Wayne County clerk rejects attempt to disqualify candidate from primary ballot over her name change

By: Katherine Dailey

Outlets: Michigan Advance

Published: May 12, 2026

Words: 707

Last Updated: 2 months, 2 weeks ago

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Wayne County Clerk Cathy M. Garrett officially denied a campaign challenge in the Democratic primary for Michigan’s 2nd House District, in which one candidate, Frank Liberati, sought to have one of his opponents, Joanna Whaley, disqualified from the ballot over the name by which she would appear.

Specifically, Liberati claimed that Whaley, who is transgender, had violated state campaign law by not listing her deadname on her affidavit of identity submitted to run …

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