Austin Breuer
From Ballotpedia
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Austin Breuer (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Michigan House of Representatives to represent District 50. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Breuer completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Austin Breuer was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Breuer earned an associate degree from Lansing Community College in 2022 and a bachelor's degree from Eastern Michigan University in 2024. His career experience includes working as a general manager.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Michigan House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Michigan House of Representatives District 50
Jason Woolford defeated Austin Breuer in the general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 50 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jason Woolford (R)  | 67.6 | 40,119 |
 | Austin Breuer (D) | 32.4 | 19,193 | |
| Total votes: 59,312 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 50
Austin Breuer advanced from the Democratic primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 50 on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Austin Breuer | 100.0 | 5,635 |
| Total votes: 5,635 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 50
Jason Woolford defeated incumbent Robert Bezotte, Dominic Restuccia, and Kristina Lyke in the Republican primary for Michigan House of Representatives District 50 on August 6, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jason Woolford | 33.6 | 4,723 |
 | Robert Bezotte | 30.2 | 4,247 | |
 | Dominic Restuccia | 22.3 | 3,135 | |
 | Kristina Lyke | 13.8 | 1,939 | |
| Total votes: 14,044 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Breuer in this election.
Pledges
Breuer signed the following pledges.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Austin Breuer completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Breuer's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Austin grew up in Gregory, MI and moved to Fowlerville, MI in 2009 attending Howell Public Schools until graduating from Howell High School in 2015. Since graduating, Austin has worked for the local, family owned party store Jonnas Market, serving the community in Livingston County. His commitment to customer service and passion for public interest led him to pursue an education in history, law and government. Seeing struggling family members deal with financial hardships and bureaucratic roadblocks, Austin asked himself; "If not me, then who," and decided to seek election to public office, hoping to make a positive impact on people's lives through the legislature.
- Local issues matter the most to people as they are what directly affect their lives. Communication with the people is a top priority for Austin in maintaining a strong relationship with the constituents of Michigan’s 50th State House District. Putting the interests of the people before his own or that of a given political party is paramount to accurately representing the people.
- Putting more money back into the pockets of tax payers. Ensuring that tax dollars are not only spent wisely, but are spent on projects and services which directly benefit those paying the taxes is critical to seeing more money in the bank at the end of the month. Austin wants to make sure that tax dollars aren't money that disappears, but rather buys you valuable services and maintenance - an investment rather than what seems like a loss to the average citizen, while also finding ways to reduce taxation overall. Transparency on government regarding taxation is an important element in this endeavor, and Austin is committed to ensuring that the people see the most value from their taxes.
- Supporting the local economy through multiple avenues is important. Investing in local businesses, maintaining and upgrading public infrastructure, and bringing high-paying jobs to the communities within the 50th District will make the people who live here even better off than they were four years ago. Making it easier for residents to get to work or to entertainment venues or nearby cities and towns, be it through better kept roads or more robust public transportation, makes daily life more enjoyable for the vast majority of citizens. The LETS bussing system leaves a lot to be desired, and the Michigan Flyer bus, which makes a stop in Brighton, should include a stop in Fowlerville and Howell as well. This would make travel much simpler.
Education, tranportation, healthcare, and local high-income job opportunities are policies which Austin is personally passionate about. The people of Michigan’s 50th State House District deserve a representative who will actually represent them, and vote in their best interests.
Austin looked up to his Grandfather for his honesty and unending penchant to help others. He was always doing something, to benefit other people. He cared strongly for his beliefs, but also was willing to listen to other's for their point of view and never disregarded or belittled them for their opinions. Honesty and decency are the principles which drove him, and Austin found inspiration from his relationship with his grandfather because of these principles. He considers himself to be a realistic optimist, which he describes as someone who knows that positive changes can happen, but that achieving them is neither simple nor straightforward.
An elected official must consistently make themselves available to their constituents, and communicate openly. When issues arise, elected officials should be readily available to receive public input, and take action to mitigate or resolve those issues as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Elected officials should be perform their duties in a manner which objectively puts their constituents' best interests and wishes ahead of personal or party goals. When representing a large number of citizens, elected officials should be reasonable and realistic in their actions, choosing the best course of action to suit the needs of everyone they represent.
Elected officials should be perform their duties in a manner which objectively puts their constituents' best interests and wishes ahead of personal or party goals. When representing a large number of citizens, elected officials should be reasonable and realistic in their actions, choosing the best course of action to suit the needs of everyone they represent.
Austin has common sense, passion, and a willingness to listen first. To hold office, one should be willing and able to set aside their own personal feelings to represent the people rather than their self. Austin is both open-minded and respectable. He genuinely desires to find solutions which benefit the people at large, and put more money back into the hands of the people at the end of each month.
Listening to the people to be represented is the single most important responsibility for someone who is elected to a representative position in government. Hearing the will of the people and voting in their best interests is the key to accurate representation.
Austin hopes to leave a legacy of honesty and integrity, as well as to be seen as someone who fights for the will of the people instead of political parties or personal gain.
