election integrity” / election administration

Outman is publicly associated with election administration / “election integrity” positioning. Unless tied to enacted bills with citations, treat as a policy priority and messaging lane—not a blanket “passed package” accomplishment.

Endorsement footprint (as listed in a Michigan legislative directory)

The directory entry below lists recurring support from business/industry associations, chambers, agriculture, and pro-life organizations—useful as a coalition signal over multiple cycles.

2022 — Michigan Senate (33rd District)

ABC of Michigan PAC; County Road Association of Michigan Roads+ PAC (primary); Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce PAC; Great Lakes Education Project; Michigan Chamber of Commerce; Michigan Farm Bureau AgriPAC; Michigan Freedom Network; Michigan Manufacturers Association; Michigan Realtors; Michigan Retailers Association; National Federation of Independent Business–Michigan; Right to Life of Michigan PAC

2018 — Michigan Senate (33rd District)

Right to Life of Michigan; Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce; Michigan Farm Bureau; County Road Association of Michigan; Michigan Freedom Network; Small Business Association of Michigan; Michigan Chamber of Commerce; Detroit Regional Chamber PAC; Citizens for Traditional Values; Michigan Realtors

2014 — Michigan House (70th District)

Michigan Milk Producers Association; Small Biz PAC; Michigan Manufacturers Association; Detroit Regional Chamber; Michigan Farm Bureau AgriPAC; Right to Life of Michigan; National Federation of Independent Business; Michigan Townships Association PAC; Michigan Bankers Association PAC; Michigan Chamber of Commerce; Michigan Licensed Beverage Association

Note: endorsement lists and vote totals above are reproduced from a legislative directory entry; see the directory link under Sources.

Sources and official documents

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