Michigan's 2nd Congressional District election, 2026 - Ballotpedia

John Moolenaar was born in Midland, Michigan. He has a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Hope College and a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University. 

John previoulsy worked for Dow Chemical. He also worked as the director of the Small Business Center for the Middle Michigan Development Corporation. 

John currently serves as a U.S. Representative for Michigan District 2. He was first elected in 2023. He previously served as a 
U.S. Representative for Michigan District 4, where he served from 2015 to 2023. He also served in the Michigan State Senate, District 36, from 2011 to 2015, Michigan House Of Representatives, District 98, from 2002 to 2008, and as a member of the Midland City Council from 1997 to 2000. 

2026 Michigan General Election

2026 Michigan Primary Election

Democrat

Nonpartisan

Republican

Opposes reckless government spending, rejects tax increases on families and small businesses, and supports policies promoting American energy independence.

Commits to a strong national defense to address challenges from adversaries like China and Russia, deter rogue states, and combat violent extremism.

Commits to a strong national defense to address "challenges from nations like China and Russia, deter rogue states like Iran and North Korea, and defeat violent extremists who know no borders."

Supports increasing access to high-speed broadband in rural areas to benefit small businesses, farmers, healthcare providers, and students.

Supports investing in rural broadband infrastructure to equip businesses and students with necessary tools for success.

Supports providing a $300 tax credit to homeowners in eligible areas for mobile hotspot equipment and signal boosters to lower internet connection costs for families in rural Michigan.

Supports providing a $300 tax credit to homeowners in eligible areas who want to buy mobile hotspot equipment or signal boosters to lower internet connection costs for families in rural Michigan.

- Opposes reckless government spending, rejects tax increases on families and small businesses, and supports policies promoting American energy independence.
- Commits to a strong national defense to address "challenges from nations like China and Russia, deter rogue states like Iran and North Korea, and defeat violent extremists who know no borders."
- Supports increasing access to high-speed broadband in rural areas to benefit small businesses, farmers, healthcare providers, and students.
- Supports investing in rural broadband infrastructure to equip businesses and students with necessary tools for success.
- Supports providing a $300 tax credit to homeowners in eligible areas who want to buy mobile hotspot equipment or signal boosters to lower internet connection costs for families in rural Michigan.

Economy

Opposes gun control and believes the right to bear arms is a fundamental principle that must be preserved for future generations, as evidenced by an “A” rating from the NRA.

- Opposes policies that limit gun access.

Public Safety

Opposes abortion access and supports the Born-Alive Act, requiring care for babies born alive after an abortion, and believes parents should be notified if their underage child is having an abortion.

Supports promoting adoption and improving the foster care system to ensure children grow up in safe and loving homes.

Supports American families' ability to choose their healthcare plans and emphasizes the need for new treatments to improve health outcomes.

Supports record funding for the National Institutes of Health to enhance research into cures and treatments for cancer, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s.

Supports funding for the National Institutes of Health to enhance research into cures and treatments for cancer, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s.

Supports Right-To-Try legislation to allow terminal patients access to experimental treatments.

Supports efforts to secure borders to stop the flow of illegal drugs, including fentanyl, and has cosponsored legislation to classify fentanyl as a Schedule I narcotic.

Supports efforts to secure borders to stop the flow of illegal drugs, such as opioids, and has cosponsored legislation to classify fentanyl as a Schedule I narcotic.

Supports continued investment in innovative ways to prevent and treat Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and is proud of voting for bipartisan legislation addressing the opioid crisis.

Supports continued investment in innovative ways to prevent and treat Substance Use Disorder (SUD).

Supports funding research into non-addictive pain treatments to help those in pain avoid addictive opioids.

Supports the Born-Alive Act, "which would require doctors to care for babies who are born."

Believes parents should be notified if their underage child is having an abortion.

