Rachel Gross is running to bring steady, community-focused leadership to Michigan’s 78th District. She is committed to listening first, leading with integrity, and putting the needs of local families at the center of every decision in Lansing.

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"I’m Rachel Gross, a proud daughter of rural Michigan and your candidate for State House. I know our challenges because I’ve lived them. I’m committed to empowering our rural communities because together, we can build a Michigan where every rural voice matters, and every community thrives."

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Empowering Rural Voices

Standing Up For Constitutional Principles

Supporting Farmers &amp; Small Businesses

Investing In Education &amp; Infrastructure

Expanding Rural Healthcare Access

<h3>Fighting For Our Community</h3>Here in rural Michigan, we know what it means to be good neighbors. We believe in hard work, honesty, and lending a hand when someone needs it. Our community is built on deep roots—faith, family, fairness, and a simple promise: we look out for one another, no matter what.These are some of the top priorities my campaign is focused on.

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Rachel Gross for State House of Representatives (78th District)

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<h2>Hi! I'm Rachel Gross and I'm running for the Michigan State House of Representatives.</h2><h3>As someone deeply rooted in rural Michigan, I know firsthand the challenges our communities face. I’m committed to empowering rural voices, protecting our constitutional rights, access to healthcare, and delivering real solutions for our families, farms, and small businesses. Go with Gross — because Michigan’s rural communities deserve to be heard and respected in Lansing.</h3><img src="https://run.imgix.net/11afe04d-6e24-4b27-9504-d1d77904224f/f4ccd169-46bb-4908-a01e-07f62fec3a38/f4ccd169-46bb-4908-a01e-07f62fec3a38.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C5824%2C4160&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">Rachel was born and raised in Portland, Michigan, and graduated from St. Patrick’s High School. She has fond memories of spending time as a child on her grandparent’s farm in Pewamo, Michigan. Rachel is a mother of four adult children and has been married to her husband, Scott Gross, for over 28 years.<h4>Committed to Community Activism</h4>In addition to her nursing career, Rachel remains committed to community activism, and in the fall of 2024, she founded the nonprofit group “We Are Community” to bring people together under common values.

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Homeownership is the American dream. It is the reward for working hard, making sacrifices, and building a life. It is what we promised ourselves and our children was possible if we did the right things. But across the 78th District, home prices have risen faster than wages. Families who have done everything right are trying to buy into a market where values have been inflated beyond what local incomes can realistically support. The result is a system that feels out of balance, and hardworking people are paying the price. Right here in Ionia County home prices rose 5.5 percent in a single year — while local wages have not come close to keeping pace.I am speaking about this as a mother first. I have watched my own adult children do everything right, work hard, finish their education, start their careers, and still find themselves stretched so thin by housing costs that there is little left for anything else. When housing takes up that much of a family's income, financial freedom becomes impossible. That is not the American dream. That is survival.Young people across this district want to stay. They want to raise families here, put down roots here, and build a future here. But for most first time buyers the down payment is the final barrier in a market already inflated beyond what local wages can support. I will advocate for expanded rural homebuyer assistance and partnerships between local employers and the state that help workers build toward ownership. Michigan has already taken important steps here. House Bills 5030 through 5032, signed into law by Governor Whitmer in January 2025, expanded MSHDA’s ability to support first-time homebuyers. I will continue building on that progress.The forces driving up housing costs in communities like ours are not simple or singular. Shrinking inventory, rising construction costs, and outside buyers with deeper pockets have all pushed home values beyond what local wages can realistically support. When someone relocating from a larger city or an investor looking for a return can outbid a local family without blinking, that family loses. Over time those outside comparisons set a new normal for prices in our market, one that reflects someone else’s economy, not ours. Rapid unsustainable increases in home values do not just hurt buyers. History has shown us they eventually hurt everyone. A stable market that grows at a rate local wages can support is better for our community in the long run. The people who live and work here, who are rooted here, deserve exactly that.The answer is not to wait for the market to correct itself. The answer is to build more, preserve what we have, and make sure local families have the tools to compete. That means expanding down payment assistance, incentivizing smaller housing options on existing properties, modernizing outdated zoning that makes small local development unnecessarily difficult, and investing in the rehabilitation of homes already in our communities. Michigan has already created a path forward on employer investment. The new Employer-Assisted Housing Fund, backed by $10 million in state funding and supported by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, brings together local employers, developers, and the state to invest in housing for local workers. I will fight to make sure businesses and employers across the 78th District know this fund exists and can access it.Every time an affordable home or rental unit is lost to redevelopment or rising costs, one more family is left competing for what remains. That competition drives prices up for everyone. Protecting the affordable housing we already have is not just about preserving buildings. It is about keeping the market from tipping further out of reach for the families who call this district home. I support rehabilitation and maintenance efforts that keep existing housing safe, healthy, and livable, and programs that help small landlords keep rents affordable while maintaining quality conditions, preventing displacement before it happens.For our seniors, the issue is staying in the homes they have worked their whole lives for. Many own their homes outright but cannot afford repairs, rising property taxes, or utility costs. Programs exist to help, but more than half of Michigan seniors do not even know they are available, and only one in four eligible households actually receives assistance. These are the people who built our communities, who paid into a system with the faith that it would be there when they needed it most. Their tax dollars should work for them when they need it most. As your State House Representative I will work alongside local organizations and community partners to make sure every senior in the 78th District knows what they are entitled to and can actually access it. They have earned it.A home is where financial freedom begins. The people of the 78th District have worked for that dream, sacrificed for it, and built their lives around it. They deserve housing markets that reflect the realities of local wages, not speculative pricing that pushes stability out of reach. As your State House Representative, I am ready to advocate for every family in this district and protect the dream of equitable, affordable homeownership for all.

