John Cherry for State Senate

Meet John

A Genesee County native who never stopped fighting for home.

John Cherry was born and raised in Clio, Michigan. He has dedicated his career — and his life — to making Genesee County stronger. When others leave, John stays and fights.

After earning a Bachelor's in Natural Resources & Environment and a Master's in Public Policy from the University of Michigan, John came home to work for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources — because he wanted to protect the places he grew up hunting and fishing.

Alongside his wife Teresa, he co-founded the Flint Coffee Company, importing coffee through her family's connections in Peru and planting their family's roots downtown. John and Teresa have two children: their daughter Diana and their son Ben. Their yellow lab Marley keeps things lively at home.

In 2015, John was elected Vice Chair of the Flint Charter Commission, which crafted Flint's first new city charter in over 40 years. In 2018, he ran for State Representative — and won. He won again in 2020. In 2022, he was elected to the Michigan State Senate, representing District 27 with 64% of the vote. Now he is running to continue that work.

$John Cherry with family$

Education B.A. & M.P.P., University of Michigan

Current Role State Senator, District 27 · Chair, Senate Labor Committee · Asst. President Pro Tempore

Home Flint, Michigan — born & raised in Clio

Small Business Co-founder, Flint Coffee Company

Senator Cherry receiving Ducks Unlimited award

Legislator of the Year

Michigan Ducks Unlimited × 2

Michigan Association of Timbermen × 2

Michigan Pipe Trades

Workforce Development Institute

Michigan Association of Counties

Michigan Townships Association

Michigan Hunting Dog Federation

Other Recognition

Ducks Unlimited — 2024 National Wetland Conservation Achievement Award

Michigan Association of Conservation Districts — 2023 Legislative Champion Award

The Record

What John
has delivered.

Since taking office as State Senator in January 2023, John and his colleagues have made historic progress for working families, Genesee County communities, Michigan's natural resources, and our kids. This is just a portion of what your senator has fought for and won.

⚖️

Restored Workers' Rights

Led the charge to repeal so-called "right-to-work" — making Michigan the first state in nearly 60 years to abolish that anti-worker law. Also restored prevailing wages on state construction projects and extended them to clean energy work.

💼

Revamped Unemployment Benefits

Fought for the first overhaul of Michigan's unemployment system in over 20 years — restoring maximum weeks from 20 to 26 and raising the maximum weekly benefit from $362 to $614.

+$252/week max

💰

Historic Tax Relief

Quintupled Michigan's Earned Income Tax Credit match from 6% to 30%, repealed the retirement tax, and eliminated taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security benefits — saving nearly 500,000 seniors about $1,000 each year.

~$1,000/yrsaved per senior

👶

Rx Kids — Born in Flint, Expanding Statewide

Secured the initial $16.5M to pilot the nation's first prenatal and infant cash prescription program in Flint. Since January 2024, over $12 million has reached more than 2,000 Flint families. John continued fighting for budget dollars to expand Rx Kids to communities across Michigan — a Flint idea now transforming lives statewide.

$12M+delivered to Flint families & growing

🏫

Free School Meals for 1.4M Kids

Secured $248 million in the 2026 state budget to ensure Michigan's 1.4 million public school students continue receiving free breakfast and lunch — saving families nearly $1,000 per year.

$248Msecured in 2026 budget

🛣️

Road Worker Safety

Authored SB 43 — now signed into law — requiring concrete safety barriers to protect road construction workers from traffic on Michigan freeways, preventing deaths and serious injuries on the job.

💊

Lead Safety Laws

Legislation requiring lead screenings for infants, expanding filter-first protections for families, and ensuring lead-safe communities — all signed into law, building on Flint's hard-won lessons about protecting children's health.

🦅

Protecting Ruffed Grouse Studies

Legislation preserving the scientific integrity of DNR ruffed grouse drumming surveys is now signed into law — protecting Michigan's wildlife management from political interference and ensuring sound science guides conservation.

🍎

Double Up Food Bucks

As Chair of the MDARD budget subcommittee, secured $14 million over three budget cycles to expand this program, doubling SNAP dollars spent on fresh fruits and vegetables for Michigan families.

$14Msecured over 3 years

Investments in Genesee County

Dollars delivered
for our community.

Over his legislative career, John has fought to bring real state dollars home to Flint and Genesee County — for education, health, public safety, economic development, water infrastructure, and natural resources. Here are just some of the investments he helped secure.

