(WXMI) — Republican Bill Huizenga has won reelection to the 2nd congressional district, throwing off a challenge from Democrat Bryan Berghoef, according to the Associated Press today.
Huizenga will keep the seat he has held since 2011.
The district covers parts of Kent and Allegan counties, plus Ottawa, Muskegon, Newaygo, Benzie, Manistee, Wexford, Mason, Lake and Oceana counties.
A member of the House Financial Services Committee, his goals have been to remove government-imposed barriers to private sector job creation and increasing transparency across the federal government.
He’s proposed legislation to fund community-based health care programs that would be a middle ground between private and publicly funded insurance.
Other issues Huizenga has introduced legislation for include federal tax breaks for front-line employees during the coronavirus pandemic and Great Lakes erosion.
He has also compared Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s pandemic response to Japanese internment orders, saying neither’s actions are excusable just because they thought it was the right thing to do.
In 2002, Huizenga was elected to represent the southern portion of Ottawa County in the Michigan House.
He’s a lifelong resident of Ottawa County and lives there with his wife and children.
His opponent, Berghoef, lost in what has traditionally been a Republican stronghold.
