by Garrett FriskThe primary purpose of Diamond Eye Candidate Report is to bring attention to candidates who haven't otherwise received any news coverage, especially congressional candidates. But ironically, the people whose declarations of candidacy most often go unreported are the incumbent members of Congress themselves. Some incumbents send out a press release confirming their re-election plans, but most quietly file their paperwork without making an announcement; in many cases, nobody knows for sure that a member of Congress is seeking re-election until the final candidate list is released. That's why Diamond Eye Candidate Report emailed the office of every member of Congress who has yet to publicly announce whether they'll seek another term in 2024 to determine who has and hasn't made up their mind. This article will be continuously updated as more offices get back to us. As of now, these are the responses we have gotten: Running for re-election
Still deciding
by Garrett FriskMichigan is a mid-sized state, with 13 congressional districts. The state will be hotly contested in 2024, with closely-watched contests in the 3rd, 7th, 8th, and 10th congressional districts, not to mention the open Senate race and the presidential contest. However, outside of those key races, two candidates have announced their intention to challenge an incumbent Republican U.S. Representative. In the 2nd district, Democrat Michael Lynch is challenging incumbent Republican John Moolenaar. Lynch, a marketing director and educator, describes himself as "a lifelong advocate for working- and middle-class families" who "has made guaranteeing access to affordable, quality health care for all Michiganders, particularly those in rural areas, a top priority." He faces an uphill battle against Moolenaar, who was re-elected with 63.7% of the vote in 2022. Lynch's campaign website can be found here. In the 9th district, factory worker Jeffrey Jowske is back to finish what he started. Jowske ran for this district in 2020 back when it was numbered as the 10th district, but dropped out before the Republican primary due to the constraints of his work schedule. After Jowske's withdrawal, fellow Republican Lisa McClain prevailed in this very conservative district; McClain was re-elected with 63.9% of the vote in 2022. Jowske spent 24 years in prison for "second-degree murder, escape while awaiting trial, escape from prison, possessing a weapon as a prisoner and assault of a prison employee"; he was released in 2017. Jowske, who maintains his innocence, is now waging a primary challenge against McClain. His website can be found here. by Garrett FriskRep. Bill Huizenga of Michigan's 4th congressional district has his first challenger of the 2024 cycle. Democrat Chris Glasser, an investigator with Child Protective Services, has announced a campaign for Congress in this southwest Michigan district. Glasser says he grew up in Kalamazoo and is currently studying at Western Michigan University. His campaign platform includes increased transparency, expanding access to healthcare, and instituting congressional term limits. Though Glasser is running as a Democrat, he says he opposes the two-party system and supports ranked-choice voting. His campaign website can be found here. This district is anchored by the cities of Kalamazoo and Holland. Huizenga was re-elected in 2022 with 54% of the vote against Democrat Joseph Alfonso. Huizenga has not yet revealed his plans for 2024, and has expressed interest in a campaign for U.S. Senate. |
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