Homeownership is the American Dream. However, in recent years it has become unattainable for many people across the 78th District. Rachel Gross supports common sense solutions to protect your access to housing and your ability to buy a home.

Rural Homeownership & Housing Stability

Grab a partner and come play some Euchre while supporting Rachel Gross’ campaign for State House of Representatives.Good cards, great people, and a great cause.Tickets are $50/person.Price includes entry, food and non-alcoholic drink. There will be a cash bar available. All contributions go directly toward supporting the Committee to Elect Rachel Gross’ outreach efforts in the 78th District.<a href="https://secure.actblue.com/donate/rachelgrosseuchre" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">PURCHASE TICKETS HERE!</a>

Euchre Tournament

Grab a partner and come play some Euchre while supporting Rachel Gross’ campaign for State House of Representatives. Good cards, great people, and a great cause. Tickets are $50/person. Price includes entry, food and non-alcoholic drink. There will be a cash bar available. All contributions go directly toward supporting the Committee to Elect Rachel Gross’ outreach efforts in the 78th District.

As a nurse, I have spent decades making critical decisions when people are at their most vulnerable. Those decisions are grounded in evidence, careful assessment, and accountability. Michigan’s healthcare policies should meet that same standard. Mandatory overtime and unsafe patient ratios place patients at risk, exhaust nurses, and drive up healthcare costs for everyone. When fatigue becomes part of the staffing model, errors increase, care is delayed, and preventable complications occur, all of which add cost to an already strained system.Relying on mandatory overtime is also one of the most expensive ways to staff a hospital. Overtime pay, last‑minute staffing, and constant turnover cost far more than maintaining adequate baseline staffing. Hospitals that overextend their workforce face higher rates of burnout, injury, and nurse attrition, leading to repeated recruitment and training expenses. These costs are ultimately passed on to patients, families, employers, and taxpayers through higher bills and insurance premiums.Establishing reasonable nurse‑to‑patient ratios and limiting mandatory overtime is a fiscally responsible approach. When nurses are rested and staffing is predictable, patient outcomes improve, lengths of stay are shorter, and costly medical errors and readmissions decrease. Money currently spent reacting to staffing crises or lobbying against reform could instead be invested in building a stable workforce that delivers consistent, high‑quality care.As a legislator, I will advocate for healthcare policies that protect patients, respect nurses, and use healthcare dollars wisely. Listening to nurses, patients, and rural communities across the 78th District will guide these decisions, just as listening to patients guides good nursing care. Evidence‑based staffing is not just safer, it is smarter and more sustainable.

