Michigan's 2nd Congressional District election, 2024

2026 → ← 2022
Michigan's 2nd Congressional District
Democratic primary Republican primary General election
Election details
Filing deadline: April 23, 2024
Primary: August 6, 2024 General: November 5, 2024
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voting in Michigan
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican DDHQ and The Hill: Safe Republican Inside Elections: Solid Republican Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2024
See also
Michigan's 2nd Congressional District U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th • 12th • 13th Michigan elections, 2024 U.S. Congress elections, 2024 U.S. Senate elections, 2024 U.S. House elections, 2024 Alabama U.S. House racesAlaska U.S. House racesArizona U.S. House racesArkansas U.S. House racesCalifornia U.S. House racesColorado U.S. House racesConnecticut U.S. House racesDelaware U.S. House racesFlorida U.S. House racesGeorgia U.S. House racesHawaii U.S. House racesIdaho U.S. House racesIllinois U.S. House racesIndiana U.S. House racesIowa U.S. House racesKansas U.S. House racesKentucky U.S. House racesLouisiana U.S. House racesMaine U.S. House racesMaryland U.S. House racesMassachusetts U.S. House racesMichigan U.S. House racesMinnesota U.S. House racesMississippi U.S. House racesMissouri U.S. House racesMontana U.S. House racesNebraska U.S. House racesNevada U.S. House racesNew Hampshire U.S. House racesNew Jersey U.S. House racesNew Mexico U.S. House racesNew York U.S. House racesNorth Carolina U.S. House racesNorth Dakota U.S. House racesOhio U.S. House racesOklahoma U.S. House racesOregon U.S. House racesPennsylvania U.S. House racesRhode Island U.S. House racesSouth Carolina U.S. House racesSouth Dakota U.S. House racesTennessee U.S. House racesTexas U.S. House racesUtah U.S. House racesVermont U.S. House racesVirginia U.S. House racesWashington U.S. House racesWest Virginia U.S. House racesWisconsin U.S. House racesWyoming U.S. House racesSubmit

All U.S. House districts, including the 2nd Congressional District of Michigan, held elections in 2024. The general election was November 5, 2024. The primary was August 6, 2024. The filing deadline was April 23, 2024. The outcome of this race affected the partisan balance of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 119th Congress. All 435 House districts were up for election.

At the time of the election, Republicans held a 220-212 majority with three vacancies. As a result of the election, Republicans retained control of the U.S. House, winning 220 seats to Democrats' 215. To read more about the 2024 U.S. House elections, click here.

In the 2022 election in this district, the Republican candidate won 63.7%-34.4%. Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Donald Trump (R) would have defeated Joe Biden (D) 63.2%-35.0%.

For more information about the primaries in this election, click on the links below:

• Michigan's 2nd Congressional District election, 2024 (August 6 Democratic primary)
• Michigan's 2nd Congressional District election, 2024 (August 6 Republican primary)

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for U.S. House Michigan District 2

Incumbent John Moolenaar defeated Michael Lynch, Ben DeJong, and Scott Adams in the general election for U.S. House Michigan District 2 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Moolenaar (R)	65.1	279,167
		Michael Lynch (D)	31.7	135,824
		Ben DeJong (L)	1.6	7,037
		Scott Adams (U.S. Taxpayers Party)	1.5	6,522

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 428,550
= 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.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 2

Michael Lynch advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 2 on August 6, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michael Lynch	100.0	39,503

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 39,503
= 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.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 2

Incumbent John Moolenaar advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 2 on August 6, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Moolenaar	100.0	94,937

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 94,937
= 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.

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for U.S. House Michigan District 2

Ben DeJong advanced from the Libertarian convention for U.S. House Michigan District 2 on July 20, 2024.

		Candidate
✔		Ben DeJong (L)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= 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.

U.S. Taxpayers Party convention

U.S. Taxpayers Party convention for U.S. House Michigan District 2

Scott Adams advanced from the U.S. Taxpayers Party convention for U.S. House Michigan District 2 on July 27, 2024.

		Candidate
✔		Scott Adams (U.S. Taxpayers Party)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= 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.

