Samantha Steckloff

Samantha Steckloff was born in Farmington Hills, Michigan. She earned a high school diploma from Harrison High School and a bachelor's degree in political science from Purdue University in 2006.[1][2][3] Her career experience includes working as an enrollment management coordinator and student service specialist with Wayne State University, an automotive spokesperson and consultant, and a program director with Hillel.[4] Steckloff has volunteered with the Multi-Cultural/Multi-Racial Community Council, the Commission on Children Youth and Families, the Community Health Commission, the Brenda Lawrence Women's Advisory Council, Gilda's Club, and the Farmington Hills Parks and Recreation Commission.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a lifelong Farmington Hills resident and have served in public service for more than a decade. I was elected to the Farmington Hills City Council in 2013 and to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2020. I serve on the House Appropriations Committee and am the Minority Vice Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. I also served as Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education and Community Colleges.

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?

I am committed to strengthening Michigan’s education system by expanding access, improving affordability, and supporting student success. My work includes broadening post‑secondary pathways, investing in career and technical education, and ensuring students have the resources they need in the classroom.I am committed to improving access to healthcare and ensuring families can afford the care they rely on. I have advanced drug price transparency, protected Medicare and Medicaid, and supported policies that expand access to care across Michigan.I am committed to modernizing Michigan’s infrastructure through long‑term investments in roads, water systems, and essential community services. I plan to continue strengthening road funding and advancing efforts to upgrade water infrastructure statewide.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about improving healthcare access, strengthening education, and investing in Michigan’s infrastructure. My legislative work includes expanding access to treatments such as oral chemotherapy, advancing protections for fertility care, and increasing transparency in drug pricing. I also support expanding Michigan’s free community college program, strengthening dual enrollment and CTE opportunities, and continuing Michigan’s road funding work to improve transportation and water systems.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

I have secured endorsements from AFL‑CIO Michigan, AFT Michigan, the Detroit Free Press, Equality Michigan Action Network, Fems for Dems, IBEW Local 58, MI List, the Michigan Association for Justice, the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus, the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, the Oakland County Democratic Party, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, UAW Region 1, the United Auto Workers, the Michigan Education Association, the Michigan Building Trades, SMART‑TD, the Detroit News, the International Association of Fire Fighters, Roads+, and the Farmington–Farmington Hills Democratic Club.

Samantha Steckloff did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Samantha Steckloff did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm a lifelong Michigander, City Council Member, and Farmington Public Schools graduate, and I'm proud to stand for Democratic values. I'm in this race because I can't keep waiting for someone else to take charge and make a difference for Michigan. We've got so many opportunities ahead of us, and I have the energy, experience, and vision to make the changes we need. I also understand what Michiganders are going through: After graduating into the worst recession in decades, battling breast cancer and medical bills at just 31,and watching my peers and elders alike struggle to pay growing bills with stagnant wages, I knew I had to be part of the solution. Our government and society should work for everyone, and right now, too many of us feel left behind. I've also seen how public service can change a community. I've been serving as a member of the Farmington Hills City Council since 2013, and it's such an incredible privilege to work for my neighbors and friends in the city that raised me. Now, I want to take my vision-and your voices-to Lansing. We've got a lot to do, but by working together we can achieve anything.

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 is only one of 3 states to constitutionally guarantee public funding for primary and secondary education to all residents, but we do not provide adequate funds to do so. Our goal to allocate per-pupil funding equally per student fails to recognize that different students have different abilities. I support funding each student based on need, funding early childhood and preschool education, investing in teacher development and training, providing free community college and increased student aid for our colleges and universities. I would also work with our trade unions to provide increased work/study opportunities.Health Care: We must protect those with preexisting conditions and guarantee coverage for essential benefits like emergency services, maternity care, and mental health treatment, while reducing the medical debt that hurts both patients and providers. Environment: Expand Public Trust Doctrine to include ground water; Reduce agricultural nutrient runoff which leads to toxic algae blooms; Incentivize capture and use of flare gases from landfills; Regulate hydraulic fracturing operations; Strengthen polluter pay laws; Ban sale and use of PFAS. Require public utilities to revert to Net Metering; Require public utilities to allow electric car and storage batteries to sell power back to the grid using dynamic pricing; Internalize full cost of fossil fuel production (health and climate effects, acid rain, etc.) to stimulate rapid adoption of renewable sources.   Featured local question

What’s your one big idea for improving public schools?

Michigan is only one of 3 states to constitutionally guarantee public funding for primary and secondary education to all residents, but we do not provide adequate funds to do so. Our goal to allocate per-pupil funding equally per student fails to recognize that different students have different abilities. I support funding each student based on need, funding early childhood and preschool education, investing in teacher development and training, providing free community college and increased student aid for our colleges and universities. I would also work with our trade

unions to provide increased work/study opportunities.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Education: Universal access to early childhood and pre-k education; Fund pupils

based on student needs; Remove cost barriers to higher education & job training

programs.

Health: Expand Medicaid; Provide public health care option; Reduce drug costs.

Labor: Pass equal pay for equal work law; Increase minimum wage; Paid sick leave.

Security: Increase SNAP benefits; Expand Meal on Wheels; Increase availability

of subsidized housing.

Environment: Repair aging water & sewer infrastructure; Guarantee access to

clean drinking water; Require polluters to pay for toxic mitigation; Strengthen

industrial waste disposal laws.

Gun Control: I support eliminating the sale of assault weapons, requiring responsible gun ownership

education for all gun owners, instituting "red flag" laws, outlawing large gun

magazines, removing guns from convicted domestic violence offenders, and

requiring background checks for all gun purchases.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I had just turned 15 years old and remember my mother coming to pick me up from JV softball practice and giving me a huge hug and she wouldn't let go. This was the day of the Columbine school shooting. As the news unfolded it became the deadliest school shooting on record at the time. Not to mention it was the first school shooting to happen during a time where we were more connected than ever due to technology.. Since then, schools have never been the same and unfortunately the shootings continued. Its time for the Michigan legislature to get serious about eliminating the sale of assault weapons, requiring responsible gun ownership education for all gun owners, instituting "red flag" laws, outlawing large gun magazines, removing guns from convicted domestic violence offenders, and requiring background checks for all gun purchases.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

My little cousins always gets the baby shark song stuck in my head.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I am a Breast Cancer Survivor. I fought breast cancer when most people my age were just settling into careers, and now my battle for affordable health care is more personal than ever. I know what it's like to have to take a job just because it provides health insurance, and to work through the pain and stress of a serious illness because you still need to pay your bills.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Experience matters.It takes years to build relationships with community residents, businesses, and other local, state and federal officials. It also takes time to learn how lawmaking, accounting and government finance works. This why its important we make sure we elect people with experience and a record of government service.

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

Protecting the Environment and transitioning to renewable energy.

Environment: Expand Public Trust Doctrine to include ground water; Reduce

agricultural nutrient runoff which leads to toxic algae blooms; Incentivize capture

and use of flare gases from landfills; Regulate hydraulic fracturing operations;

Strengthen polluter pay laws; Ban sale and use of PFAS.

Energy: Require public utilities to revert to Net Metering; Require public utilities

to allow electric car and storage batteries to sell power back to the grid using

dynamic pricing; Internalize full cost of fossil fuel production (health & climate

effects, acid rain, etc.) to stimulate rapid adoption of renewable sources.