Senator Cherry kayaking with community members

$87M Education & Youth — Flint

Secured in the FY2024 budget: $40M for a new Michigan School for the Deaf dormitory, $2.6M for Latinx Flint's bilingual Early Childhood Center, $2.5M for Beecher High School renovations, $1M each for the Flint YMCA and Educare Flint, and more.

$30M Economic Development — Flint

Secured in the FY2024 budget to stimulate growth in Flint and Genesee County: investments in Flint State Park, Buick City redevelopment, Foodie Commons, 100k Ideas entrepreneurship, and the I-69/I-475 interchange.

$23M Flint State Park

Secured long-term maintenance funding for Flint State Park — preserving one of our community's most important outdoor and recreational assets for generations to come.

$20M Health Initiatives — Flint & Beyond

Secured $16.5M to launch Rx Kids in Flint — the nation's first prenatal and infant cash prescription program — plus continued budget investments to expand it to communities across Michigan, including Kalamazoo, Wayne County, Clare County, and more.

$11M Water Quality & Infrastructure

Secured $10M for upgrades to the Genesee County Wastewater Treatment Plant and $500K for the Flint and Shiawassee River Water Trails — improving water quality and outdoor recreation.

$5.75M Public Safety

Secured $3M to increase capacity in the Genesee County Prosecutor's office and $2.75M for replacement of police cruisers in the City of Flint.

$2.55M Wetlands & Natural Resources

Secured funding for wetland restoration across Genesee County and the state through partnerships with Ducks Unlimited, plus MNRTF funds for trails connecting Dort Highway Extension, the Flint River Watershed Coalition, and Richfield County Park.

$248M Free School Meals Statewide

Secured in the 2026 state budget so Michigan's 1.4 million public school students continue receiving free breakfast and lunch — saving families nearly $1,000 per year.

Forward Agenda

What John
is fighting for.

John Cherry's agenda for the next term is rooted in the same values that have guided his entire career: putting workers first, protecting Michigan's great outdoors, investing in our kids, and making Flint and Genesee County stronger every day.

Workers & Good Jobs

Continue fighting for living wages, strong union rights, fair benefits, and safe working conditions. As Chair of the Senate Labor Committee, John will keep workers' voices at the center of Michigan's economy — and keep fighting to bring good jobs to Genesee County.

Conservation & Outdoor Heritage

Protect Michigan's forests, wetlands, rivers, and wildlife for hunters, anglers, and future generations. Ensure sound science guides how we manage our natural resources.

Kids & Families

Expand Rx Kids statewide, protect free school meals, support early childhood education, and ensure every child in Genesee County has a healthy, safe start in life.

Community Revitalization & Jobs

Keep pushing to rebuild Flint and Genesee County — through strategic investments in housing, infrastructure, and economic development that bring real jobs and opportunity to our neighborhoods.

Clean Water & Lead Safety

Flint's water crisis isn't forgotten. John will continue championing clean water infrastructure, lead safety protections for families, and accountability for communities like ours.

Accessible Health Care

Work to lower health care costs, address medical debt, and expand access to coverage — so no Michigander has to choose between their health and their budget.

Outdoors & Conservation

A hunter, angler,
and conservationist
at heart.

John grew up chasing salmon and steelhead with his grandfather, walking fields and two-tracks with his father and the family dog. The outdoors aren't an abstraction to him — they're his heritage.

That's why he's spent his entire legislative career fighting to protect Michigan's natural resources — not just for recreation, but because healthy land and water are the foundation of our communities.

His background in the Michigan DNR isn't just a line on a resume. It means he understands how science should drive wildlife management, why groundwater protections matter, and what's at stake when politicians try to cut corners on conservation.

"I want to make sure Michigan always has wild places for citizens to explore — and that there are fish in our rivers and lakes and birds in our fields and forests when our kids go looking for them."

Senator Cherry duck hunting in a flooded cornfield

Senator Cherry fishing on the Detroit River with daughter Diana

🌿

DNR Career: John worked in the Michigan DNR's Office of Science and Policy and later as the Department's Performance Management Coordinator before entering the legislature.

💧

$120M for Clean Water: As House Appropriations vice-chair for DNR and EGLE, secured $120 million for clean water infrastructure across Michigan.

🦅

Ruffed Grouse Protection — Signed Into Law: Legislation preserving the scientific integrity of DNR grouse drumming surveys is now law — protecting Michigan's wildlife management from political interference.

🏞️

Groundwater Protections Extended: Fought to strengthen and extend laws protecting Michigan's groundwater resources for future generations of hunters, anglers, and families.