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Michael Lynch

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "I live in Alma in Gratiot County. I am the proud father of one daughter who is a medical professional. I spent my childhood living in various parts of the United States with my father, a decorated Air Force officer, and mother, a Marine. I am a manager with the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan. I earned several teaching awards for my work as a lecturer and adjunct professor at universities including Louisiana State University, Indiana University, DePaul University, West Virginia University and Georgetown University. I am an Eagle Boy Scout and I currently volunteer with the local council. My political experience includes campaigning for Jimmy Carter, Michael Dukakis, Al Gore, and Bill Clinton. I am a lifelong advocate for working- and middle-class families. I support labor/unions, the right to choose, responsible gun ownership, and access to affordable quality health care."

---

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

---

Families are the most important political unit and the foundation of our great nation. Families need access to reliable healthcare. I support increased funding, including scholarships and support for medical students willing to work in rural areas, to improve the availability and quality of healthcare in rural Michigan. Families need access to quality public education. Rural public schools are often at the center of the community. I believe that our public schools should remain at the core of our communities. Families need affordable housing. The lack of affordable housing can stifle economic growth in rural areas. Affordable housing is essential to maintaining and growing rural economies.

---

Climate change, evolving international markets, and corporate consolidation have created an economic crisis for agriculture, particularly for family farms. Four firms control 85% of beef production, 66% of pork, and 54% of chicken. Anti-trust laws must be enforced to improve competition in agricultural markets. Increased competition will boost the prices paid to farmers and ranchers and reduce prices at the grocery store. Our watersheds must be preserved for recreation and for the economic engines that they are. Clean and renewable energy projects, such as solar and wind farms, will help by creating jobs and boosting tax revenues. Reliable and affordable broadband internet is essential for at-home workers, students, and farmers

---

Transparency at all levels of government should be the rule. Half-truths, rumors, and misinformation from our elected officials should not be circulated or tolerated. Our government should not be swayed by moneyed interests. Now is the time for the return of the Statesman and Stateswoman. Our elected officials should not expect their constituents to be bullied by fear. Elections and those who facilitate them are under attack. Anyone who claims that our elections are falsified or who would join legislators in trying to overturn a fair election does not have the best interest of our country in mind and is unfit to represent the people of Michigan. I support regulations and laws to make voting as easy as possible, so everyone has a voice.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Michigan District 2 in 2024.

Voting information

See also: Voting in Michigan

Election information in Michigan: Nov. 5, 2024, election.

What was the voter registration deadline?

• In-person: Nov. 5, 2024
• By mail: Postmarked by Oct. 21, 2024
• Online: Oct. 21, 2024

Was absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

Yes

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

• In-person: Nov. 4, 2024
• By mail: Received by Nov. 1, 2024
• Online: Nov. 1, 2024

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

• In-person: Nov. 5, 2024
• By mail: Received by Nov. 5, 2024

Was early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What were the early voting start and end dates?

Oct. 26, 2024 to Nov. 3, 2024

Were all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, was a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When were polls open on Election Day?

7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (EST/CST)

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

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.

Expand all | Collapse all

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?

Michael Lynch (D)

Families are the most important political unit and the foundation of our great nation. Families need access to reliable healthcare. I support increased funding, including scholarships and support for medical students willing to work in rural areas, to improve the availability and quality of healthcare in rural Michigan. Families need access to quality public education. Rural public schools are often at the center of the community. I believe that our public schools should remain at the core of our communities. Families need affordable housing. The lack of affordable housing can stifle economic growth in rural areas. Affordable housing is essential to maintaining and growing rural economies.

Climate change, evolving international markets, and corporate consolidation have created an economic crisis for agriculture, particularly for family farms. Four firms control 85% of beef production, 66% of pork, and 54% of chicken. Anti-trust laws must be enforced to improve competition in agricultural markets. Increased competition will boost the prices paid to farmers and ranchers and reduce prices at the grocery store. Our watersheds must be preserved for recreation and for the economic engines that they are. Clean and renewable energy projects, such as solar and wind farms, will help by creating jobs and boosting tax revenues. Reliable and affordable broadband internet is essential for at-home workers, students, and farmers

