David Dudenhoefer

David Dudenhoefer (Republican Party) (also known as Dude) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Michigan's 13th Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Dudenhoefer completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Dudenhoefer has served as district chair for the 13th Congressional District Republian Committee.^[1]

Biography

Dudenhoefer was born in Detroit, Michigan. His professional experience includes working in the Detroit gaming industry. Dudenhoefer has served as the deputy state coordinator for the Michigan Campaign for Liberty and as the chairman for the Michigan 13th District Republican Committee.^[2]

Elections

2020

Michigan's 13th Congressional District election, 2020 (August 4 Republican primary)

Michigan's 13th Congressional District election, 2020 (August 4 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Michigan District 13

The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. House Michigan District 13 on November 3, 2020.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Rashida Tlaib (D)	78.1	223,205
	David Dudenhoefer (R)	18.6	53,311
	Sam Johnson (Working Class Party)	1.8	5,284
	D. Etta Wilcoxon (G)	0.7	2,105
	Articia Bomer (U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan)	0.7	1,974
	Donald Eason (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	6

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 285,885
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 13

Incumbent Rashida Tlaib defeated Brenda Jones in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 13 on August 4, 2020.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Rashida Tlaib	66.3	71,670
	Brenda Jones	33.7	36,492

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 108,162
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Stephen M. Patterson (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 13

David Dudenhoefer defeated Linda Sawyer and Alfred Lemmo in the Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 13 on August 4, 2020.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	David Dudenhoefer	47.6	6,833
	Linda Sawyer	34.5	4,955
	Alfred Lemmo	17.9	2,574

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 14,362
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Articia Bomer (R)

Green convention

Green convention for U.S. House Michigan District 13

D. Etta Wilcoxon advanced from the Green convention for U.S. House Michigan District 13 on June 20, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		D. Etta Wilcoxon (G)

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Working Class Party convention

Working Class Party convention for U.S. House Michigan District 13

Sam Johnson advanced from the Working Class Party convention for U.S. House Michigan District 13 on July 26, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Sam Johnson (Working Class Party)

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2018 regular election

See also: Michigan's 13th Congressional District election, 2018

Jim Casha, David Dudenhoefer, John Conyers III, Royce Kinniebrew, Kimberly Hill Knott, Douglas Gardner, Danetta Simpson, Brenda Jones, and Jonathan Pommerville ran as write-in candidates.

General election

Rashida Tlaib defeated Sam Johnson and D. Etta Wilcoxon in the general election for U.S. House Michigan District 13 on November 6, 2018.

General election for U.S. House Michigan District 13

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Rashida Tlaib (D)	84.2	165,355
	Sam Johnson (Working Class Party)	11.3	22,186
	D. Etta Wilcoxon (G)	4.1	7,980
	Other/Write-in votes	0.4	778

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 196,299
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

John Conyers III (Independent)

Democratic primary

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 13 on August 7, 2018.

Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 13

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Rashida Tlaib	31.2	27,841
	Brenda Jones	30.2	26,941
	Bill Wild	14.1	12,613
	Coleman Young II	12.5	11,172
	Ian Conyers	6.6	5,861
	Shanelle Jackson	5.4	4,853

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 89,281
= 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary

No candidates ran in this election.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

David Dudenhoefer (R)

2018 special election

See also: Michigan's 13th Congressional District special election, 2018

See also: Michigan's 13th Congressional District special election (August 7, 2018 Democratic primary)

See also: Michigan's 13th Congressional District special election (August 7, 2018 Republican primary)

This election was held to replace John Conyers Jr. (D). On December 5, 2017, Conyers announced his resignation from office, effective immediately. The announcement came amid sexual harassment allegations and calls for Conyers' resignation from the Democratic leadership.^[3] The winner completed the rest of the 2017-2018 term to which Conyers was elected.

