Cherry pie and civic duty may seem like an unlikely pairing, but in northern Michigan, they’ve become a beloved election-season tradition. On the evening of Monday, October 5, 2026, Glen Arbor Town Hall will host the 2026 Cherry Pie Debates — a free, community-centered event that brings voters face-to-face with the candidates vying to represent them in Lansing.
The event, co-presented by Interlochen Public Radio, the Leelanau Enterprise, and the Glen Arbor Sun, kicks off at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. at Glen Arbor Town Hall, 6394 W. Western Ave, Glen Arbor, MI 49636. Admission is free — and so is the cherry pie and ice cream.
You can also watch the debate live online, courtesy of 9&10 News, starting at 7 p.m.
Who’s on Stage
Two competitive Michigan Midterms 2026 races will take center stage. Voters will hear from 103rd House District incumbent Rep. Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City) and her challenger, Edwin Dean (R-Northport). Also debating will be state Sen. John Damoose (R-Harbor Springs) and his 37th District challenger, Kate Gallup (D-Cedar).
The debates will be moderated by Brian Freiberger, editor of the Leelanau Enterprise; Ed Ronco, news director at Interlochen Public Radio; and Jacob Wheeler, editor and publisher of the Glen Arbor Sun. Questions are also shaped with the help of the League of Women Voters of Leelanau County.
A Tradition Rooted in Community
The Cherry Pie Debates were launched in 2014 with a simple but meaningful purpose: to give community members a genuine, in-person opportunity to hear from the people hoping to earn their votes. The event has grown into a signature moment in Michigan political life, blending democratic participation with one of the region’s most iconic flavors.
Jacob Wheeler, the Glen Arbor Sun’s editor and publisher, captured the spirit of the event simply and directly.
“Nothing is as American as conversations previewing Democratic elections. But nothing is as northern Michigan as cherry pie, right?”
The cherry theme is more than a gimmick — it reflects a genuine pride in northern Michigan’s agricultural identity, where cherry orchards define the landscape and the culture of places like Leelanau County.
For those who want to stay connected to local news beyond the debates, WCMU’s weekly news podcast Between the Lakes covers the stories shaping central and northern Michigan every Saturday morning. Recent Leelanau County coverage has included the departure of County Administrator Jim Dyer following workplace misconduct allegations, reported by Maxwell Howard, as well as a 2024 report by Ellie Katz and Izzy Ross on a vote reporting error that affected unofficial election results in the county.
