In 2018, Rosemary Bayer started knocking on doors, introducing herself as a local engineer who wanted to stand up to an out-of-touch administration and fight for the hardworking people of District 12.
Her story resonated with voters. A lifelong Michigander, Rosemary grew up a Girl Scout leader and Council Board member who valued community service. Her parents raised her to have a strong sense of integrity and civic responsibility.
She earned a B.S. in Computer Science and Math from Central Michigan University before starting her career as an engineer and analyst, and later an MBA with Distinction from Lawrence Technological University.
Rosemary spent many years in the tech industry — culminating in her leadership of a Sun Microsystems business unit that spanned 17 countries — before deciding to refocus on helping others succeed. She co-founded and served as Chief Inspiration Officer of ardentCause, a database technology company serving schools and nonprofit organizations. In 2018 Crain’s Detroit Business named her a Notable Woman in Tech.
Rosemary serves on the board of directors for NEW, Solutions for Nonprofits and the SheHive, a women’s collective offering programs to empower women. She co-founded the Michigan Council of Women in Technology, a nonprofit that provides STEM support and educational programs for girls and women around Michigan.
On November 6, 2018, Rosemary Bayer won the election for Senate in District 12.
Since taking her seat, Senator Bayer has served on the Senate Appropriations Committee and Appropriations Subcommittees for Environmental Quality and DNR, the School Aid Fund and MDE (where she is Minority Vice-chair), and the Infrastructure and Transportation sub-committee. She also serves on the Environmental Quality Committee as Minority Vice Chair. She is Chair of Michigan’s legislative Firearm Safety and Violence Prevention Caucus, and Vice-chair of the Poverty and Homelessness Caucus. With a knack for both numbers and mediation, she’s been an invaluable member of several bipartisan budgeting efforts.
Rosemary lives with her husband John. Their daughter is currently following in her mother’s footsteps, pursuing a career in STEM.
Rosemary is running for reelection to the Senate in 2022 in District 13, which includes Walled Lake, West Bloomfield Township, Sylvan Lake, Plymouth, Plymouth Township, Orchard Lake Village, Novi, Novi Township, Northville, Northville Township, Keego Harbor, Farmington Hills, and Commerce Township.