Sara Cambensy Files Signatures As Independent For 38th Senate District

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 07/16/2026) Former State Rep. Sara Cambensy turned in 2,349 signatures to the Richard H. Austin building Thursday in Lansing to be able to appear on the Nov. 3 ballot as an independent in the Michigan 38th Senate District.

Thursday was the final day for independents to file with the Secretary of State. Cambensy said she spent the last 102 days collecting signatures and that she is grateful for being able to get out and talk with people in the district to hear about their issues.

“People are tired of the negative political divide in our state and nation right now. They’ve had it with the finger-pointing and blame game. It’s destroying lifelong friendships, families, and holding our true potential for success in our local communities, state and nation back,” she said.

As a state representative, Cambensy was under the Democratic Party, but has now said the two-party system cares more about political power than about the people they represent.

She said people are leaving both parties as they are moving more to the extreme and are returning to the center in the Upper Peninsula.

“That vast majority of people, especially in the U.P., no longer vote straight ticket. They disenfranchised with the way both parties now operate, constantly slinging mud instead of talking about the issues,” she said.

She said people she has talked with want representation that listens to them and not a party platform.

“They desperately want common sense back in government,” she said.