David Dudenhoefer, Royce Kinniebrew, Clyde Darnell Lynch, Danetta Simpson, and Jonathan Pommerville ran as write-in candidates in the general election. David Dudenhoefer ran as a write-in candidate in the Republican primary, but he did not receive enough votes to advance to the general election.^[4]

General election

Special general election for U.S. House Michigan District 13

Brenda Jones defeated Marc Joseph Sosnowski and D. Etta Wilcoxon in the special general election for U.S. House Michigan District 13 on November 6, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Brenda Jones (D)	86.8	169,330
	Marc Joseph Sosnowski (U.S. Taxpayers Party)	8.9	17,302
	D. Etta Wilcoxon (G)	4.3	8,319
	Other/Write-in votes	0.0	42

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 194,993
= 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Danetta Simpson (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Special Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 13

Brenda Jones defeated Rashida Tlaib, Bill Wild, and Ian Conyers in the special Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 13 on August 7, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Brenda Jones	37.7	32,769
	Rashida Tlaib	35.8	31,121
	Bill Wild	15.2	13,174
	Ian Conyers	11.2	9,749

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 86,813
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Campaign themes

2020

Video for Ballotpedia

Video submitted to Ballotpedia May 28, 2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

David Dudenhoefer completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Dudenhoefer's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Featured local question

Are you open to tax hikes or spending cuts to balance the budget?

I begin from the position that taxation is theft, and then work backward to find the solution. Balance the budget seems like not much more than an election-year talking point anymore. We are each expected to balance our budgets in our households. Can you imagine if we ran our homes that way congress runs its? We would be thrown in jail. First, let's understand that congress works off of a different style of budgeting than most of America. We run off of what is called a "zero-budget"- we start at zero, factor in our income minus expenses, and then budget ourselves. Congress utilizes a bizarre concept known as "base-line budgeting" -- they begin each fiscal year with the amount they spent the last cycle and then increase based on a number of factors. Under that formula, there is never a "balance". I would say more so that just "cutting taxes", we must cut spending which is a hidden tax. Restrict congress to its proper function and let the citizens keep more. If anything the tax structure is upside down---more should go locally, less to the state and the least to the Federal.

Featured local question

Describe your political ideology.

My ideology is just simple common sense. Liberty is rooted in natural law which comes from faith. We should all accept that we are all unique in our own way with differing ideas, hopes, fears, and dreams. We should treat people as individuals both in terms of law and in the economy. We should place the liberty of the individual above the privileges of the social groups we each belong to. I believe in an equal application of the law, not pandering to groups. Live our lives and make our own choices so long as we are not impeding upon our neighbor to do the same and vice-versa. The best delivery of services comes from the private sector, not the government. So many of our problems are a result of past over-reaching government policies--with a philosophically sound government, an honest monetary system, and our liberty preserved there is nothing we cannot achieve.

Featured local question

How should America address its health care issues?

Health care is another election cycle talking point which has been hashed and rehashed since I have been knee-high to a cricket. It seems every generation is discussing the topic.

Health care has become more of a Wall Street experience than a doctor/patient relationship. We tried 40 years of government involvement and no one is happy, no the doctors or patients. So we are at a crossroads of more socialized medicine or a more free-approach. First, let's talk about the personal responsibility of our own bodies. Our diets, food choices, farming practices, and the amount of "boxed food" we consume-- Is it any wonder we are unhealthy collectively as a nation. Slowing life down a bit to enjoy family time at the dinner table over wholesome food would go a long way to solving some of our health issues which would lessen the burden on our health care system.
Next, I would look at more result-based systems that have been implemented in pockets, as opposed to "enrollment-based" systems. More innovative-tech platforms, collaborative systems between services that focus on the end result as opposed to endless and repetitive testing which drains the system and produces little results.

A family of four for example could enter into coverage which just covers major medical as opposed to the financially abusive coverage of everything under the sun--the whole concept of medical insurance has been destroyed through greed. Getting government out of the insurance business would help reduce costs, more competition, and a clearer menu of coverage would help. Health savings accounts, more freedom of choice with doctors, adoption of wholistic approaches,

Additionally, easier entryway into medicine including allowing nurses to do the things doctors must do by law. Nurses are oftentimes more in tune with patient care since they spend more time with patients. We could cut 3-4 hundred billion is wasteful overseas spending and redirect those funds to tide people over who have become dependent on government-delivery of service while we encourage future generations to move into more free-market based systems.

Featured local question

How would you foster a more bipartisan, cooperative atmosphere in Congress?

I would approach it the same way I have as a legislative activist. Tone down the partisan rhetoric, present facts, present options, listen more, and talk less. Not everything is black and white, your way, my way or the highway. When we are wise we can find common ground between progressives and libertarians, liberals, and conservatives. The key is to understand and re-embrace the proper role of government. An equal application of the law through the defense of individual liberty and profess personal responsibility. It sounds very foundational, but we have to get back to a strong footing if we are to build anything meaningful.

Featured local question

The federal government took on huge deficit spending to address the COVID-19 crisis. How should we cover that deficit?