Transparency at all levels of government should be the rule. Half-truths, rumors, and misinformation from our elected officials should not be circulated or tolerated. Our government should not be swayed by moneyed interests. Now is the time for the return of the Statesman and Stateswoman. Our elected officials should not expect their constituents to be bullied by fear. Elections and those who facilitate them are under attack. Anyone who claims that our elections are falsified or who would join legislators in trying to overturn a fair election does not have the best interest of our country in mind and is unfit to represent the people of Michigan. I support regulations and laws to make voting as easy as possible, so everyone has a voice.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Michael Lynch (D)

My grandfather challenged me to leave the world a better place than I found it. Wealth inequality and corporate greed are eating at the foundation of our economy. The concentration of wealth will eventually bring our economy to a standstill as the movement of money through the economy slows. As FDR stated, "The best customer is a well-paid worker." A fulltime employee should not have to rely on public assistance to make ends meet. We must care for our veterans as well as active-duty military. A sailor should not have to sleep in his or her car because of conditions of a ship in harbor. Members of the military and their dependents should have access to all forms of health care regardless of where they are stationed.

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

Michael Lynch (D)

Although my father served our country well during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, the person I most look up to is my mother's father. He came from Ireland to try to make a better life for himself and, ultimately, his family. He faced a fair amount of discrimination when he arrived in the U.S. He took a job with People's Gas in Chicago, and he joined the union. He worked his way up to the position of Vice President of the Gas Workers Union. Eventually he worked in management for People's Gas. I admire him because he was dedicated to helping people. He took the responsibility of assisting immigrants find jobs once they arrived in the United States. He came to the U.S. with virtually nothing but was able to raise a family of three military veterans all of whom eventually became business executives, including my Marine mother.

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

Michael Lynch (D)

I love the movie Dave, with Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver. Elected officials should never lose touch with the people that they serve. They should also not have a lust for power. Power should be left in the hands of the people. I also enjoyed Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. I respected the main character's naivety and dedication to service. He is met with challenges that try to stand in his way, but he fights for what he believes is right and never loses touch with the people he went to Washington to serve. This might categorize me as an idealist, but if one does not have ideals, one can easily lose one's moral compass. I recently re-read Wealth of Nations written in 1776 by Adam Smith. Much of my economic philosophies have their roots in Smith's writings. I am a Robert Reich economist. Like Reich, I believe that the economy needs to be built from the bottom up, instead of the top down. Trickle-down economics does not work because its principles are against human nature. The best way to build a robust economy is to have a solid middle class.

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

Michael Lynch (D)

An elected official must be dedicated to serving his or her constituency. Service does not have anything to do with power, fame, self advancement, or growing personal wealth. An elected official must have the highest level of integrity, moral standards, and ethics. An elected official should have knowledge of all aspects of his or her constituency, including their needs and aspirations. Beyond one’s constituency, an elected official should remain abreast of national and international issues. I currently scan at least six different newspapers every day to help me to understand the needs of a diverse citizenry. An elected official should be a student of history so he or she can understand the foundations on which our great nation was built and to keep from repeating mistakes of the past. An elected official should be available to communicate with his or her constituency. An elected official must be able to effectively communicate his or her ideas and must be willing to negotiate and compromise. One should not be afraid to work with any other elected official in order to solve urgent problems. In Congress, one should treat taxpayer funds like one would treat one’s own funds. The concerns of all constituents should be considered. An effective elected official cannot be beholden only to his or her donors or party. An elected official needs to be an independent thinker. If parties dictate the votes of their members, government stops being representative. An elected official should be detail oriented. No one can know everything, and elected officials must be humble and willing and able to learn the ins-and-outs of a policy or bill. An elected official should not be afraid to take an unpopular stance if that stance is for the best of his or her constituents. An elected official must be pragmatic and consider the unintended consequences of any action.

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

Michael Lynch (D)

I have the courage to stand up for my convictions and call out bullies and those who are not honest and transparent. I have the ability to communicate my ideas effectively and to build consensus. I have a thirst for knowledge. My favorite question is “Why?” To quote Robert F. Kennedy, "Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not." I have the judgment and integrity to know what is right coupled with a willingness to defend it. I am willing to compromise. I cannot know everything, and I am willing to respect the opinions of others, even if I do not agree with them. I am not stuck in the past. I do not reminisce about an imaginary past time when things were better. I look to the future always mindful that this is not our nation or our world, we are simply borrowing it from our children and grandchildren.

