Philippe Cicchini, a Troy attorney running with no party affiliation, is seeking Michigan’s 9th District state Senate seat in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

He faces Republican Michael Webber, Democrat Theresa Brooks and Working Class Party candidate Jacob R. Schodowski, according to the Michigan Department of State’s candidate list. The seat carries a four-year term.

The district includes Rochester and Rochester Hills, along with Troy, Utica and portions of Oakland Township, Shelby Township and Sterling Heights, according to the Senate district page.

The following responses come from the Rochester Register’s candidate questionnaire. Direct quotations are Cicchini’s own words and have been excerpted for length. Additional information is attributed to public sources throughout.

Asked why he is running, Cicchini said the loss of his Consumer Financial Protection Bureau job in February 2025 helped motivate his campaign.

“I’m running for state senate because I still believe in doing whatever I can to protect consumers, seniors, and families, specifically those in my home state of Michigan,” he wrote.

He also cited frustration with party politics.

“I’m running as an Independent because, like millions of Americans, I am tired of the partisanship and pettiness of our politics,” he wrote.

Candidate information

Political affiliation: Cicchini described himself as “Independent/No Party Affiliation.” The state candidate list identifies him as having no party affiliation.

Background: Cicchini said he was born in Warren and grew up in Fraser. He moved to the Washington, D.C., area in 2008 and returned to Michigan in 2017, when he and his wife bought their home in Troy.

Education: Cicchini reported attending De La Salle Collegiate in Warren and earning a bachelor’s degree in radio and television communications and a law degree from Wayne State University. He said he graduated from law school in 2006.

Family: Cicchini said he and his wife, Elaine, have two daughters. He described his late father as having been born in France and his mother in Italy.

Experience and public service

Cicchini began his career in radio before becoming an attorney.

“I graduated from Wayne State University with a degree in Radio/TV Communications, which led to my work as an on-air personality at various Top 40 radio stations in Michigan, including in Lansing, Detroit, and Traverse City,” he wrote.

After law school, he said he worked at a general-practice firm under Joseph Toia, who later became a circuit court judge.

From 2008 to 2017, Cicchini reported working primarily in electronic discovery in the Washington area, eventually managing teams of attorneys for large law firms. Electronic discovery involves identifying and reviewing digital information for legal proceedings.

He also listed business intelligence research for Ernst & Young and consumer complaint investigations for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Cicchini said he currently provides services helping consumers get out of debt.

Appointed service: Cicchini reported serving for two years on Fraser’s tax assessment board after an appointment in 2007. He also said he served on the Global Troy Advisory Committee from 2022 to 2025.

On the issues

Education: Cicchini identified public education as a recurring concern during his campaign.

He said he would study approaches used by higher-performing states and consult teachers, administrators, parents and other education professionals.

“I would use data and the experiences of educators to identify where Michigan is falling short, determine which approaches are producing better results elsewhere, and develop practical, measurable solutions,” he wrote.

He said his goals include improving student preparation and giving teachers the resources, support and compensation they need.

Budget priorities: Cicchini said he would prioritize essential services and evaluate spending based on results.

“My priorities would be K-12 education, public safety, health care, and maintaining roads and critical infrastructure,” he wrote.

He identified teacher compensation, classroom resources, police and fire services, essential health care and timely road repairs as priorities within those areas.

“I would also examine existing programs before creating new ones or raising taxes. Programs that aren't producing measurable results should be reconsidered,” he wrote.

Political independence: Cicchini said running without a party affiliation would allow him to focus on district residents rather than party leadership.

“As an Independent, I would be wholly accountable to the voters of my district, rather than regurgitating talking points or following marching orders handed down from party headquarters,” he wrote.

He said collecting petition signatures gave him opportunities to speak with residents across political backgrounds.

Approach to public service: Asked about the best advice he had received, Cicchini answered: “Don't let perfect be the enemy of good.”

He said the advice reminds him that smaller accomplishments still matter.

Voters can find additional information about Cicchini’s background and proposals on his campaign website.