The 2008 financial collapse and the presidential election that year between Barack Obama and John McCain were two historical events which Austin remembers as the first major events to which he paid attention. He was 11 years old at that time.
Austin worked as a mobile dj playing music for the teen center club inside what used to be Great Escape, the local entertainment spot/arcade. He worked there for only one summer, but interacted with individuals of different backgrounds and had to cater to their preferences.
In June of 2015, Austin began working at Jonnas Market in Howell. Despite starting off as a stock associate, he quickly worked his way up to department manager. Working in Howell and Brighton from both locations, as well as assisting Jonnas Bar and Grill since it's open in July of 2017, Austin has been actively serving the community through Jonnas Market for more than eight and a half years.
In June of 2015, Austin began working at Jonnas Market in Howell. Despite starting off as a stock associate, he quickly worked his way up to department manager. Working in Howell and Brighton from both locations, as well as assisting Jonnas Bar and Grill since it's open in July of 2017, Austin has been actively serving the community through Jonnas Market for more than eight and a half years.
Austin enjoys fantasy novels as well as historical fiction. His favorite books include the Eragon Inheritance Cycle, the Percy Jackson novels, and the Artemis Fowl series.
Austin has struggled with vehicles in his life, dealing with cars that get you from point a to point b, and maybe back to point c. He has also had minor accidents from road conditions - nothing new to Michiganders. Finding reliable transportation to and from work, school, and recreation facilities has always been difficult for Austin throughout his life, and he has seen similar struggles from friends and coworkers alike.
The Governor should work with the state legislature to find compromises which benefit all the people of the state equally, and improve the living conditions for all. Common sense policies and investing in the futures of the state's residents is important in continuing the greatness of the state.
In the next 10 years, Michigan will likely deal with issues relating to an influx of new residents, which will increase housing costs.
Switching to electric vehicles will also be an issue for Michigan over the next decade, with electricity costs rising across the board as companies increase their rates due to supply and demand. Getting ahead of this issue to keep utility costs low for Michigan residents is a top priority for Austin.
Switching to electric vehicles will also be an issue for Michigan over the next decade, with electricity costs rising across the board as companies increase their rates due to supply and demand. Getting ahead of this issue to keep utility costs low for Michigan residents is a top priority for Austin.
While beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics, one of the many aspects which makes America great is that anyone from any background can become a representative, which means that representatives can, and should, look like and relate to their constituents.
Understanding the basics of how government is designed to function is also important. Representatives should know the people they represent, and be able to see the world as they do to be able to vote in their favor.
Understanding the basics of how government is designed to function is also important. Representatives should know the people they represent, and be able to see the world as they do to be able to vote in their favor.
It is incredibly important to build strong relationships with other legislators, as working together to find common ground and common sense for bills and other measures to pass is essential. One person in Congress cannot make anything pass, and building positive working relationships with other legislators, from both sides of the aisle, is necessary in bringing about impactful legislation which will ultimately benefit the people.
President Theodore Roosevelt fought for the betterment of the American people during his Presidency in opening years of the 20th century. He believed that the role of government was to serve the people, not to serve the representatives, and that is a notion Austin also espouses.
Austin can see a future in which he could eventually run for other legislative offices. Federal positions interest him as national politics are as fascinating to him as they are important. Austin has, however, adamantly stated that he has no desire to even run for the Presidency of the United States.
A few stories have impacted Austin and his view on the role of government. One such story came from a local veteran living in Howell; the man told Austin of his frustration with the Veteran's Affairs administration and their inability to communicate effectively on a consistent basis. There are more than 10,000 veterans in Livingston County, and if the services and benefits they sacrificed for are being handled and delivered poorly, something has to been done to correct this injustice. The legislature could potentially pass a bill to aid veterans and make the processes for them to see their benefits become much smoother.
Another story came from a local Fowlerville family, dealing with the patriarch of the family suffering from dementia, and the family's inability to find affordable care for his condition. The family took care of the elderly man which included constant phone calls to different administrations and institutions, all of which were frustratingly difficult due to bureaucracy. Finding affordable healthcare that is easily accessible is almost unheard of in the United States, but Michigan is the perfect state to find effective solutions that actually help people and make life easier.
Another story came from a local Fowlerville family, dealing with the patriarch of the family suffering from dementia, and the family's inability to find affordable care for his condition. The family took care of the elderly man which included constant phone calls to different administrations and institutions, all of which were frustratingly difficult due to bureaucracy. Finding affordable healthcare that is easily accessible is almost unheard of in the United States, but Michigan is the perfect state to find effective solutions that actually help people and make life easier.
The executive branch and the legislative branch should have checks and balances, just as the Founding Fathers designed the federal government. Emergency powers are for emergencies, and the legislative branch, as the representative voice of the people, should have a say in what and what does not constitute an emergency situation which requires special emergency powers. The power should not be solely in the hands of one branch to unilaterally make decisions, but there should be a degree to which the executive can take responsibility for the people for which they are responsible.
