Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga has held onto his seat in Michigan's 4th Congressional district after defeating Democratic challenger Jessica Swartz and winning his eighth term. The seat, which has been under Republican control since the era of Roosevelt, was secured with Huizenga taking 60% of the vote once 52% of votes had been counted. As reported by The Detroit News, Huizenga, a businessman and senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, proved his stronghold in a district encompassing southern Ottawa County to northern Berrien County.
Swartz, a senior counsel at the Miller Johnson law firm with a history of working for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, had criticized Huizenga's track record, saying on her campaign website that he "emboldened and embodied extremism and partisanship in Washington.," according to The Detroit News. Although voters seemed to connect with the message, the vote count showed that it wasn't enough to overcome Huizenga's advantage as the incumbent.
In Michigan's local elections, Decision Desk HQ quickly projected Huizenga's victory in a district covering Allegan, Berrien, Van Buren, and parts of Kalamazoo and Ottawa counties. As co-chair of the bipartisan Great Lakes Task Force, Huizenga will extend his long tenure in office. FOX 17 News, which partners with Decision Desk HQ for election coverage, confirmed his win.
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