ST. JOSEPH, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – If Fred Upton thought his 16th reelection effort for Congress was his toughest two years ago, he may be in for an even tougher challenge this fall.
The St. Joseph Republican announced on Monday his intention to seek an 18th term in the US House, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has targeted his seat as one that they can flip on November 3rd. The DCCC held a “retirement party” outside of Upton’s office in Kalamazoo last Thursday, and in a statement shortly after Upton declared his reelection inteitions, DCCC Spokesperson Courtney Rice said, “Come November, Michiganders will hold him accountable for putting Washington special interests ahead of voters in the 6th District.”
In an appearance on “WHTC Morning News” on Tuesday, Upton said that he’s up to the challenge. “No election is easy, and anyone who sits on their hands is in trouble, but we feel like we’re in good shape. We’re going to continue to make the progress that we’ve made, and we look forward to the results this November.”
Upton defeated Democrat Matt Longjohn by four percentage points in 2018, and term-limited state lawmaker Jon Hoadley is the only current Democrat listed on the Michigan Secretary of State site as having filed enough petition signatures to challenge Upton this fall. Hoadley collected the endorsement of Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a fellow Democrat, last Friday.
The DCCC has also targeted other incumbent Republicans in Michigan’s Congressional delegation, but apparently remains silent in regards to Zeeland’s Bill Huizenga, who is expected to run for a sixth two-year term representing the state’s 2nd District in November.