If elected, Austin would introduce a bill designed to increase funding for students' educations and teacher's pay. The bill would specifically find funding from existing sources and/or the federal government so as to not increase existing taxes or levy new taxes. Education is the foundation of building a strong and free-thinking population, and Michigan should be at the top of the list when ranking the 50 states.
The committees for Education, Health Policy, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation, Tax Policy, and Transportation Mobility and Infrastructure all hold significant interest to Austin Breuer.
The government should be forced to show the people how and where their tax dollars are spent. An informed and educated public is far better equipped to vote for people and policies which will work in their benefit. The government should be as transparent as possible with financial spending, and the people should see the value of their tax dollars reflected back to them in the services they receive and the conditions of the infrastructure on which they depend.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Michigan House of Representatives District 50 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 1, 2024
Current members of the Michigan House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Matt Hall
Minority Leader:Ranjeev Puri
Representatives
District 1
Tyrone Carter (D)
District 2
Tullio Liberati (D)
District 3
Alabas Farhat (D)
District 4
Karen Whitsett (D)
District 5
Regina Weiss (D)
District 6
Natalie Price (D)
District 7
District 8
Helena Scott (D)
District 9
Joseph Tate (D)
District 10
Veronica Paiz (D)
District 11
Donavan McKinney (D)
District 12
Kimberly Edwards (D)
District 13
Mai Xiong (D)
District 14
Mike McFall (D)
District 15
Erin Byrnes (D)
District 16
Stephanie Young (D)
District 17
Laurie Pohutsky (D)
District 18
Jason Hoskins (D)
District 19
District 20
Noah Arbit (D)
District 21
Kelly Breen (D)
District 22
Matt Koleszar (D)
District 23
Jason Morgan (D)
District 24
Ranjeev Puri (D)
District 25
Peter Herzberg (D)
District 26
Dylan Wegela (D)
District 27
Rylee Linting (R)
District 28
Jamie Thompson (R)
District 29
James DeSana (R)
District 30
William Bruck (R)
District 31
Reggie Miller (D)
District 32
Jimmie Wilson (D)
District 33
Morgan Foreman (D)
District 34
District 35
Jennifer Wortz (R)
District 36
Steve Carra (R)
District 37
Brad Paquette (R)
District 38
Joey Andrews (D)
District 39
Pauline Wendzel (R)
District 40
Matt Longjohn (D)
District 41
Julie Rogers (D)
District 42
Matt Hall (R)
District 43
Rachelle Smit (R)
District 44
Steve Frisbie (R)
District 45
Sarah Lightner (R)
District 46
Kathy Schmaltz (R)
District 47
Carrie Rheingans (D)
District 48
Jennifer Conlin (D)
District 49
Ann Bollin (R)
District 50
Jason Woolford (R)
District 51
Matt Maddock (R)
District 52
Mike Harris (R)
District 53
Brenda Carter (D)
District 54
Donni Steele (R)
District 55
Mark Tisdel (R)
District 56
Sharon MacDonell (D)
District 57
Thomas Kuhn (R)
District 58
Ron Robinson (R)
District 59
Douglas Wozniak (R)
District 60
Joseph Aragona (R)
District 61
Denise Mentzer (D)
District 62
District 63
Jay DeBoyer (R)
District 64
Joseph Pavlov (R)
District 65
Jaime Greene (R)
District 66
Josh Schriver (R)
District 67
Phil Green (R)
District 68
David Martin (R)
District 69
Jasper Martus (D)
District 70
Cynthia Neeley (D)
District 71
Brian BeGole (R)
District 72
Mike Mueller (R)
District 73
Julie Brixie (D)
District 74
Kara Hope (D)
District 75
District 76
Angela Witwer (D)
District 77
Emily Dievendorf (D)
District 78
Gina Johnsen (R)
District 79
Angela Rigas (R)
District 80
Phil Skaggs (D)
District 81
Stephen Wooden (D)
District 82
Kristian Grant (D)
District 83
John Fitzgerald (D)
District 84
Carol Glanville (D)
District 85
Bradley Slagh (R)
District 86
Nancy De Boer (R)
District 87
William Snyder (D)
District 88
Greg VanWoerkom (R)
District 89
Luke Meerman (R)
District 90
Bryan Posthumus (R)
District 91
Pat Outman (R)
District 92
Jerry Neyer (R)
District 93
Tim Kelly (R)
District 94
Amos O'Neal (D)
District 95
Bill Schuette (R)
District 96
Timothy Beson (R)
District 97
Matthew Bierlein (R)
District 98
District 99
Mike Hoadley (R)
District 100
Tom Kunse (R)
District 101
Joseph Fox (R)
District 102
Curt VanderWall (R)
District 103
Betsy Coffia (D)
District 104
John Roth (R)
District 105
Ken Borton (R)
District 106
Cameron Cavitt (R)
District 107
Parker Fairbairn (R)
District 108
David Prestin (R)
District 109
Karl Bohnak (R)
District 110
Republican Party (58)
Democratic Party (52)
