ST. JOSEPH, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – It’s nearly official without the formal announcement as two incumbents will vie against each other for a seat in Congress from West Michigan in 2022.
Unless court challenges dictate otherwise, Michigan’s current second and sixth US House districts will virtually merge into a new fourth district, based on maps approved late last year by the state’s Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. Since Michigan is losing one seat in Congress due to the results of the 2020 U.S. census, such a showdown appeared inevitable.
Six-term Republican Bill Huizenga of Zeeland, who had announced last fall his intent to seek reelection, maintained his stance after the redistricting maps were disclosed. However, 18-term Republican Fred Upton of St. Joseph kept his reelection cards close to the vest, especially once the redistricting maps were disclosed, fueling speculation about whether he would challenge Huizenga for the GOP nomination.
Upton had been dropping hints about making another run for Congress over the past several weeks, as Lansing-based MIRS News reported on February 10 that a decision could come “after his current two-week break.”
A television ad buy that begins on Wednesday appears to have clinched it. “Record,” according to his campaign office, “focuses on Fred Upton’s long record of common sense conservative leadership for West Michigan.”
Upton is quoted in the campaign statement, “It’s been my honor to serve the people of West Michigan as their common sense conservative voice in Congress. This ad focuses on my record and begins a conversation with the voters I’m so proud to serve. I’ll never stop giving my best effort to the people of West Michigan and I’ll never be a rubber stamp for anyone from outside our community. That’s because I always put our state, nation and constitution first.”
State House Representative Steve Carra (R-Portage), who entered the 6th District race last year to challenge Upton, called on the veteran lawmaker to drop out on January 31 when he filed to run in the newly-formed 4th district, claiming that he has the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. However, Carra has been silent about Huizenga, who has been public about his support of Mr. Trump during his Administration.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, who targeted Upton’s seat in an attempt to flip it in the 2020 election, has not made any comment about the new 4th District since the redistricting maps were disclosed, and has not devoted much, if any attention, to unseating Huizenga in the past.
(reporting from Gary Stevens)
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