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

Michael Lynch (D)

Elected officials need to represent all of the people of their district. They create, debate, and vote on laws and amendments. Elected officials ensure the health, welfare and safety of their constituents. They influence the policymaking process by proposing budgets, overseeing studies, and making recommendations. Elected officials protect the government against foreign and domestic threats. Elected officials protect the political and social rights of citizens.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Michael Lynch (D)

My grandfather challenged me to leave the world a better place than I found it. Over the past 25 years, I have worked full time and have also been an adjunct professor at various universities. I know that what I have taught will resonate with generations to follow. I have helped many students to find their own paths. I remain a mentor to many of them to this day. I want to know that I have strived to make the lives of other people better.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Michael Lynch (D)

I vividly remember the John F. Kennedy assassination. I was four years old. My father was in the Air Force and we lived on base. Our living room quickly filled with the wives of Air Force officers who were worried that their husbands would soon be going to war against the Russians or the Cubans. Two days later when I was looking for cartoons on the television, I saw Lee Harvey Oswald being shot.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Michael Lynch (D)

Like many my age, my first job was mowing my neighbors' lawns and shoveling snow from their sidewalks. I did that from age nine to about age eleven. When my family moved, I made extra money picking oranges and detasseling corn. At fourteen, I worked as a Boy Scout summer camp counselor for two years. During the school year while I was in high school, I washed dishes at a local coffee shop. Later on, I worked briefly with a horse trainer cleaning stalls and taking care of the animals. At age seventeen, I took a job working in the kitchens at Walt Disney World. I held that job for two years.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Michael Lynch (D)

This will almost seem cliche, but I would have to say the Bible. I was raised in a religious family, and we attended services every Sunday. Although I listened closely to the sermons, the readings stuck with me. I led a Bible study group for a couple of years. The Bible offers me inspiration and helps me to keep my moral compass.

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

Michael Lynch (D)

I have been told that I am a little bit like Wile E. Coyote. I do not think that this is because I do stupid things. I think that the comparison comes because I am tenacious. Once I have a goal in mind, I will keep working on it until I achieve it. I do not let a lot of things stand in my way.

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

Michael Lynch (D)

I heard the song "American Pie" by Don McLean a week ago. It has been my favorite song for a long time, and I cannot seem to get it out of my head. I am not complaining. I love that song.

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

Michael Lynch (D)

I hate to see injustice and I become frustrated that I cannot change some things. I am reminded of the story of a beachcomber who was throwing starfish back into the sea. He realized that he could not save all of the starfish, but he could save many. I have to keep in mind that with diligence and hard work, I might be able to make a difference.

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

Michael Lynch (D)

The U.S. House of Representatives is responsible for appropriations and oversight. The U.S. House of Representatives takes into account the needs of smaller, unique constituencies. While a Senator might represent the entire state, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives represents a constituency whose needs might differ from other parts of an individual state or other parts of the country.

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

Michael Lynch (D)

A representative should have an intimate knowledge of the workings of government. Previous experience, while valuable, can lead to the repeating of bad habits and a lack of willingness to adapt with changing conditions.

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

Michael Lynch (D)

We need to accept that representative democracy is the best system of government for the United States. This notion seems to be at risk. We need to come together as a nation with common goals. We need to reduce the influence of special interest groups and corporations in politics. We need to create programs to encourage entrepreneurship. Small business is where we will find growth and innovation in the future. We need to make sure that all citizens have reliable, affordable access to all forms of healthcare. We need to create programs that will bring healthcare workers to rural areas. We need to create programs to support families. This includes building affordable housing and offering reliable, affordable childcare. The actions of those who acquire affordable housing for the purpose of creating rental properties should be closely scrutinized. At one time electricity did not come to all households. Today, access to affordable broadband is just as important as offering electricity once was. Broadband access will create opportunities for students, work-at-home individuals, small business owners, and farmers.

