Editing Hillsdale County, Michigan (section)

==Politics==
Hillsdale County has been a reliably [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] county since the 19th century. Since 1884, the Republican nominee has carried the county in 34 of 36 presidential elections, the lone exceptions being when it was carried by Democrat [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] amidst a national landslide in [[1964 United States presidential election|1964]] (albeit by only 144 votes), and when it was carried by [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912)|Progressive]] nominee [[Theodore Roosevelt]] when the Republican electorate had a schism in [[1912 United States presidential election|1912]]. In 2024, [[Donald Trump]] carried the county by one of the highest margins of any candidate since the county was formed. 
{{PresHead|place=Hillsdale County, Michigan|source=<ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS US Election Atlas]</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|18,631|5,875|322|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|17,037|5,883|382|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|14,095|4,799|1,046|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|11,727|7,106|267|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|11,221|8,765|463|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|12,804|7,123|289|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|10,483|6,495|495|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|7,947|5,955|2,464|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|7,579|5,244|5,068|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|10,571|4,763|145|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|12,063|3,616|89|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|10,951|4,375|1,173|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|9,307|5,427|221|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|9,261|3,942|289|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|8,506|3,803|1,135|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|6,420|6,564|106|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|10,208|4,069|63|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|10,311|3,428|67|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|10,680|3,340|123|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|7,232|3,095|433|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|9,364|3,153|81|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|9,398|3,538|71|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|6,723|5,023|471|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|5,879|5,696|292|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|8,282|1,893|51|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|6,556|1,980|1,042|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|6,690|2,467|249|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|3,463|3,424|226|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|1,437|2,229|3,283|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|4,463|2,516|340|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|4,951|1,659|418|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|4,780|3,324|293|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|4,564|3,986|206|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|4,119|2,613|946|Michigan}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|4,959|3,035|706|Michigan}}
{{PresFoot|1884|Republican|4,315|3,222|635|Michigan}}

The county government operates the county jail, maintains rural roads, operates the major local courts, records deeds, mortgages, and [[vital records]], administers [[public health]] regulations, and participates with the state in the provision of social services. The [[county commission|county board of commissioners]] controls the budget and has limited authority to make laws or ordinances. In Michigan, most local government functions — police and fire, building and zoning, tax assessment, street maintenance, etc. — are the responsibility of individual cities and townships.

===Elected officials===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Circuit Court Judge]]: Honorable Sara S. Lisznyai
* [[District Court Judge]]: Honorable Megan Stiverson
* [[Probate Judge]]: Honorable Michelle A. Bianchi
* [[Prosecutor|Prosecuting Attorney]]: Jamie Wisniewski
* [[Sheriff]]: Scott B. Hodshire
* [[County Clerk]]: Abe Dane
* [[Treasurer|County Treasurer]]: Stephenie Kyser
* [[Register of Deeds]]: Nick Wheeler
* [[Drain Commissioner]]: Matt Word
* Board of Commissioners:
** District One: Doug Ingles
** District Two: Kevin Collins
** District Three: Mark E. Wiley, Chairperson
** District Four: Brad Benzing, Vice Chair
** District Five: Brent A. Leininger
{{div col end}}

===Republican Party Split===

On August 12, 2022, the Hillsdale County Republican Party refused to let duly elected precinct delegates enter the County Convention. This was under the claim that Hillsdale County Clerk, Marney Kast, had deliberately spoiled certain candidates' ballots past the filing deadline. They held the convention with those who were not disavowed inside the Sozo Church. The duly elected precinct delegates held their own convention outside in the parking lot. The party split, and multiple lawsuits followed after.

Currently, the Michigan Republican Party recognizes Brent Leininger as the Chair of the Hillsdale County Republican Party, who was one of the precinct delegates previously disavowed.