By Brandon Hall
(Email him at WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)
Conservative outsider and small business owner Michael Markey has been completely dominating the race for State Senate in Ottawa County since launching his campaign last summer---and the Lansing establishment is absolutely furious.
Now, they have shipped in a carpetbagger with no real connection to the District---and who just lost a State House race by double digits---in a desperate attempt to try and stop Markey from winning the seat currently held by State Senator Roger Victory, who is term limited.
John Wetzel moved into Robinson Township just outside Grand Haven in September of 2025 and soon after, launched his campaign.
Wetzel is a failed 2024 State House candidate from the 84th District in Grandville where he lost by over 10%
At first, Wetzel didn't even bother to change his old address on his campaign website when he announced!
For some reason, Wetzel advertises past endorsements on his campaign website, which seems pretty damn dishonest.
Wetzel's campaign is being run by controversial Lansing insider Heather Lombardini and the company she founded, BrightSpark.
According to campaign finance records, Wetzel paid BrightSpark nearly $50,000 from his failed 2024 State House campaign.
Interestingly enough, Wetzel thought so highly of Markey just a couple years ago that he praised him in a Facebook post:
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Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.