As a nurse, I have spent decades making critical decisions when people are at their most vulnerable. Those decisions are grounded in evidence, careful assessment, and accountability.

Safe Nurse Staffing Standards

Michigan’s healthcare system should be guided by evidence, accountability, and patient safety. Rachel Gross supports smart, sustainable staffing policies that protect both families and the healthcare workforce.

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Safe Nurse Staffing Standards

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Education Roundtable

Join Rachel Gross, candidate for State Representative in Michigan’s 78th District, on&nbsp;March 19th, 2026 at 6 PM&nbsp;for a conversation about our schools and the people who make them work.Featuring Guest Speaker and Education Policy Analyst: Alexandra StammThis won't be a speech. It is a chance for teachers, parents, and community members to sit down together and talk honestly about what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to change.We’ll cover things like:• How we support and keep great teachers• Making sure every student has what they need to succeed• Strengthening communication between schools and families• Real solutions that actually fit our districtRachel believes the best ideas come from the people who are living this every day. Your voice matters here.Your ticket helps power a campaign rooted in listening, collaboration, and real community leadership.Minimum suggested donation: $30

Welcome to Team Gross,We kicked off 2026 with some exciting next steps in bringing the power back to the community...

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WHAT WE HAVE BEEN UP TO...

Across the 78th District, working families are facing an impossible choice: pay the rent or pay the bills. That kind of uncertainty is exhausting, and no family should have to live that way.You cannot build a stable life without a stable place to live. That sounds simple because it is. As a nurse, I’ve seen firsthand what happens when basic needs go unmet. Housing is a basic need, the foundation from which everything else begins. It affects your health, your family, your future. I will bring that same dedication I give my patients to Lansing, making sure the system works for you, not against you.To address the rural rental housing crisis, we need rural solutions, and the answers are right here in our own communities. Instead of waiting for outside corporate developers to step in and profit from our housing shortage, we should invest in organizations that are already committed to Michigan communities.One example is Michigan Community Capital, a nonprofit focused on developing and preserving affordable housing across our state. Since 2005, they have helped support more than $1.4 billion in housing projects and the creation of over 1,500 housing units in Michigan. I will work to ensure the state, through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), prioritizes partnerships with organizations like this. Public dollars should strengthen Michigan communities and expand access to housing, not increase profits for outside investors with no long-term stake in our towns.Accessory Dwelling Units, often called ADUs, are small independent living spaces located on the same property as an existing home. They can be a finished space above a garage, a basement apartment, or a small unit added to an existing property. ADUs provide flexible housing options for renters while also helping homeowners generate income and stay financially stable. They allow seniors to live close to family, give young workers a place to live in the communities where they work, and increase housing supply without changing the character of our neighborhoods.Research has consistently shown that ADUs do not lower property values or create the problems some people fear. Instead, they offer a practical, evidence-supported way to expand housing availability while supporting homeowners and strengthening local communities.Leaders in both parties are recognizing this. In February 2026, a bipartisan group of Michigan lawmakers unveiled the Housing Readiness Package, focused on modernizing zoning laws and cutting the red tape that drives up housing costs in rural communities before a single nail is hammered. Rural Michigan has faced housing shortages for years, and fixing it will require practical solutions and leaders willing to work together. That is the kind of evidence-based problem-solving I will bring to Lansing.We have already seen what success can look like right here in the 78th District. In Portland, the former middle school was transformed into the Portland School Apartments, preserving the historic character of the building while creating housing people actually need. Projects like this use tools such as historic preservation credits and state housing tax credits through MSHDA, and they have become a model for how communities can creatively expand affordable housing.We do not need massive apartment complexes to make a difference. Fifteen units here, twenty units there, spread across our communities, adds up to real relief for real families.I will push for state reforms that expand tax incentives for smaller, community-scale housing projects and ensure rural communities like ours are not left behind when housing investments are made.The people of the 78th District are rooted in this land, these towns, and these communities. As your State House Representative, I will fight to make sure they can afford to stay.

