Menominee Tribal Legislature heads to January main election
Primary was not required after too few certified candidates; eight contenders are on the January ballot and in-person voting is Jan. 14-15. Contact elections for absentee ballots.
The Menominee Tribal Election Commission certified eight candidates and determined a primary will not be held because the number of certified candidates did not meet the threshold under Article IV Section 3(d) of the Menominee Tribal Constitution and Bylaws. As a result, the contest for seats on the Menominee Tribal Legislature moves straight to the January main election.
On-reservation candidates certified for the ballot are Craig Corn, Kaycee Wayka, Daynell Grignon and Margaret Snow. Off-reservation candidates certified are Marcus Grignon, Michelle Pocan-Gonzalez, John O'Kimosh and Gunnar Peters. The certified field will appear on the ballot for the Menominee Tribal Legislature in the January 2026 main election.
The deadline to submit written intent to run as a write-in candidate was Friday, January 9, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.; that window has now closed. Voters planning to cast ballots in person can do so on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at the Neopit Precinct building and on Thursday, January 15, 2026 at the Menominee Casino convention center (Bear Room). Polls will be open both days from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Absentee ballot requests remain available through multiple channels: the Tribe’s website (Enrolled Members tab), the Election Commission Office in Room 136 of the Wilmer J. Peters Judicial Center during regular business hours, or by contacting the Elections Office at elections@imitw.org or (715) 799-3446. These options give off-reservation members and those unable to vote in person a way to participate in choosing their tribal representatives.
For Menominee County residents the practical impact is immediate: with no primary, every certified candidate will be decided by the January main election. That concentrates attention and turnout into two days of in-person voting and the absentee ballot process, raising the stakes for voter outreach and participation across reservation and off-reservation communities. The Tribal Legislature’s composition affects local governance, budgets and the delivery of services that matter to households in Neopit, Keshena and beyond.
The takeaway? If you intend to vote, mark your calendar for Jan. 14 or Jan. 15 or request an absentee ballot now through the election office or the enrolled members page. Showing up or returning your ballot is how you help decide who will set tribal priorities for the next term.
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