- Opposes abortion access.
- Supports promoting adoption and improving the foster care system to ensure children grow up in safe and loving homes.
- Supports American families' ability to choose their healthcare plans and emphasizes the need for new treatments to improve health outcomes.
- Supports funding for the National Institutes of Health to enhance research into cures and treatments for cancer, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s.
- Supports Right-To-Try legislation to allow terminal patients access to experimental treatments.
- Supports efforts to secure borders to stop the flow of illegal drugs, such as opioids, and has cosponsored legislation to classify fentanyl as a Schedule I narcotic.
- Supports continued investment in innovative ways to prevent and treat Substance Use Disorder (SUD).
- Supports funding research into non-addictive pain treatments to help those in pain avoid addictive opioids.
- Supports the Born-Alive Act, "which would require doctors to care for babies who are born."
- Believes parents should be notified if their underage child is having an abortion.

Healthcare

Supports school choice, enabling parents to decide their child's education rather than being limited by their zip code.

Supports school choice, programs that allow qualifying families to use public money for alternative schooling options, including private schools.

Supports expanding access to financial aid for students pursuing skilled trades and non-traditional degrees, ensuring they have the same opportunities as those attending four-year universities.

Advocates for accountability and transparency in higher education, while supporting grants and financial aid to help families achieve their education goals.

Advocates for funding research universities in Michigan to support scientific advancements and maintain U.S. leadership in innovation.

- Supports school choice, programs that allow qualifying families to use public money for alternative schooling options, including private schools.
- Supports expanding access to financial aid for students pursuing skilled trades and non-traditional degrees, ensuring they have the same opportunities as those attending four-year universities.
- Advocates for accountability and transparency in higher education, while supporting grants and financial aid to help families achieve their education goals.
- Advocates for funding research universities in Michigan to support scientific advancements and maintain U.S. leadership in innovation.

Education

Supports the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and has fought for its funding as a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

Supports the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and its funding.

Prioritizes the protection of the Great Lakes as vital resources for fishing, boating, tourism, and freshwater availability.

Supports efforts to stop invasive species like Asian Carp to protect the economy, recreation, and tourism in the Great Lakes region.

- Supports the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and its funding.
- Prioritizes the protection of the Great Lakes as vital resources for fishing, boating, tourism, and freshwater availability.
- Supports efforts to stop invasive species like Asian Carp to protect the economy, recreation, and tourism in the Great Lakes region.

Energy & the Environment

Believes immigration reform must start with securing the southern border to address issues of illegal crossings.

Believes immigration reform must start with securing the southern border.

Supports the H-2A temporary guest worker program for Michigan's agricultural community, emphasizing that laborers must return to their home country upon visa expiration and not remain in the U.S. illegally.

- Believes immigration reform must start with securing the southern border.
- Supports the H-2A temporary guest worker program for Michigan's agricultural community, emphasizing that laborers must return to their home country upon visa expiration and not remain in the U.S. illegally.

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Supports ensuring the integrity of elections, emphasizing that states have the primary responsibility for administering them and opposing federal attempts to take away that authority.

Wants to ensure the integrity of elections, emphasizing that states have the primary responsibility for administering them and opposing federal attempts to take away that authority.

Supports a Voter ID requirement for all elections.

- Wants to ensure the integrity of elections, emphasizing that states have the primary responsibility for administering them and opposing federal attempts to take away that authority.
- Supports a Voter ID requirement for all elections.

Voting & Elections

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John Moolenaar

For Candidate John Moolenaar on Issue public-safety: Supports the right to self-defense and has voted for and co-sponsored multiple pro-Second Amendment bills, including the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act.

Opposes abortion access, believing life begins at conception and emphasizing the need to protect human life.

Supports adoption as a solution for children in foster care and believes every human life has value.

Supports encouraging adoption and valuing human life.

John Moolenaar is from Midland, Michigan. He has a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Hope College and a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University. He and his wife, Amy, have six children together. He is Christian.

U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar - Gongwer News Service-Michigan

John R. Moolenaar - Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives

John is a former school administrator. He previously worked as a school administrator in Michigan.

Veteran Tom Norton looks to unseat Congressman John Moolenaar ...

John is currently a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Michigan's 2nd District. He was first elected in 2014 and is currently serving his fifth term.

