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Endorses Martin

The race

One state House seat is at stake in Michigan's House District 68, for a two-year term. The incumbent, David Martin (Republican), is seeking re-election. The district's 2024 presidential baseline was R+9.2 (Wikipedia results summary). The confirmed general-election roster, from the Michigan Department of State candidate list, is: David W. Martin (Republican); Matt Schlinker (Democratic); Deanna L Martin (Libertarian); Joe McHugh (No Party Affiliation).

David W. Martin (R), incumbent. David W. Martin is the Republican incumbent on the Department of State general-election list.

Pros: A sitting incumbent of the party whose program — Constitution, free market, freedom — this publication backs, on a ballot where the alternative is a party-line Democrat. Cons: No proven in-service flaw meeting this publication's standard was located in the record compiled for this piece at this sourcing depth. The flaw, plainly: None proven was located in the compiled record.

Matt Schlinker (D), nominee. Matt Schlinker is the Democratic nominee on the Department of State general-election list. This nominee is listed among the candidates who took the Michigan League of Conservation Voters’ “No Utility Money” pledge for 2026 (Michigan LCV, 2026) — a campaign-finance pledge, printed as fact; it is not a break with the Democratic Party and does not bear on the Manchin test.

Pros: A willing nominee giving the district a choice on the ballot. Cons: No documented break with the Democratic Party toward this publication's values was located in the compiled record — no Manchin-test break. The organizing vote carries lighter weight in the House than in the Senate, but it still counts toward a Democratic majority. The flaw, plainly: Enabler class, not extremist — a reliable party-line vote, which is the standing reason the exception for a Democrat is not earned here.

Deanna L Martin (Libertarian), nominee. Deanna L Martin appears on the Department of State general-election list as the Libertarian nominee.

Pros: Gives voters an additional option on the ballot. Cons: No record at this publication's sourcing depth was located from which a Manchin-test break or a proven flaw could be established. The flaw, plainly: Insufficient record located at this sourcing depth; no proven flaw was located.

Joe McHugh (No Party Affiliation), nominee. Joe McHugh appears on the Department of State general-election list as the No Party Affiliation nominee.

Pros: Gives voters an additional option on the ballot. Cons: No record at this publication's sourcing depth was located from which a Manchin-test break or a proven flaw could be established. The flaw, plainly: Insufficient record located at this sourcing depth; no proven flaw was located.

OUR CALL

We endorse David W. Martin (R). The Republican incumbent faces a party-line Democratic challenger with no Manchin-test break located, and no proven in-service flaw was located in the incumbent's compiled record. Under our criteria, that ends the inquiry.

For the complete Election 2026 breakdown — every race, claim by claim — see the full coverage on our website.

Vote early. Research your candidates. Choose the best moderates, whatever their party — no extremism from either side. And encourage your friends and family to do the same.

Sources

Election result — November 4, 2026

Result pending. No verified call (Associated Press or official) as of November 4, 2026. This page will be updated when the race is called or certified. The original article above is unchanged.

AI-assisted article — but the sources are human, and the facts are very real.

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