THREE RIVERS, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – The wild card in the August 2, 2022 primary race for the GOP nomination in the newly-created 4th U.S. House district has apparently taken himself out of the deck.
On Tuesday, Steve Carra announced that he has pulled out of the Congressional race, and has instead decided to run for reelection to the state House. The first-term Republican from Three Rivers had thrown his hat into the US House ring last year, intent on defeating 18-term incumbent Fred Upton, and had even secured the endorsement of former President Donald Trump.
However, when the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission drew up the new Congressional district maps, based on the 2020 U.S. Census that showed the state would lose a seat in the US House, they put both Upton and six-term incumbent Congressman Bill Huizenga in the same fourth district.
While Carra stayed in the race following this development, continuing to ask for Upton’s resignation due to the St. Joseph’s vote for impeaching Mr. Trump in the wake of the events of January 6th, he was silent in regards to Huizenga.
Carra reportedly attended a fundraiser at Mr. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida for state Attorney General hopeful Matt DePerno earlier this month, apparently still intent on maintaining his campaign. However, when Mr. Trump publicly threw his support in the 4th District race to Huizenga last week, Carra decided to end his Congressional aspirations, and in his Tuesday announcement, he went along with the former President in endorsing Huizenga.
While Huizenga has officially filed his reelection candidacy with the Michigan Secretary of State’s office, Upton has not at this point, although the St. Joseph Republican has made an ad buy last month with a 30-second television message on local television and cable outlets that gives the impression of his reelection intentions.
(reporting from Gary Stevens)
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