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

Michael Lynch (D)

A two-year term makes representatives more accountable to their constituencies. As I understand it, the original intent was to give early representatives a chance to return to their farms, businesses, and lives after serving a shorter term than senators. The problem has become that representatives tend to run for multiple consecutive terms and are therefore almost always campaigning. I would say that I favor accountability to one's constituency over the inconvenience of feeling like one is constantly campaigning.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Michael Lynch (D)

I have mixed feelings in this area. I see the value in having experienced legislators, but I also see the damage that career politicians can cause. Even in the case of term limits, the replacement often ends up being the puppet of the previous holder of the position. Removing money from the electoral process and making sure that the voting public is properly informed can go a long way to assuring that the best person is chosen to represent his or her constituency.

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

Michael Lynch (D)

I have a great of respect for anyone who stands up for what is right. That is why I have a deep respect for John Lewis. I also would like to model myself after Thomas "Tip" O'Neill, Everett Dirksen and Paul Simon of Illinois, and Sam Rayburn of Texas. I respect statesman more than politicians. I respect representatives who are willing to fight for the people and what they consider to be right. I hope to work closely with Maxwell Frost and Jared Moskowitz of Florida, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Jan Schakowsky, and Brad Schneider of Illinois, Jamie Raskin of Maryland, and Hillary Scholten and Debbie Dingell of Michigan.

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?

Michael Lynch (D)

A pastor allowed me to address her congregation. After the service, I stood outside greeting people as they exited. A girl who was acting shy looked up at me but did not speak. I asked her name. Her mother told me that she was Jessie, but the girl insisted that her name was Jessica. Jessica told me how disappointed she was that she was not allowed to go into the river near a park that her family enjoyed. I had mentioned during my speech at the church that one of my priorities was to clean up and maintain the rivers and watersheds around our district. She held out a quarter. She told me that her mother had given it to her to put in the collection plate, but her mother said that it would be okay if she gave it to me instead. She said that she wanted to help me to get the rivers cleaned up. That quarter will go in a jar on my desk while I serve in Congress as a constant reminder of who I am there to serve.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Michael Lynch (D)

I love comedy, so identifying a favorite joke is nearly impossible. At the core of good comedy is truth. The funniest joke I think I ever heard told had to do with context.

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses are out on the golf course. Moses hits his ball into a pond. Abraham tells Moses that he will have to take a penalty stroke. Moses says that Arnold Palmer would hit the ball where it lies. Moses walks up to the pond, raises his golf club, parts the water, and takes his next stroke. The foursome nearby yells, "Who does that guy think he is, Moses?" Abraham yells back, "No, he thinks he's Arnold Palmer."

The context is that I was volunteering at the Bay Hill Classic in Orlando and Arnold Palmer was standing right there.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Michael Lynch (D)

Compromise is essential to moving the country forward. An elected official who always votes in lockstep with his or her party is redundant and unnecessary. I already have many acquaintances on both sides of the aisle. This past congress has been one of the most unproductive in history. Compromise and understanding will lead to progress for our country. Noone is 100% right, 100% of the time. To be effective one must listen effectively and be willing to understand another person's opinion. This does not mean that one must agree, but one should be willing to understand another's point of view.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

Michael Lynch (D)

This reminds us whose money we are spending and that we should be vigilant about our responsibilities to our constituents. Although bringing federal funds back to our districts is important, the common good must be kept in mind.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

Michael Lynch (D)

The U.S. House should investigate those that are hurting our country and our constituents. The U.S. House should hold corporations and government agencies accountable for their actions. The U.S. House needs to investigate anything that unfairly discriminates against any group of Americans or anything that stands in the way of offering equal opportunities to all. Investigations should not be vengeful or have political motivations. Many House investigations appear to be brought out of revenge or a lust for power. That is not the purpose of U.S. House investigations.

What committees interest you?

Michael Lynch (D)

I am most interested in the Agriculture, Armed Services, Education and the Workforce, Oversight and Accountability, and Appropriations. Membership in these committees will be of the most service to my congressional district.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Michael Lynch (D)

Financial transparency and government accountability are related because transparency helps citizens to hold governments accountable. The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act requires that federal financial assistance be displayed giving the public access to information on how their tax dollars are spent. Historically, taxpayer's funds too often have been misspent, and legislators need to be held accountable for their actions.