First, I would fight for a roll-call vote so that citizens may see how their legislator voted and hold them to account. That said, we will, unfortunately, have to take a bite of a very rotten sandwich in the months to come as the reality of the level of debt our legislators irresponsibly laid on all of our backs. The type of partisan wish-list spending was shameful. So, we can either find areas to cut and redirect towards paying down the new debt such as to cut the hundreds of billions in military spending (not to be confused with defense spending) and reduce our presence in some 900 bases (named and unnamed outposts) in over 130 countries, or we will be forced to cut domestically and of course increase taxes like we have never seen before---the level of fiscal pain we will all feel as a result of $4-6 trillion in 4 packages during a 2-3 month period is unthinkable.

Legislators must live within their means just as taxpayers are expected to. We have to cut out wasteful partisan pet-project spending.

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.

Note: Dudenhoefer submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on June 15, 2020.

May 28 submission

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

A lifelong resident of Wayne County, David Dudenhoefer spent his early childhood in Westland, and graduated from Franklin High School in Livonia. As an adult, David moved to Detroit and has been living in the city for over twenty-five years.

David and his newly-wed wife, Jacqueline, live in the Boston-Edison historic district and work in the city of Detroit. They are expecting their first child in November. They aslo enjoy what the new and old Detroit has to offer from live music to local restaurants, urban gardening, Eastern Market, Belle Isle, and all the yearly festivals. They also enjoy exploring Michigan's Great Lakes, state parks, and hiking trails.

Aside from his 20 years of experience in the private sector, David has worked tirelessly as a political activist advocating for individual liberty through multiple organizations, training citizens on effective activism skills. David has served as district chair for the 13th Congressional District Republican Committee since 2013.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

The higest power is with the people whose rights are inalienable, and as legislators we are obligated to the defend the liberty of the individual first.
I put my trust in the people over too most in government who have repeated demonstrated ineptitude, and untrustworthiness.
My goal is allow more freedom for people to make choices for themselves and to empower them to hold politicians to account.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Since the defense of liberty is of utmost importance, today's overreaction to a health scare by our government at all levels has unmasked the deeply flawed philosophy of government control over the people and the economy. Wielding power over people, even if for a "noble issue" just angers and divides people while creating a host of new problems.

The pandemic has also exposed a horrifically substandard system of care in our nursing facilities, where the most vulnerable, according to the government itself have been left to needless human decay and death. Overregulation, coupled with shortsighted guidelines has led to a snowball effect of poor care, and conditions within many facilities.

We must adopt a non-interventionist foreign policy--so many conflicts and money would have been saved if not for our deeply flawed policy of policeman of the world. We must think of Americans first, and respect our military and their families. Wars should be fought Constitutionally, while diplomacy should be embraced first.

Government abuses begin with its ability to spend, therefore the most insidious tax--The Inflation Tax, a hidden tax, must be irradicated. This is a tax on labor, production, and savings as the government continues to create money from thin air. Just about every issue we face could be thought of as a symptom while the nature of how our money comes into being has become the cancer. eliminate the cancer and the symptoms are reduced. Courage is needed.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

No one is above our creator--God's grace and wisdom is unmatched. Loving parenting is a selfless life to choose and therefore my own parents are people I think of for this question. Others are those who stand in defiance of tyranny, sometimes alone. People who place principle above notoriety, who risk ridicule for their beliefs that are rooted in faith.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The Law by Bastiat. Money: The Greatest Hoax on Earth by Merrill M.E. Jenkins Sr., "Braveheart"

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

A good listener--someone who is attentive to the needs of others. Integrity---when you place your hand on the bible and raise your other to swear to defend the Constitution, do it without exception. Build trust with the people you serve. Humility, faith, and a sense of humor all come to mind.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

More than 13 years as a legislative activist--My role required self-education on the bill process, House rules, and navigating through the internal process of politics. My experience is on the outside learning about the nature of politics on the inside. This gives me a unique perspective on not only what to expect by how to overcome the challenges without compromising my principles.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To defend the Constitution and the liberty of every individual. To apply the law equally to each individual. From that foundation a roadmap to problems solving becomes more clear.

What legacy would you like to leave?

