MICHIGAN — Michigan candidates Jack Bergman and John Moolenaar, both Republicans, have won their races to fill seats in the United States House of Representatives.
U.S. House Michigan District 1
Incumbent candidate Jack Bergman (R) defeated candidate Callie Barr (D) in the race for a seat representing the 1st Congressional District to join the over 430 members currently serving in the House of Representatives the United States House of Representatives.
To enter the race, Callie Barr defeated Bob Lorinser in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 1 on Aug. 6.
To enter the race, incumbent Jack Bergman defeated Joshua Saul in the Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 1 on Aug. 6.
Candidate Liz Hakola advanced into the race from the Working Class Party convention on June 23, and Libertarian candidate Andrew Gale entered the race for U.S. House Michigan District 1 on July 20.
Barr was born and raised in Traverse City and Cheboygan. She received her bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Central Michigan University. As a high school English teacher, Callie taught reading, writing and critical thinking.
Barr went on to receive a law degree, graduating with honors from the University of Michigan’s Law School. After graduation, she was recruited to a Michigan law firm where she worked to connect veterans to free legal services.
Bergman was first elected to the House in 2016, winning an open race to replace retiring Rep. Dan Benishek. In1975, he graduated from the University of West Florida in Pensacola with an M.A. and in 1969 graduated from Gustuvus Adolphus College with a B.A.
Bergman is a retired United States Marine Corps lieutenant general serving as the U.S. representative from Michigan’s 1st congressional district since 2017. The boundaries contain the entire Upper Peninsula and all of the northern Lower Peninsula. Altogether, the district makes up about 44% of the land mass of the state of Michigan.
Bergman is the highest-ranking combat veteran to have ever served in the U.S. House.
In 2023-24 Bergman was assigned to U.S. House committees including:
- House Committee on Budget
- House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
- House Committee on Armed Services
- Intelligence and Special Operations, Chairman
- Military Personnel
- Seapower and Projection Forces
U.S. House Michigan District 2
Incumbent candidate John Moolenaar (R) defeated candidate Michael Lynch (D) in the race for a seat representing Michigan in the 2nd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives.
Moolenaar made the following statement following his victory in the general election for Michigan’s Second Congressional District:
“I want to thank, and am honored to receive the support of the voters of Michigan’s Second District,” Molenaar said. “I will never stop fighting for our values and our constitutional rights. I would like to thank my biggest supporters, my wife Amy and our family for everything they have done to support me. I also want to thank my hard-working campaign team and our wonderful volunteers who have worked hard to bring us over the finish line. In Congress, I will work to cut taxes, secure the southern border, protect our constitutional freedoms, and win the strategic competition against the Chinese Communist Party. It is an honor to serve and I look forward to continuing to represent the people of Michigan’s Second District in Washington, D.C.”
Moolenaar was born in Midland, Michigan, in 1961. He attended Herbert Henry Dow High School and went on to earn his B.S. from Hope College in 1983. After receiving his bachelor’s degree, Moolenaar got accepted into Harvard University, where he earned a master’s degree in public administration.
Moolenaar worked for Dow Chemical and later became the director of the Small Business Center for the Middle Michigan Development Corporation.
He first entered politics in 1997 as a member of the Midland City Council. He served on the city council until 2000 and later served as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 2003-2008.
Moolenaar was first elected on November 4, 2014, and was re-elected in 2018. Moolenaar co-founded the Congressional Chemistry Caucus.
He was previously the Michigan State Senate District 36 representative from 2011 to 2015 and the Michigan House of Representatives District 98 representative from 2002 to 2008.
In 2023-24 Moolenaar was assigned to the following U.S. House committees:
- United States House of Representatives Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party
- House Committee on Appropriations
- Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration
- Financial Services and General Government
- Labor, Health and Human Services, Education
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