Working families across the 78th District are facing an impossible choice: pay the rent or pay the bills. That kind of uncertainty is exhausting, and no family should live that way. Rachel Gross supports policies aimed at investing in organizations to improve rural rental housing access instead of allowing corporate developers to profit off hardworking families.

Rural Rental Housing Relief

The Michigan Legislature has recently advanced House Bill 4141, restricting the use of cell phones during instructional time.As a nurse, I believe policy decisions should be rooted in evidence and centered on well‑being. Research consistently shows that reducing cell phone distractions during class improves student focus, academic performance, and overall engagement. Studies have also linked excessive phone use to increased anxiety, decreased attention span, and negative impacts on adolescent mental health. When instructional time is protected, both teachers and students benefit.As a mother of four, I have seen firsthand how difficult it can be for young people to balance the constant pull of technology. Our children deserve learning environments that support their growth, confidence, and ability to concentrate. Phone‑free classrooms during instructional time help create that environment.I support House Bill 4141 because it gives schools the structure they need while still allowing flexibility for local districts to implement policies in ways that reflect their communities. I also recognize the importance of practical safeguards — ensuring students can access their phones in emergencies, for documented medical needs, or when required for instructional purposes.This is a bipartisan, common‑sense step that supports teachers, strengthens classroom management, and reinforces respect for instructional time. Our educators should not have to compete for students’ attention during valuable instructional time. They deserve clear policy backing that empowers them to teach effectively.As your State House Representative, I will continue to advocate for policies grounded in evidence, guided by parental perspective, and focused on student well‑being. Every child deserves a high‑quality education in an environment that promotes focus, mental health, and academic success.

Rachel Gross supports the Michigan Legislature's recent advancement of House Bill 4141, restricting the use of cell phones during instructional time. Research consistently shows that reducing cell phone distractions during class improves student focus, academic performance, and overall engagement.

