The Sentinel recently asked candidates for Michigan’s 4th Congressional District to speak to voters’ questions and concerns ahead of the primary Aug. 4.
The district includes counties Allegan and Van Buren, along with portions of Berrien, Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Ottawa. In total, there are nearly 775,000 constituents.
U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Holland Township, is running for re-election. He’s served in Congress since 2011 and, in the primary, will face Phillip Tanis — a former mayor of Holland.
Democrats will also face off Aug. 4, including State Sen. Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo) and former U.S. Senate employee Diop Harris. The winners will go head-to-head in November.
The Sentinel sent a questionnaire to all candidates and received responses from each, edited for length and clarity.
What is your age, town of residence and occupation?
Huizenga: I’ve spent all 57 years of my life as a resident of Ottawa County — the same place I operate a third-generation sand and gravel operation.
Tanis: I’m 61, live in Holland and work for the Van Raalte Institute at Hope College.
McCann: I’m 54 and live in Kalamazoo.
Harris: I’m 32, a resident of Battle Creek, and a citizen of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi. I previously worked at Americans for Financial Reform and served in the office of Sen. Sherrod Brown.
Why are you running for Congress?
Huizenga: I was recently rated the most effective member of Congress from Michigan because I know how to rise above the division, bring people together and find common ground to get big things done for our state. I’m running to keep fighting for our community so that our children and grandchildren inherit a fair shot at the American Dream.
Tanis: Like many Americans, I’m frustrated by the state of our politics. We’ve become a nation divided into warring camps that treat each other as enemies instead of neighbors. I believe our country can do better. We can return to decency, common sense, and constitutional responsibility — the values that once defined the Republican Party and are the character of Michigan.
McCann: I’ve dedicated my career to making life better for people in Southwest Michigan. I’m running for Congress because we need to focus on what matters to regular people — like protecting healthcare and Medicaid, not cutting it; getting costs down, not raising them with more tariff taxes; helping small businesses grow, not giving huge tax breaks to special interests; and letting women make their own healthcare decisions instead of politicians.
Harris: For too long, politics has been dominated by corporate interests, special interests and elected officials who spend more time listening to donors than the people they represent. Residents across Southwest Michigan are frustrated, not because they aren’t paying attention, but because they feel like no one is paying attention to them. I believe representation starts with showing up, listening and fighting for the communities you serve.
If elected/re-elected, how do you plan to engage with constituents?
Huizenga: My decision-making process begins and ends with the people of Southwest Michigan. Constituent input is king — whether it comes through one-on-one conversations, group meetings, emails, phone calls, social media, tele-townhalls or in-person visits to my office.
Tanis: I will hold regularly scheduled in-person townhall meetings across the district.
McCann: I’m committed to showing up, listening, and delivering for Michigan families, in particular being available for in-person events and attending community events.
Harris: I will ensure that online scheduling for meetings is consistently up-to-date and monitored by my staff. Additionally, I plan to schedule ample time in the district itself across all six counties, so that I can ensure the voices of our constituents are brought back to my colleagues in DC.
What are three priority issues for district and why?
Huizenga: The three issues I hear about most are affordability, economic opportunity and fiscal responsibility. Families are still telling me groceries, gas, housing and healthcare all cost too much. If voters send me back to Congress, I’ll keep fighting to lower costs, grow good-paying jobs, protect Social Security, and bring fiscal sanity back to Washington.
Tanis: Inflation is being driven by government policies, from overseas wars to the imposition of tariffs. Tariffs are taxes, and I would vote to end them. The runaway federal government deficit also needs to be reined in with a balanced budget as the goal.
As the Great Lakes State, we should do all we can to preserve and promote our natural beauty, care for this amazing creation, and pass it along to our kids.
We are a nation built by immigrants, and immigration remains critical to a successful future. We must have rules and procedures which allow a steady number of immigrants into the US, both high-skilled workers and those who are more in need, especially asylum seekers.
McCann: The biggest issue I hear from constituents is how high the cost of everything is right now, from gas to groceries to healthcare. People are feeling like the rules of the game are changing and making it harder for working families to make ends meet. Millionaires and billionaires aren’t paying their fair share, while we struggle to put food on the table. Members of Congress are getting rich, giving themselves tax cuts, while failing to address the rising cost of living.
Harris: I’m fighting for universal, single-payer healthcare because there simply aren’t enough doing so in DC. As our congressman, I will cosponsor the Medicare for All Act and be clear about why it matters for districts like ours.
Artificial intelligence is the defining advancement of this generation. I will support stronger federal review requirements for hyperscale data centers. I would support a national moratorium in order to establish national standards.
In a district that is 63% rural, barriers to basic transportation are an often unspoken burden. Limited transit options and rising gas prices create real world challenges for all. I will support the expansion of regional transit partnerships as well as increase weekend services.
What is your view on renewable energy developments and continued operations at the J.H. Campbell Power Plant — as well as the restart of Palisades Nuclear Plant?
Huizenga: If you agree with the data that Michigan needs more reliable baseload generation in light of our rapidly growing energy demands, it’s clear that now isn’t the time to close plants like Campbell. For this reason, I’ve been closely engaged with all involved parties to ensure its continued operation (benefits) Michigan homes and ratepayers.
I have been (a) champion for repowering Palisades.
Tanis: Renewable energy technologies must be given priority. The planned closure of outdated electrical generation plants, including the Campbell, should proceed without the interference of the federal government.
While perhaps currently necessary, nuclear power plants are not a long-term solution. We must also guard the increasing demands on our current electrical systems, especially giving careful thought to the construction of new data centers.
McCann: I have always been a strong advocate for renewable energy projects. The U.S. Department of Energy is forcing the Campbell to stay open … raising the utility rates for all of us and polluting the air. I vehemently disagree with this action and will do everything I can to see the plant (closed).
I voted for the state funding that helped the restart of Palisades, which will help us achieve our clean energy goals in Michigan.
Harris: As it stands, the continued operation of the Campbell is a lose-lose scenario for all involved, as the current administration’s intervention has increased taxpayer costs, put jobs in limbo, and allowed a source of pollution to continue.
The restart of the Palisades Nuclear Plant is also one concerning (to) taxpayer pockets, especially given the mounting financial and logistical setbacks related to the project. While I support carbon-free energy sources, my concern is whether taxpayers are receiving honest accounting and proper oversight.
— Cassidey Kavathas is the politics and court reporter at The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at ckavathas@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on X @cassideykava.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Q&A: Huizenga, challengers answer the biggest questions from voters
Reporting by Cassidey Kavathas, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Cassidey Kavathas, Holland Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
