Curtis Hertel Jr.

Curtis Hertel
Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party
Assumed office
February 22, 2025
Preceded byLavora Barnes
Member of the Michigan Senate
from the 23rd district
In office
January 1, 2015  December 31, 2022
Preceded byGretchen Whitmer
Succeeded byJim Runestad
Personal details
Born (1978-01-09) January 9, 1978
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseElizabeth Hertel
Children4
RelativesCurtis Hertel (father)
Kevin Hertel (brother)
Dennis Hertel (uncle)
John Hertel (uncle)
EducationMichigan State University (BA)
WebsiteCampaign website

Curtis Hertel Jr. (born January 9, 1978) is an American politician currently serving as the chair of the Michigan Democratic Party. He previously served as a state senator from 2015 to 2023 for the 23rd district, representing the Greater Lansing Area.

Hertel is a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served two terms as the Ingham County Register of Deeds, and more recently served as Governor Gretchen Whitmer's top lobbyist. He was the Democratic nominee for Michigan's 7th congressional district in the 2024 election, losing the general election to Tom Barrett.

He is the son of Curtis Hertel, who was co-speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1993 to 1994. Hertel's brother, Kevin Hertel, was elected to the Michigan State Senate in November 2022.