Campaign finance

Name	Party	Receipts*	Disbursements**	Cash on hand	Date
John Moolenaar	Republican Party	$2,135,245	$1,359,471	$1,281,944	As of December 31, 2024
Michael Lynch	Democratic Party	$19,849	$18,406	$4,329	As of December 31, 2024
Ben DeJong	Libertarian Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Scott Adams	U.S. Taxpayers Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2024. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). * According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." ** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election. *** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

General election race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

• Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
• Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
• Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.
• Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.

Race ratings: Michigan's 2nd Congressional District election, 2024
Race tracker	Race ratings
	November 5, 2024	October 29, 2024	October 22, 2024	October 15, 2024
The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican
Decision Desk HQ and The Hill	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican
Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week.

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Michigan in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Michigan, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2024
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Michigan	U.S. House	Democratic or Republican	1,000-2,000	N/A	4/23/2024	Source
Michigan	U.S. House	Unaffiliated	3,000-6,000	N/A	7/18/2024	Source

District analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about voter composition, past elections, and demographics in both the district and the state.

• District map - A map of the district in place for the election.
• Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2024 U.S. House elections in the state.
• Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
• State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.

• District map
• Competitiveness
• Presidential elections
• State party control

Below was the map in use at the time of the election. Click the map below to enlarge it.

See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2024

This section contains data on U.S. House primary election competitiveness in Michigan.

Michigan U.S. Senate competitiveness, 2014-2024
Office	Districts/ offices	Seats	Open seats	Candidates	Possible primaries	Contested Democratic primaries	Contested Republican primaries	% of contested primaries	Incumbents in contested primaries	% of incumbents in contested primaries
2024	1	1	1	6	2	1	1	100.0%	0	N/A
2020	1	1	0	2	2	0	0	0.0%	0	N/A
2018	1	1	0	3	2	0	1	50.0%	0	N/A
2014	1	1	1	2	2	0	0	0.0%	0	N/A

U.S. House

Michigan U.S. House competitiveness, 2014-2024
Office	Districts/ offices	Seats	Open seats	Candidates	Possible primaries	Contested Democratic primaries	Contested Republican primaries	% of contested primaries	Incumbents in contested primaries	% of incumbents in contested primaries
2024	13	13	2	43	26	6	6	46.2%	5	45.5%
2022	13	13	2	53	26	4	9	50.0%	7	58.3%
2020	14	14	1	55	28	7	8	53.6%	4	33.3%
2018	14	14	2	51	28	9	1	35.7%	1	9.1%
2016	14	14	2	38	28	3	3	21.4%	3	25.0%
2014	14	14	4	48	28	5	8	46.4%	6	60.0%

Post-filing deadline analysis

The following analysis covers all U.S. House districts up for election in Michigan in 2024. Information below was calculated on June 5, 2024, and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time.

Forty-three candidates ran for Michigan’s 13 U.S. House districts, including 23 Democrats and 20 Republicans. That’s an average of 3.3 candidates per district.

The 43 candidates who ran in Michigan in 2024 was the fewest number of candidates since 2016, when 38 candidates ran.

The 7th and 8th Congressional Districts were open in 2024. Between 2014 and 2022, an average of 2.2 districts were open per year.

Incumbent Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-07) did not run for re-election because she ran for the U.S. Senate. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-08) retired from public office.

Six candidates—three Democrats and three Republicans—ran for the open 8th Congressional District, the most candidates who ran for a seat in Michigan in 2024.

Twelve primaries—six Democratic and six Republican—were contested in 2024. Between 2014 and 2022, an average of 11.4 primaries were contested per year.

Five incumbents—three Democrats and two Republicans—were in contested primaries in 2024. Between 2014 and 2022, an average of 4.2 incumbents ran in contested primaries.

Candidates filed to run in the Republican and Democratic primaries in all 13 districts, meaning no seats were guaranteed to either party.

Partisan Voter Index

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Heading into the 2024 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+16. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 16 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Michigan's 2nd the 67th most Republican district nationally.

2020 presidential election results

The table below shows what the vote in the 2020 presidential election would have been in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by Daily Kos.

