John Moolenaar faces Michael Lynch in Michigan 2nd Congressional District election

• U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar runs for re-election in Michigan’s 2nd Congressional District
• Democratic Michael Lynch challenges Moolenaar in the general election
• District includes all or part of 20 Michigan counties in central Michigan and along the Lake Michigan shoreline

Republican U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar is pursuing re-election in a reliably conservative district but faces a challenge from Democrat Michael Lynch in the Nov. 5 general election. 

Moolenaar, of Caledonia, and Lynch, of Alma, both ran unopposed in Aug. 6 primaries for the sprawling 2nd Congressional District, which includes all or part of 20 counties in central Michigan and along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Notable cities in the district include Alma, Big Rapids, Cadillac and Mt. Pleasant. 

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Moolenaar has served in Congress since 2015 and handily won re-election in 2022, defeating Democratic challenger Jerry Hilliard with about 64% of the vote. 

Voters in the district have long trended reliably conservative. In 2016 and 2020, former President Donald Trump won the district with roughly 64% and 65% of the vote, respectively.

Here is a look at the candidates:

Democrat - Michael Lynch: An Alma resident, Lynch is a manager with the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan and has taught at DePaul, West Virginia University and Georgetown universities, according to his campaign. If elected, Lynch has said he’d focus on affordable health care, affordable housing, union issues, reproductive rights and “responsible” gun legislation. 

Republican - John Moolenaar: Before Congress, Moolenaar served in the state House and Senate and on the Midland City Council. He also worked as a chemist at Dow Chemical Company. Moolenaar has served in Congress since 2015 and serves on the House Appropriations Committee. While in office, Moolenaar has supported voter-identification requirements, lowering taxes, energy independence, funding for the Great Lakes and increasing access to broadband in rural areas. Moolenaar was one of four Michigan congressional Republicans who, in December 2020, signed onto an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election. In March, he was named chair of a House committee investigating possible economic and security threats posed by China. 

Libertarian - Ben DeJong: DeJong, who lists a Lake Odessa address on campaign filings, is communications director for the Libertarian Party of Michigan. The party advocates for personal liberty over government intervention and considers taxation "theft," according to its platform. 

US Taxpayers - Scott Adams: Adams, who lists an Ostego address in campaign filings, advanced to the general election ballot through nomination at a U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan convention in July.  The party is anti-abortion, supports limited taxation, education reform and property rights, among other things.