Pauline Joyce Wendzel is a Republican member of the Michigan House of Representatives, representing the 39th District since 2022 after redistricting from the 79th District, where she was first elected in 2018. She won reelection in 2024 and was sworn in for her new term on January 2, 2025. A lifelong resident of Bainbridge Township in Watervliet, Berrien County, she comes from a fourth-generation farming family and was born in 1989 in St. Joseph. Wendzel is single and a Christian, actively involved in community service including 4-H, the Berrien County Youth Fair, and mission trips to Mexico and Nicaragua. Notable achievements include serving as Michigan Apple Queen in 2007, sponsoring a bipartisan bill to expunge minor traffic violations, and advocating for farmers by cutting red tape. She currently chairs the House Energy Committee and serves on Regulatory Reform, Rules, Communications and Technology, and other committees. Previously, she worked as product brand development manager at Coloma Frozen Foods, programs director at North Berrien Historical Museum, and assistant deputy clerk for Bainbridge Township.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Graduated from Watervliet High School ; earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology with a minor in Food Industry Management from Michigan State University .
• Political Experience: Elected to Michigan House in 2018 ; redistricted to District 39 in 2022 and reelected in 2024. Has served four sessions as of 2025, focusing on energy, regulatory reform, agriculture, and small business protection. Prior local government role as assistant deputy clerk in Bainbridge Township provided deep knowledge of elections and community governance.