Incumbents Moolenaar, Stabenow re-elected to Congress
Incumbents Debbie Stabenow and John Moolenaar were each re-elected to congress on Nov. 6.
Republican John Moolenaar will serve his third term as U.S. House of Representative for Michigan's 4th Congressional District after defeating his opponent Jerry Hilliard in the 2018 midterm election.
The Associated Press called the race at about 9:19 p.m. with Moolenaar winning with about 63 percent of the vote to Hilliard's 36 percent.
Sen. Stabenow will serve her fourth term as Michigan's Congressional Senator, defeating her opponent and Republican candidate John James.
The Associated Press projected Stabbenow to win at about 11:20 p.m, holding roughly 52 percent of the votes.
Stabenow will continue to serve in Congress alongside Democrat Sen. Gary Peters, whose term ends in 2020.
"I am going to Washington to defend Michigan," Stabenow said in her victory speech.
In her speech, Stabenow also alluded to the Democratic dominance at the Michigan polls and said she is excited to "govern to get things done."
Congressman Moolenaar
Before he was elected as a representative in 2014, Moolenaar was was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2002 where he served three terms. Then in 2010, he served one term as a Michigan Senator.
He is also currently a member of the House Committee of Appropriations and the Republican study committee.
One of the main issues that Moolenaar focused on during his campaign was healthcare reform, arguing that the American people do not want a government-run health care system.
Some of the other issues that Moolenaar focused on during his campaign were helping military veterans and fighting for a more balanced budget.
Moolenaar was born a raised in Midland. He received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Hope University and his master’s degree in public administration from Harvard.
Before becoming a politician, Moolenaar worked as a chemist for Dow Chemical and a business development director for the Small Business Center for the Middle Michigan Development Corporation. He has also worked as an administrator at Midland Academy of Advanced and Creative Studies.
Moolenaar’s political career first started in 1997 when he was elected to the Midland City Council where he served until 2000.
Moolenaar will be serving as the Representative for Michigan’s 4th Congressional District until 2021 when the term ends.
Michigan has 14 representatives who are elected to two-year terms to serve the people of a certain Congressional District. According to www.house.gov, the responsibilities of a representative include introducing resolutions and bills, serving on committees and offering amendments.
Sen. Stabenow
Stabenow is focused on growing a diverse economy and standing up for Michigan families, according to her website.
She was born in Gladwin and raised 25 miles away in Clare. Her family volunteered in her community and in the Clare United Methodist Church where she learned the importance of faith, family and hard work.
Stabenow has lived in Lansing since graduating from Michigan State University with a bachelor's and master’s degree.
She was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives from 1979 to 1990 and to the State Senate from 1991 to 1994. In 1996, she was elected as a U.S. Congresswoman and made history in 2000 when she became the first woman from Michigan to be elected to the U.S. Senate.
In 2015 she became the state's senior U.S. Senator and in 2017 she became Chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee.
As a Senator, Stabenow has worked to protect the Great Lakes and Michigan waterways through a variety of bills, acts and initiatives. The national magazine Outdoor Life awarded Sen. Stabenow its Open Country Award for her work to protect the Great Lakes.
Most recently, Sen. Stabenow voted against the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Sen. Stabenow serves as ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and has been instrumental in supporting beginning farmers, veterans and urban agriculture. She has also helped make improvements in conservation and rural water infrastructure.
Stabenow is also interested in the health and other needs of Michigan families, U.S. military and healthcare.