HB 4114 - Restricting Cell Phones in Schools

Across rural Michigan and right here in the 78th District, families are facing a mental health crisis that demands urgent attention. Rates of depression, anxiety and suicide among young people have risen sharply over the last decade and rural communities bear a disproportionately higher burden. Rural Americans die by suicide at rates nearly twice that of their urban counterparts and the 78th district is not immune to that reality. Limited access to mental health providers, a shortage of specialists in rural communities, and the stigma that still surrounds asking for help means too many people in our district are suffering and dying in silence. According to the CDC, suicide is now the second leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 34. In rural communities like ours, the risks are even greater and the resources are even fewer. We cannot ignore this. Too many families are carrying this pain quietly and too many people, including our youth, are struggling without the support they need. Our communities deserve more than sympathy. They deserve action, investment, and real commitment that turns concern into change.Michigan’s new cell phone policy for schools is a meaningful first step for creating a healthy environment for our youth while in school and I fully support its implementation. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises limiting student screen time to prevent physical, mental, and developmental issues. Prioritizing sleep, exercise, and in-person social interaction supports healthier development in our children. Michigan's new cell phone policy supports the AAP’s research and provides eight hours a day away from devices creating space for something we have been losing quietly for years. Real face to face conversation. Meaningful human connection. A break from the constant noise, comparison, and pressure that follows our kids everywhere they go on their screens. That space matters and I will encourage every school district in the 78th to develop a thoughtful community driven plan that works for their students. This is an opportunity for communities to come together through their local school boards and decide what that looks like for their kids.This conversation must also include the ability to implement mental health screening as part of routine pediatric care. The AAP recommends annual Anxiety Screening beginning at age 8 and annual Depression &amp; Suicide Risk Screening starting at age 12. We already require yearly checkups that track physical growth and development. Adding standardized mental health assessments to those visits means we can catch warning signs early rather than waiting for a crisis. Between 2022 and 2023 a significant percentage of children ages 3 to 17 had diagnosed anxiety and depression. I will advocate for legislation that makes mental health screening a routine part of care across Michigan.Life skills education is another valuable tool in addressing and preventing mental health crises. This type of education must be brought back to our schools as a mandatory part of the curriculum. Beginning in junior high and continuing through high school, students should receive age appropriate instruction in emotional literacy, recognizing depression and anxiety, consent and sexual health, peer relationships and how to ask for help. The CDC tells us that young people who feel connected at school are less likely to experience poor mental health, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, substance use, violence and sexual risk behaviors. This is not new. Many schools did this well for years. It is time to bring it back and strengthen it.Every student also deserves regular check-ins with a school counselor, not only when something goes wrong, but preventively and consistently. Just as we track attendance and academic progress, we should be paying attention to student wellbeing on a regular basis. School counselors and social workers play a critical role in this work and their presence in our schools should be protected, not cut, when budgets get tight.Even with all of the administrative tools, mental healthcare access, and prevention measures in place, peer to peer support remains one of the most effective tools we have. Young people are often more likely to open up to a friend than an adult. Training student peer supporters to recognize warning signs and connect struggling classmates to help create a safety net that reaches where adults sometimes cannot. I will support programs that build this capacity in schools across the district.Lastly, we need to bring the conversation to that of culture. These conversations are not easy, they can be painful and uncomfortable but they matter. Together we can build communities that are more open, more honest, and less afraid to talk about mental health. I will use every platform available to me as a community organizer and as your representative to help lead those conversations and turn them into meaningful action across the 78th District.Mental health is healthcare. Michigan has made meaningful progress in expanding access to mental health services and I am committed to continuing and building on that work. The state has taken important steps to expand Medicaid coverage for mental health services, standardize mental health assessments for both children and adults, and grow behavioral health programs that serve our most vulnerable residents. This progress is worth protecting and expanding. But access alone is not enough if services are not available in rural communities like ours. I will advocate at every level to make sure the progress Michigan has made reaches every corner of the 78th district, not just our larger cities.Mental health access belongs in our schools, in our doctors' offices, in our community conversations, and at the top of our legislative agenda. This is an issue that cannot be tackled by one person alone. It takes a community dedicated to creating a healthier environment where both our children and our adults can grow and thrive. Together with the people of the 78th district I am ready to help lead the conversation in Michigan, because doing nothing is not an option. The 78th District deserves better and together we will fight for it.

Mental health access belongs in our schools, in our doctors' offices, in our community conversations, and at the top of our legislative agenda. Rachel supports expanding access to mental health professionals for our children and for adults.

Mental Health & Youth Wellness

Join us for the official launch of Rachel Gross’ campaign for State Representative in Michigan’s 78th District! Be part of this exciting moment as we kick off our journey to bring bold, community-focused leadership to Lansing. Hear directly from Rachel about her vision for our district, the issues that matter most, and the goals we’ll work together to accomplish in 2026.We’ll also feature voices from across our community, sharing why they’re excited to support this campaign and what they want to see for the future of Rural Michigan.This launch party isn’t just a celebration—it’s the first step in building the grassroots movement that will power us to victory.Get your tickets today and help us build momentum from day one!

Launching for Change: Rachel Gross for State Representative

Join us for the official launch of Rachel Gross’ campaign for State Representative in Michigan’s 78th District!

Join Rachel Gross for a cup of coffee and casual, unfiltered conversation about which issues are important to you in the 78th District.

Coffee and Conversations - Hastings

Coffee and Conversations at State Grounds Coffee House (Hastings)

Coffee and Conversations - Portland

Coffee and Conversations - Nashville

Rachel Gross for for Michigan State House of Representatives district 78; Ionia, Lowell, Portland, Hastings, Lake Odessa, Saranac

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