GOP Congressman Jack Bergman is seeking a fifth term in Washington this year, facing Callie Barr, a lawyer and veterans’ health advocate. While the goal is to win, the candidates emphasized running a clean race.
“We have a real role to play in seeing each other as neighbors and as Americans first,” said Barr.
Bergman, who served in the Marine Corps for 40 years, defeated his 2022 opponent by over 20 points. It’s likely the district will remain Republican, but Bergman isn’t taking that for granted.
“Every day, I use common sense to find common ground with others for the common good,” he said.
Michigan’s largest district by area, the 1st Congressional District covers the entire Upper Peninsula and most of the northern lower above Clare.
Both candidates shared proposals for easing housing costs, which they say is one of the most significant economic burdens in Northern Michigan.
“Margins are really thin for folks that are even wanting to help build affordable housing,” said Barr. “We want to make sure that we have flexible funding that can enable that type of growth, that can incentivize people to help us build affordable homes.”
Bergman believes easing building regulations, low income housing tax credits and rural housing loan programs could help lower prices in the area.
On immigration, Barr said the abandoned bipartisan border bill would’ve been a step in the right direction. Bergman said the Biden administration should employ more restrictions on entry into the country.
“They can secure our border by immediately ending catch and release, reinstate ‘Remain in Mexico,’ employ the expedited removal authority and reauthorize construction of the border wall,” Bergman said.
But both candidates agreed the country needs legal immigration to increase the workforce.
Another issue since the overturning of Roe v. Wade is abortion. Barr believes it’s a motivating issue for women like her across the country who worry about a Republican-controlled federal government imposing restrictions on the procedure.
“When I look at my young daughters, and I think about one of them having a complicated pregnancy and being in the room with them, and having a doctor say, ‘you know what, I’m really sorry, the federal government has mandated that she die’...I can’t even imagine that type of future. This is so extreme, and it’s so not who we are,” said Barr.
Bergman said abortion access is an issue best left for the states to decide. He supported a 2022 bill to ban abortion after 15 weeks nationwide, but stopped short of a full ban.
“I do not and will not support a federal abortion ban,” Bergman told us. “I’m going to repeat that — I will not support a federal abortion ban.”
Bergman also said he supports proposals making IVF at least partially covered by private insurance.