🦆

Ducks Unlimited Legislator of the Year — Twice: Recognized twice by Ducks Unlimited for outstanding service to wetlands conservation and waterfowl habitat in Michigan.

🌲

Michigan Association of Timbermen Legislator of the Year — Twice: Honored twice for work supporting Michigan's forest products industry and sustainable forestry practices.

Flint & Genesee County

Invested in our community's comeback.

John Cherry has never stopped fighting to revitalize Flint and Genesee County — bringing state dollars home, supporting hard redevelopment projects, and building a community where everyone can find a good job and a good life.

Signature Achievement

Buick City → Flint Commerce Center

Secured critical state budget funds to transform the iconic former Buick City site into the new Flint Commerce Center — turning an abandoned symbol of the past into an engine of opportunity for the region's future.

Flint
Rising

Downtown Housing

Marian Hall Redevelopment

Secured state budget funds to help Communities First, Inc. redevelop historic Marian Hall into new housing in the heart of downtown Flint — turning a vacant landmark into homes.

Good Jobs

Economic Development & Job Creation

John is fighting to bring good-paying jobs to Genesee County through strategic economic development, workforce training investments, and breaking down barriers for businesses that want to invest here.

Revenue Sharing

Protecting Local Budgets

Improved Michigan's state revenue sharing process so Flint and Genesee County communities receive the funding they need to deliver essential services to residents.

Recognized Statewide

Multiple Legislator of the Year Awards

Named Legislator of the Year by the Michigan Townships Association, Michigan Association of Counties, Ducks Unlimited, Michigan Association of Timbermen, Michigan Pipe Trades, and Workforce Development Institute.

Labor & Workers' Rights

Pro-worker.
Always.

Genesee County was built by working people. The Flint Sit-Down Strike changed American labor history — and John Cherry carries that legacy with him every day in the State Senate.

As Chair of the Senate Labor Committee, he has made workers' rights his defining mission. From Flint's UAW roots to today's workers in every industry, John believes that when workers have a voice, our whole community benefits.

✓ Repealed Michigan's so-called "right-to-work" law — first state to do so in nearly 60 years
✓ Restored prevailing wage on state construction projects
✓ Extended prevailing wage protections to wind and solar energy workers
✓ Overhauled Michigan's unemployment system — first major update in over 20 years
✓ Raised maximum weekly unemployment benefit from $362 to $614
✓ Championed improved retirement benefits for corrections officers and law enforcement
✓ Required safety barriers protecting road construction workers on Michigan freeways — signed into law
✓ Named Michigan Pipe Trades Legislator of the Year
✓ Named Workforce Development Institute Legislator of the Year
✓ Honors White Shirt Day every year — commemorating the Flint Sit-Down Strike and the workers who changed American history

Kids & Families

Every child in Genesee County deserves a strong start.

John Cherry believes that investing in children is the best investment we can make. From the earliest days of life to the classroom and beyond, he has fought to give Genesee County's kids every advantage.

Senator Cherry with Governor Whitmer at Rx Kids launch

👶

Rx Kids — Born in Flint, Growing Statewide

John secured the initial $16.5M to pilot the nation's first prenatal and infant cash prescription program right here in Flint. Since January 2024, it has delivered over $12 million to more than 2,000 Flint families. John then kept fighting — securing additional budget dollars to expand Rx Kids to communities across Michigan. A program born in Flint is now transforming the lives of children statewide.

$12M+
delivered to Flint families & growing

🍽️

Free School Meals

Helped secure $248 million so Michigan's 1.4 million public school students can continue accessing free breakfast and lunch — because no child should try to learn on an empty stomach.

$248M
secured in 2026 budget

📚

Literacy & Education

A champion for boosting literacy for Michigan students — including celebrating March is Reading Month, supporting libraries, and ensuring classrooms have what they need to help every child succeed.

💊

Lead Safety & Filter First

Legislation requiring lead screenings for infants, expanding filter-first protections, and ensuring lead-safe communities — all signed into law, building on Flint's hard-won lessons about protecting children's health.

$120M
for clean water infrastructure

🥦

Double Up Food Bucks

Secured $14 million over three budget cycles to expand this program, which doubles SNAP dollars spent on fresh fruits and vegetables — ensuring Michigan families can access healthy food.

🏥

Health Care Access

Hosting Community Health Care Forums in Genesee County and fighting for bipartisan legislation to protect hundreds of thousands of Michiganders from the burden of medical debt.

CHERRY

A Genesee County native who never stopped fighting for home.