Laurie Pohutsky
Laurie Pohutsky
Speaker pro tempore of the Michigan House of Representatives
In officeJanuary 11, 2023 – January 8, 2025
Preceded byPamela Hornberger
Succeeded byRachelle Smit
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office January 1, 2019
Preceded byLaura Cox
Constituency19th district (2019–2022)17th district (2023–present)
Personal details
BornLaurie Tennant (1988-04-28) April 28, 1988
PartyDemocratic
EducationMichigan State University (BS)
WebsiteCampaign website

Laurie Pohutsky (née Tennant; born April 28, 1988) is an American politician serving as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives since 2019, currently representing the 17th district.[1] She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Early life and education

Pohutsky was born Laurie Tennant in Livonia, Michigan. She grew up in Redford, Michigan.[2] Between 2006 and 2010 she attended Michigan State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology.[3] Pohutsky then worked as a laboratory technician for several companies in fields involving food safety, toxicology and health care.[4]

Political career

In 2018, Pohutsky successfully ran as a Democrat for the Michigan House of Representatives for District 19, narrowly defeating Republican candidate Brian Meakin.[5][3][4] In the 2020 election Pohutsky was reelected, once again by a narrow margin.[6]

During the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries, she endorsedMassachusettsSenatorElizabeth Warren for President of the United States.[7]

During the 2022 Michigan House of Representatives election, Pohutsky ran to represent District 17, defeating opponent Penny Crider in a landslide. She was subsequently appointed speaker pro tempore of the Michigan House.[8]

Pohutsky was reelected to the 17th district in 2024.[9]

Personal life

Pohutsky is openly bisexual.[10] In February 2025, she revealed she had undergone sterilization in the prior month, saying "I refuse to let my body be treated as currency by an administration that only sees value in my ability to procreate".[11] Pohutsky was a sponsor of the legislation passed in April 2023 that repealed the 1931 criminalization of abortion in Michigan.[12]

References

  1. ^Michigan Citizen's Guide to State Government, 2025-2026, 103rd Legislature(PDF). Lansing, Michigan: Michigan Legislature. 2025.
  2. ^"Laura Pohutsky". mihousedems.com. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  3. ^ ab"Laurie Pohutsky's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  4. ^ abVeselenak, David (November 8, 2018). "'People are a little tired of business as usual': Pohutsky reflects on winning House seat". hometownlife.com. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  5. ^"Meet Laurie Pohutsky". housedems.com. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  6. ^"Livonia Democrat narrowly holds onto to Michigan House seat". mlive. 2020-11-05. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  7. ^Pohutsky, Laurie (November 8, 2019). "In 2017, I had the privilege of meeting @ewarren. She talked about why she ran for public office and how she spent her political career fighting for the people she represented. As she left, I stopped her and told her that I had just filed to run. "Good. We need you," she said. 1/pic.twitter.com/Oo8oPIYiSJ". @lpohutsky19. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  8. ^"Laurie Pohutsky". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-01-15.
  9. ^"2024 Michigan Election Results". Michigan Secretary of State. November 22, 2024. Archived from the original on November 24, 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  10. ^"Election Q&A: 19th District House Rep. Laurie Pohutsky Talks Reelection". PrideSource. 29 September 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  11. ^Roth, Andrew (2025-02-06). "Michigan legislator says she underwent sterilization to avoid pregnancy during Trump presidency". Michigan Advance. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  12. ^"Michigan Lawmaker Undergoes Sterilization to Avoid Pregnancy Under Trump". Newsweek. February 7, 2025. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
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