2020 presidential results in Michigan's 2nd based on 2024 district lines
Joe Biden	Donald Trump
35.0%	63.2%

Inside Elections Baselines

See also: Inside Elections

Inside Elections' Baseline is a figure that analyzes all federal and statewide election results from the district over the past four election cycles. The results are combined in an index estimating the strength of a typical Democratic or Republican candidate in the congressional district. The table below displays the Baseline data for this district.

Inside Elections Baseline for 2024
Democratic Baseline	Republican Baseline	Difference
37.8	58.7	R+20.9

Presidential voting history

See also: Presidential election in Michigan, 2020

Michigan presidential election results (1900-2020)

• 13 Democratic wins
• 17 Republican wins
• 1 other win

Year	1900	1904	1908	1912	1916	1920	1924	1928	1932	1936	1940	1944	1948	1952	1956	1960	1964	1968	1972	1976	1980	1984	1988	1992	1996	2000	2004	2008	2012	2016	2020
Winning Party	R	R	R	P	R	R	R	R	D	D	R	D	R	R	R	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	D

See also: Party control of Michigan state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of Michigan's congressional delegation as of May 2024.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Michigan
Party	U.S. Senate	U.S. House	Total
Democratic	2	6	8
Republican	0	7	7
Independent	0	0	0
Vacancies	0	0	0
Total	2	13	15

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in Michigan's top four state executive offices as of May 2024.

State executive officials in Michigan, May 2024
Office	Officeholder
Governor	Gretchen Whitmer
Lieutenant Governor	Garlin Gilchrist II
Secretary of State	Jocelyn Benson
Attorney General	Dana Nessel

State legislature

Michigan State Senate

Party		As of February 2024
	Democratic Party	20
	Republican Party	18
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		38

Michigan House of Representatives

Party		As of February 2024
	Democratic Party	54
	Republican Party	54
	Other	0
	Vacancies	2
Total		110

Trifecta control

The table below shows the state's trifecta status from 1992 until the 2024 election.

Michigan Party Control: 1992-2024
Two years of Democratic trifectas  •  Fourteen years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24
Governor	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D
Senate	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D
House	D	S	S	R	R	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D

District history

The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2018.

2022

See also: Michigan's 2nd Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Michigan District 2

Incumbent John Moolenaar defeated Jerry Hilliard and Nathan Hewer in the general election for U.S. House Michigan District 2 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Moolenaar (R)	63.7	216,222
		Jerry Hilliard (D)	34.3	116,452
		Nathan Hewer (L)	2.0	6,847

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 339,521
= 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.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 2

Jerry Hilliard advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 2 on August 2, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jerry Hilliard	100.0	40,952

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 40,952
= 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

• Ray Johnson (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 2

Incumbent John Moolenaar defeated Tom Norton and Jericho Gonzales in the Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 2 on August 2, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Moolenaar	65.2	77,394
		Tom Norton	34.8	41,273
		Jericho Gonzales (Write-in)	0.0	37
		Other/Write-in votes	0.0	37

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 118,741
= 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.

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for U.S. House Michigan District 2

Nathan Hewer advanced from the Libertarian convention for U.S. House Michigan District 2 on July 10, 2022.

		Candidate
✔		Nathan Hewer (L)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= 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.

2020

See also: Michigan's 2nd Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House Michigan District 2

Incumbent Bill Huizenga defeated Bryan Berghoef, Max Riekse, Jean-Michel Creviere, and Gerald T. Van Sickle in the general election for U.S. House Michigan District 2 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bill Huizenga (R)	59.2	238,711
		Bryan Berghoef (D)	38.2	154,122
	Submit photo	Max Riekse (L)	1.3	5,292
		Jean-Michel Creviere (G)	0.7	2,646
		Gerald T. Van Sickle (U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan)	0.6	2,476

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 403,247
= 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.

Watch the Candidate Conversation for this race!

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 2

Bryan Berghoef advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 2 on August 4, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bryan Berghoef	100.0	59,703

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 59,703
= 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.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 2

Incumbent Bill Huizenga advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 2 on August 4, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bill Huizenga	100.0	88,258

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 88,258
= 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.