That I could play a small role in restoring faith in the institution of government and to lay the groundwork for altering the thinking of its proper role.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Complete Guide to Alternative Medicine. What I enjoy is applying the ideas to helping others to fully heal from the smallest daily issues, to greater pains. It is rewarding to help and I began the political beginnings to the lessons of natural healing.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Captain Kirk---bold leadership and likeable wit, took calculated risks, and explored new worlds, while evolving new ideas.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Midnight Rider

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Patience---to recognize that not everyone is on the same page as I am in terms of beliefs and ideas.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

It is the peoples house and therefore most closely tied to the We the People. Additionally, it is a deliberative body or at least that was the intent. Ideas can be created and discussed among individuals of so many backgrounds and talents. Because there are so many in this chamber, the nature of the House lends itself to so many possibilities of collaboration and problem solving if we would just lay down party lines in favor of preserving the liberty of the people we represent while solving problems as best we can.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

It depends on their motives. If learning the system and advancement in politics is the goal, then yes. If however, the goals are to defend the Constitution and the liberty of the individuals they represent, then no.

The people's House requires thinkers from all backgrounds who have the people at heart and not personal gain or notoriety.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Restoring faith and confidence in our government. Too many public servants have abused the trust of the people. We require men and women of faith in natural law to trust that the people can sort out their own issues without the strong arm of government dictating to them like helpless children. I do not pretend to have all the answers, but I am rooted in an enduring idea about the greatest set-up for people to thrive lays within our borders---and as long as the government continues to attempt to control people through excessive laws and taxation we will continue to erode as the United States, and as a free people.

Foreign policy, abandoning our deeply flawed interventionist foundation and to stop these needless regime change wars of aggression or to police the world must be embraced. Collaboration and trust must be built among nations beginning with our own.

Financial challenges have led to a needless breakdown in parts of our society---this correction begins with a strong foundation of sound monetary policy that can support a healthy organic economy where the people are in control over bureaucracies.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Financial Services Committee, Foreign affairs, Infrastructure, Veteran Affairs. I will not, however, pay to sit on those committees as so many legislators in DC do.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

YES.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

In theory, it sounds good, but the problem is in the culture of corruption itself, and to reembrace the message of liberty. There is no magic pill to good government, it must start with the people then become reflected in the people that serve them.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Dr. Ron Paul. A man of courage and principle, who could not be bought or bullied. Thomas Massie, one of our best thinkers in DC today whose ideas transcend party lines while highlighting a concept missing in DC--common sense.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

From our nurses, who felt helpless at first navigating through government bureaucracy but leaned on one another to combat the issues they dealt with in order to complete their tasks while comforting some of our most vulnerable people. What I took from their many stories was to reinforce the idea that the best government is the one which governs least.

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.

Note: Dudenhoefer submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on May 28, 2020.

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Footnotes

↑ Michigan GOP, "District Chairs," accessed December 12, 2019
↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 28, 2020
↑ Chicago Tribune, "U.S. Rep. John Conyers announces retirement from Congress," December 5, 2017
↑ Michigan Secretary of State, "2018 Michigan Results: Primary, Official," accessed July 29, 2020

[show]

Michigan's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Gary Peters (D)

Elissa Slotkin (D)

Representatives

District 1

Jack Bergman (R)

District 2

John Moolenaar (R)

District 3

Hillary Scholten (D)

District 4

Bill Huizenga (R)

District 5

Tim Walberg (R)

District 6

Debbie Dingell (D)

District 7

Tom Barrett (R)

District 8

Kristen Rivet (D)

District 9

Lisa McClain (R)

District 10

John James (R)

District 11

Haley Stevens (D)

District 12

Rashida Tlaib (D)

District 13

Shri Thanedar (D)

Democratic Party (8)

Republican Party (7)

[1] Michigan GOP, "District Chairs," accessed December 12, 2019

[bio-2] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 28, 2020

[3] Chicago Tribune, "U.S. Rep. John Conyers announces retirement from Congress," December 5, 2017

[4] Michigan Secretary of State, "2018 Michigan Results: Primary, Official," accessed July 29, 2020

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[2]

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David Dudenhoefer

Biography

Elections

2020

General election

General election for U.S. House Michigan District 13

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 13

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 13

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Green convention

Green convention for U.S. House Michigan District 13

Working Class Party convention

Working Class Party convention for U.S. House Michigan District 13

2018 regular election

General election

General election

General election for U.S. House Michigan District 13

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 13

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary

Republican primary election

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2018 special election

General election

Special general election for U.S. House Michigan District 13

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Special Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 13

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Campaign themes

2020

Video for Ballotpedia

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also

External links

Footnotes

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