Rachel Gross

Rachel Gross was born in Lansing, Michigan. She graduated from St. Patrick's High School. She earned an associate degree from Montcalm Community College in 1997 and a bachelor's degree from American Sentinel University in 2024. Her career experience includes working as a nurse.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Rooted in Michigan's 78th District her entire life, Rachel Gross is married for almost 30 years, the proud mother of four adult children raised in the same hometown community within the 78th district. She is a registered nurse approaching her 30th year of service and advocating for others has always been at the core of who she is.

Long before she decided to run for office Rachel was showing up for people. As a Girl Scout leader. A PTO mom. A team mom. Someone who has always believed that showing up for your community is not optional. That is just who she is.

Rachel grew up watching her mother battle multiple sclerosis without consistent access to the care and medication she needed. She watched her father give 35 years to his employer only to be pushed out with nothing to protect him. Those experiences never left her. They shaped her understanding of what it feels like when the system fails the people it is supposed to serve.

With nearly 30 years of evidence based practice as her foundation Rachel believes in listening first, looking at the facts and finding real solutions that work for real people. That is how she has approached every patient she has ever cared for. And that is exactly how she will serve the 78th district in Lansing.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Education:

Michigan ranks 44th in the nation for fourth grade reading and only about one in four fourth graders is reading at grade level. Schools cannot afford the curriculum it takes to fix that while teachers are being asked to do more with less every single year. As a mom of four who went through the public school system and a nurse who believes in evidence based solutions Rachel will fight to make education funding nonnegotiable in our state budget. She will fight to ensure corporations receiving large tax breaks in our communities are to required to invest back into our schools and kids.Healthcare Access:

Families in the 78th District are driving 25 to 35 miles just to see a specialty doctor. Whether that is a cardiologist, a surgeon, or a mental health provider that distance is a real barrier. Parts of the district have been designated a maternity care desert meaning women cannot access the obstetric care they need close to home. As a nurse with over 30 years of experience Rachel will fight to expand access through telehealth services, mobile health units, and by directing Michigan’s rural health transformation funding to attract more doctors and providers to the 78t district.Affordable Housing:

The American dream of owning a home is slipping away for too many families in the 78th District. Home prices have risen faster than wages and young families who have done everything right are still being priced out. Rachel sees this struggle in her own community every day. She will advocate for expanded rural homebuyer assistance and fight to make sure programs like MSHDA are working for families here. She will also push to tie business tax breaks to real investment back into our communities so that growth benefits the people who live and work here not just corporations.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Rachel is deeply passionate about public policies that protect the most vulnerable and strengthen rural communities. As a nurse for over 30 years she has seen firsthand how evidence based policy saves lives and she brings that same approach to every issue she champions. She is passionate about education policy that ensures every child has access to quality learning regardless of zip code, healthcare policy that closes the rural access gap and protects nurse staffing standards, affordable housing policy that keeps the American dream within reach for working families, and agricultural policy that protects generational family farms from corporate buyouts and ensures farmers have the right to repair their own equipment.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Team of Rivals has been deeply influential in shaping how Rachel approaches leadership. Lincoln’s ability to bring together people with opposing views, listen to those who disagreed with him, and govern with integrity across the aisle is a model Rachel hopes to follow in Lansing. As Lincoln once said, given the truth the American people can be trusted to meet any national crisis. Rachel believes the same about the people of the 78th District and she is committed to being that honest and transparent voice they deserve.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Rachel believes the most important characteristics for an elected official are integrity, honesty, and authenticity. Constituents deserve a representative who is genuine and accountable for their actions. Equally important is the ability to truly listen before acting, to lead with empathy and courage, and to make decisions grounded in evidence rather than politics. As a nurse Rachel has learned that evidence based decisions save lives. She believes the same principle applies to governing. Rachel also believes that true leadership requires collaboration and accessibility. That means working alongside policy experts, community members, and colleagues across the aisle to find real solutions for the people of the 78th District. And it means showing up not just at election time but every single day. For Rachel these are not just principles. They are the values she has lived and practiced for over 30 years as a nurse and community member.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Rachel believes the core responsibilities of a state legislator begin with showing up. Being present and accessible in the community is not optional it is the foundation of the job. She believes a representative must educate themselves on every issue by working alongside policy experts, advocates, and the people most directly affected by legislation. Equally important is the responsibility to truly listen to the residents of the 78th District and to bring their voices to Lansing. Rachel will always seek input from advocates, organizations, and stakeholders who represent the people of the 78th District. But at the end of the day every decision she makes will be guided by one question. What is truly best for the people she serves.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Rachel hopes her legacy will be one of integrity where her actions always matched her words and everything she did was truly for the people of the 78th District and for the generations that follow because the decisions we make today will shape the kind of community our children and grandchildren grow up in. She takes that responsibility seriously. If she is successful Rachel wants to be remembered as someone who helped revitalize education and healthcare in rural Michigan because she believes that without both a community cannot truly thrive. When our kids are educated and our families are healthy everything else becomes possible. She came to make sure that every person in the 78th District had a chance to learn and a chance to be healthy. And she came to make sure that chance was there for the generations that come after us too. Above all Rachel wants to be remembered as a passionate advocate who showed up, fought hard, and never forgot who she was fighting for.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Rachel believes building relationships with other legislators is not just beneficial it is essential. Many of the challenges facing the 78th District are not unique. Education, healthcare access, and affordable housing affect communities across Michigan regardless of party. By building strong relationships with colleagues on both sides of the aisle Rachel can work collaboratively to find common ground and real solutions. She believes that the most effective teams are diverse ones. When people with different perspectives and experiences come to the table more ideas emerge and better outcomes follow. As a nurse Rachel has spent over 30 years working as part of a team where collaboration and communication directly impact the wellbeing of patients. She will bring that same team focused evidence based approach to Lansing because the people of the 78th District deserve a representative who knows how to work with others to get things done.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

At a community event Rachel met a couple who shared something that has stayed with her ever since. The woman told her she feels horrible watching what is happening in the world, that there is war and people are dying, and yet at the same time she and her husband cannot afford their own healthcare or keep up with their bills at home. She said it was getting scarier and more difficult and that they did not know who to trust or if anyone was ever going to show up for them. That story touched Rachel deeply because it speaks to something she sees both as a nurse and as a candidate across the 78th District. Rachel knows that when people are consumed by fear and survival their ability to thrive and contribute to their community is compromised. The same is true for families struggling with healthcare costs and financial hardship. The people of the 78th district are good people with big hearts who show up for their neighbors, their community, and for something bigger than themselves all the time. Rachel believes that when we take care of or own people first and make sure they have access to healthcare, affordable housing, and quality education they are free to show up fully for each other and for the world around them. The people of the 78th District deserve a representative who fights for that. Rachel will be that person.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

-MI List

-314 Action

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Rachel believes financial transparency and government accountability are non negotiable. As a nurse she has spent over 30 years documenting every decision, justifying every action, and being accountable to her patients, her colleagues, and her institution. She believes government should operate the same way. When you are working for the people their tax dollars demand a full accounting. Rachel believes this is one area where the system as a whole needs to change and she will actively support and help develop legislation that makes transparency and accountability top priorities in Lansing. The people of the 78th District work hard for every dollar they earn. They deserve to know exactly how their money is being spent and by whom.