Green convention

Green convention for U.S. House Michigan District 2

Jean-Michel Creviere advanced from the Green convention for U.S. House Michigan District 2 on June 20, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Jean-Michel Creviere (G)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= 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.

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for U.S. House Michigan District 2

Max Riekse advanced from the Libertarian convention for U.S. House Michigan District 2 on July 18, 2020.

		Candidate
✔	Submit photo	Max Riekse (L)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= 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.

U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan convention

U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan convention for U.S. House Michigan District 2

Gerald T. Van Sickle advanced from the U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan convention for U.S. House Michigan District 2 on July 25, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Gerald T. Van Sickle (U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= 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.

2018

See also: Michigan's 2nd Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House Michigan District 2

Incumbent Bill Huizenga defeated Rob Davidson and Ronald Graeser in the general election for U.S. House Michigan District 2 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bill Huizenga (R)	55.3	168,970
		Rob Davidson (D)	43.0	131,254
		Ronald Graeser (U.S. Taxpayers Party)	1.7	5,239

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 305,463
= 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.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 2

Rob Davidson advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 2 on August 7, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Rob Davidson	100.0	52,221

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 52,221
= 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

• Nick Schiller (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 2

Incumbent Bill Huizenga advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 2 on August 7, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bill Huizenga	100.0	79,620

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 79,620
= 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.

See also

Michigan	2024 primaries	2024 U.S. Congress elections
Michigan congressional delegation Voting in Michigan Michigan elections: 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018	Democratic primary battlegrounds Republican primary battlegrounds U.S. Senate Democratic primaries U.S. Senate Republican primaries U.S. House Democratic primaries U.S. House Republican primaries	U.S. Congress elections U.S. Senate elections U.S. House elections Special elections Ballot access

External links

• Search Google News for this topic

Footnotes

[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)

Ballotpedia

About

Overview • What people are saying • Support Ballotpedia • Contact • Contribute • Job opportunities

---

Executive: Leslie Graves, Founder and CEO • Gwen Beattie, Chief Operating Officer

Communications: Alison Graves, Director of Communications • Carley Allensworth • Abigail Campbell • Frank Festa • Sarah Groat • Nathaniel Harwood • Dillon Redmond • Erica Shumaker
External Relations: Geoff Pallay, Director of External Relations • Ken Carbullido, Vice President of Election Product and Technology Strategy • Ashley Fleming • Thomas Mardik • Hannah Nelson
Operations: Meghann Olshefski, Director of Operations • Amanda Herbert • Mandy Morris • Caroline Presnell • Kelly Rindfleisch
Tech: Matt Latourelle, Director of Technology Operations • Ryan Burch • Kirsten Corrao • Beth Dellea • Travis Eden • Tate Kamish • Margaret Kearney • Eric Lotto • Joseph Sanchez • Mary Susmitha

Contributors: Scott Rasmussen

---

Editorial Content

Josh Altic, Director of Content • Daniel Anderson, Associate Director of Elections & Data • Cory Eucalitto, Associate Director of Features • Ryan Byrne, Managing Editor of Ballot Measures • Mandy McConnell, Managing Editor of News • Doug Kronaizl, Managing Editor of Local Expansion • Abbey Smith, Managing Editor of Elections • Janie Valentine, Managing Editor of Law • Joel Williams. Managing Editor of Events • Andrew Bahl • Jaclyn Beran • Marielle Bricker • Joseph Brusgard • Emma Burlingame • Kelly Coyle • Jon Dunn • Thomas Ellis • Nicole Fisher • Joseph Greaney • Thomas Grobben • Brianna Hosea • Molly Kehoe • Tyler King • Glorie Martinez • Norm Leahy, Senior Editor • Nathan Maxwell • Jimmy McAllister • Brandon McCauley • Ellie Mikus • Ellen Morrissey • Mackenzie Murphy • Kaley Platek • Samantha Post • Adam Powell • Annelise Reinwald • Ethan Rice • Spencer Richardson • Victoria Rose • Briana Ryan • Myj Saintyl • Maddy Salucka • Emma Soukup • Alexis Thacker • Mina Vogel • Samuel Wonacott • Trenton Woodcox