By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
One of the key races being decided during this year’s election is in Michigan’s Fourth Congressional District, where Zeeland native and Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga is being challenged by Democratic State Sen. Sean McCann of Kalamazoo.
The Fourth Congressional District includes part of Ottawa County, all of Allegan and Van Buren counties, and portions of Berrien, Calhoun and Kalamazoo counties. The Cook Political Report has rated the Huizenga-McCann election one of 21 “toss-up” House races that could determine control of Congress in 2027.
Huizenga, whose current residence is in Holland Township, has served in Congress since 2011 and is seeking his ninth two-year term. He has been re-elected by comfortable margins ever since taking office, most recently defeating Democrat Jessica Swartz of Kalamazoo with 55.1 percent of the vote in the 2024 general election. His closest election was in 2022, when he defeated Joseph Alfonso with 54.4 percent of the vote.
Before serving in Congress, Huizenga served in the state House from 2003 to 2009, and was director of public policy for former U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, now the U.S. Ambassador to Canada. He is co-owner of Huizenga Gravel Inc. in Jenison, and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Calvin University.
In Congress, Huizenga serves as vice chair of the House Financial Services Committee. He is a founding member of the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum, a group of bipartisan lawmakers who has raised issues with the nation’s mounting debt, and also co-chairs the Great Lakes Task Force, another bipartisan group that seeks to develop policies to protect the environmental health of the Great Lakes.
McCann has served in the state Senate since 2019, representing portions of Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties. He was a member of the state House from 2011 to 2014, and before that served 10 years on the Kalamazoo City Commission. After earning his bachelor’s degree in political science from Western Michigan University, McCann served as executive director of the Vine Neighborhood Association, and later as director of financial development for the greater Kalamazoo chapter of the American Red Cross.
In the Senate, McCann serves as chair of the Energy and Environment Committee and majority vice chair of the Appropriations Committee. He also chairs the Universities and Community Colleges Subcommittee.
The Huizenga-McCann election has generated a great deal of attention, and with it, considerable fundraising by both candidates. Together, the candidates had raised nearly $10 million by the end of September, according to the most recent campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission.
To date, Huizenga has raised $5,379,146, and entered October with $1,856,768 cash on hand. Through September, McCann had raised $4,318,225 and had $1,320,322 on hand. However, McCann outraised Huizenga in the most recent quarter, collecting $1,690,688 in contributions to the incumbent’s $1,273,480, FEC records show.
You can read more about Huizenga’s candidacy on his webpage at huizengaformichigan.com, and about McCann’s candidacy at seanmccannforcongress.com.
Zeeland Record
One of the key races being decided during this year’s election is in Michigan’s Fourth Congressional District, where Zeeland native and Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga is being challenged by Democratic State Sen. Sean McCann of Kalamazoo.
The Fourth Congressional District includes part of Ottawa County, all of Allegan and Van Buren counties, and portions of Berrien, Calhoun and Kalamazoo counties. The Cook Political Report has rated the Huizenga-McCann election one of 21 “toss-up” House races that could determine control of Congress in 2027.
Huizenga, whose current residence is in Holland Township, has served in Congress since 2011 and is seeking his ninth two-year term. He has been re-elected by comfortable margins ever since taking office, most recently defeating Democrat Jessica Swartz of Kalamazoo with 55.1 percent of the vote in the 2024 general election. His closest election was in 2022, when he defeated Joseph Alfonso with 54.4 percent of the vote.
Before serving in Congress, Huizenga served in the state House from 2003 to 2009, and was director of public policy for former U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, now the U.S. Ambassador to Canada. He is co-owner of Huizenga Gravel Inc. in Jenison, and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Calvin University.
In Congress, Huizenga serves as vice chair of the House Financial Services Committee. He is a founding member of the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum, a group of bipartisan lawmakers who has raised issues with the nation’s mounting debt, and also co-chairs the Great Lakes Task Force, another bipartisan group that seeks to develop policies to protect the environmental health of the Great Lakes.
McCann has served in the state Senate since 2019, representing portions of Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties. He was a member of the state House from 2011 to 2014, and before that served 10 years on the Kalamazoo City Commission. After earning his bachelor’s degree in political science from Western Michigan University, McCann served as executive director of the Vine Neighborhood Association, and later as director of financial development for the greater Kalamazoo chapter of the American Red Cross.
In the Senate, McCann serves as chair of the Energy and Environment Committee and majority vice chair of the Appropriations Committee. He also chairs the Universities and Community Colleges Subcommittee.
The Huizenga-McCann election has generated a great deal of attention, and with it, considerable fundraising by both candidates. Together, the candidates had raised nearly $10 million by the end of September, according to the most recent campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission.
To date, Huizenga has raised $5,379,146, and entered October with $1,856,768 cash on hand. Through September, McCann had raised $4,318,225 and had $1,320,322 on hand. However, McCann outraised Huizenga in the most recent quarter, collecting $1,690,688 in contributions to the incumbent’s $1,273,480, FEC records show.
You can read more about Huizenga’s candidacy on his webpage at huizengaformichigan.com, and about McCann’s candidacy at seanmccannforcongress.com.
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