Opposes "reckless government spending," including President Biden’s $5 trillion “Build Back Broke” spending bill, and supports policies that promote America’s energy independence.

As a U.S. Representative, introduced the Broadening Online Opportunities through Simple Technologies (BOOST) Act to provide a $300 tax credit for mobile hotspot and signal booster purchases in rural areas.

Believes the Great Lakes are vital for fishing, boating, and tourism.

Supports the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which is a treaty that facilitates trade between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

Said, "The most basic role of government is to defend Americans and to ensure every citizens’ right to defend themselves."

Supports the Born-Alive Act, which would require doctors to care for babies who are born.

Supports increased funding for the National Institutes of Health to research cures and treatments for cancer, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s.

Voted for Right-To-Try legislation, allowing access to experimental treatments for terminal patients without waiting for government approval.

Supports making fentanyl a Schedule I narcotic.

Supports bipartisan legislation to address the opioid crisis and enhance prevention and treatment for Substance Use Disorder (SUD).

Supports funding research for non-addictive pain treatments to reduce reliance on opioids.

Supports providing financial aid to students pursuing skilled trades and non-traditional degrees, equal to those attending four-year universities.

Supports financial aid for families in Michigan.

Supports parental control over their children's education.

Supports the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which aims to protect and restore the Great Lakes ecosystem.

Supports strong military action to address threats from countries such as China and Russia, prevent "rogue states" like Iran and North Korea, and combat "violent extremists."

Opposes federal oversight of state elections.

Supports a voter ID requirement for all elections.

John Moolenaar is from Caledonia, Michigan. He attended Hope College and Harvard University. He has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Hope College and a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University. He lives with his wife, Amy, and their six children in Caledonia, Michigan.

John is a U.S. Representative. He works in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he has been since January 3, 2023. He previously worked at Dow Chemical and served as the director of the Small Business Center for the Middle Michigan Development Corporation.

Opposes "reckless government spending," including President Biden's $5 trillion "Build Back Broke" spending bill, and supports policies that promote energy independence.

As a U.S. Representative, introduced the Broadening Online Opportunities through Simple Technologies (BOOST) Act to provide a $300 tax credit for mobile hotspot or signal booster purchases in rural areas.

Supports preventing Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes, as they could harm the economy, recreation, and tourism.

Supports addressing "unfair trade practices" by countering "cheap foreign imports" and expanding markets for U.S. agricultural products.

Opposes a single-payer healthcare system.

Supports increasing funding for the National Institutes of Health to research cures and treatments for cancer, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's.

Voted for Right-To-Try legislation, allowing access to experimental treatments for terminal patients without waiting for bureaucratic approval.

Opposes vaccine mandates and introduced the No Vaccine Mandate Act to defund such policies.

Supports parental notification for underage abortions and advocates for legislation protecting fetuses once a heartbeat is detected.

Supports school choice, which would allow parents to use public funds to enroll their children in schools beyond their local options, including private schools.

Supports education in skilled trades and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) to prepare the next generation for a competitive global economy.

Supports providing financial aid to students pursuing skilled trades and non-traditional degrees.

Supports increased financial aid for higher education.

Supports funding for research universities to ensure the U.S. leads in scientific innovation.

Supports federal investments in infrastructure projects.

Opposes President Biden's infrastructure bill, believing it focuses on the "Green New Deal" and "pet projects" rather than essential road improvements.

Supports a strong national defense to address challenges from countries such as China and Russia, deter "rogue states" like Iran and North Korea, and combat "violent extremists who know no borders."

Alejandra Gracias

Graham Shirley

- A U.S. representative is an elected member of the United States House of Representatives, one of the two chambers of Congress.
- U.S. representatives introduce, debate, amend, and vote on federal legislation affecting the entire country.
- Michigan is represented by 13 members in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- U.S. representatives serve two-year terms and may run for reelection without term limits. Candidates must be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least seven years, and a resident of the state they represent.
- Members of the House of Representatives receive a salary of approximately $174,000 per year.

Your representative and federal lawmaker in the US House of Representatives