Jennifer Wortz

Jennifer Wortz
Member-elect of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the 35th district
Assuming office
January 1, 2025
SucceedingAndrew Fink
Personal details
BornHillsdale County, Michigan
Political partyRepublican
SpouseNathan
Residence(s)Quincy, Michigan
Alma materMichigan State University

Jennifer Wortz (née Leininger) is an American politician from Michigan, and is a Republican member-elect of the Michigan House of Representatives who will represent the 35th district.[1] She was born in Hillsdale County, Michigan and she owns a chicken farm named Central Grace Farms in Quincy, Michigan.[2][3]She is the daughter of former Hillsdale County Treasurer Gary Leininger and former school board member Bonnie Leininger[4][5] and is the sister of Hillsdale County Commissioner Brent Leininger who also chairs Hillsdale County Republican Party Executive Committee[4][6][7][8] She is a former member of the Quincy school board having served from 2017 to 2019, and is currently the Branch County Conservation District Manager and vice chair of the Branch County Republican Party.[4][9] she is also the founder of Branch County Moms for Liberty and was its chair from 2021 to 2023. in 2021 the group sued the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency for its COVID-19 quarantine orders against students. She said a federal court dismissed the case in April 2022 because the state legislature passed a law that could pull funding from agencies issuing such orders.[9][10] in 2024 she ran for 35th district to replace Andrew Fink who ran for a seat on the Michigan Supreme Court and won the Republican primary defeating Hillsdale mayor Adam Stockford and Branch County Commissioner Tom Matthew garnering 52% of the vote and would later defeat her democratic opponent Don Hicks by 74% to 26%.[11][1]

  1. ^ a b "Michigan Election Results". The New York Times. 2024-11-05. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  2. ^ Candidate Spotlight: Jennifer Wortz (R) Candidate for District 35. 2024-10-01. Retrieved 2024-11-25 – via www.wilx.com.
  3. ^ "Wortz easily wins Republican nomination for Michigan House District 35". Yahoo News. 2024-08-07. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  4. ^ a b c Gleason, Thomas McKenna, Moira (2024-10-31). "Family farmer, former school board member aims for Lansing". Hillsdale Collegian. Retrieved 2024-11-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Barrand, Andy. "Hillsdale County turns out to say goodbye". The Daily Telegram. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  6. ^ Washburn, Logan (2022-10-20). "Officials sue county GOP's 'America First' leadership". Hillsdale Collegian. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  7. ^ "Two sides are fighting for control as the Hillsdale County Republican Party divide worsens". FOX 47 News Lansing - Jackson (WSYM). 2022-09-01. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  8. ^ Murray, Corey J. "'Leininger faction' censured by Michigan GOP, rift heading back into court". Hillsdale Daily News. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  9. ^ a b Washburn, Logan (2024-01-25). "Former Quincy school board member launches campaign". Hillsdale Collegian. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  10. ^ Hajicek, Olivia (2022-03-25). "Federal court considers local Moms for Liberty quarantine lawsuit". Hillsdale Collegian. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  11. ^ "2024 MI Republican Primary Election Results - State House District 35". Detroit News. 2024-08-27. Retrieved 2024-11-25.