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By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
Democrat Benjamin Ambrose and Republican U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar will face each other in the Nov. 3 general election for Michigan’s 2nd Congressional District.
The district includes all of Barry, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Ionia, Isabella, Lake, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, Oceana and Osceola counties, along with portions of Eaton, Kent, Midland, Muskegon, Ottawa and Wexford counties.
Mason County Press and Oceana County Press reached out to both candidates and asked them to provide information about themselves, identify what they believe are key issues facing the district and explain how they would address those issues.
Both candidates were asked the same questions. Their responses have been edited for length and style while preserving the substance of their answers. Candidates are presented alphabetically by last name.
Benjamin Ambrose
Benjamin Ambrose
Benjamin Ambrose, 45, was born in Muskegon and raised in Hesperia.
Ambrose earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Georgetown University and a master’s degree in business administration in finance and marketing from Johns Hopkins University. He also studied anthropology at Harvard University.
Ambrose served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1999 to 2016 as an infantryman and retired as a staff sergeant. His service included combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, humanitarian operations following the 2010 Haiti earthquake and five years with the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force.
Following his military career, Ambrose worked on veterans policy for U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and later became a federal consultant supporting the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense. His work has included health care innovation, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and identity-management programs intended to improve veterans’ access to care and benefits.
Ambrose and his wife, Heather, have two children.
Ambrose identified affordability and economic security, agriculture and rural communities, and rural health care access as three of the district’s key issues.
Affordability and economic security
“Too many people in our district are working hard and still struggling with the cost of groceries, housing, health care and everyday necessities,” Ambrose said.
He said his priorities include creating good-paying jobs, strengthening American manufacturing and skilled trades, supporting small businesses, protecting collective bargaining and reducing health care and prescription drug costs.
Agriculture and rural communities
Ambrose said family farms are dealing with higher operating costs, unstable markets, trade disruptions and uncertainty surrounding federal agricultural policy.
“I support strengthening crop insurance and risk-management programs, improving agricultural infrastructure, protecting farmers’ Right to Repair, expanding reliable market access, and ensuring Congress passes a long-term Farm Bill that gives producers the stability they need,” he said.
Rural health care
Ambrose said access to health care remains a particular concern in rural areas.
“People should not have to drive an hour in an emergency or leave their community simply to see a doctor,” he said.
Ambrose said he supports federal investment to stabilize rural hospitals, expansion of telehealth and mobile health care, and stronger loan-forgiveness and recruitment programs for doctors, nurses and other medical professionals who work in rural communities.
“People in rural Michigan deserve the same opportunity, services and economic security as anyone else in the country,” he said.
John Moolenaar
John Moolenaar
John Moolenaar, 65, is the incumbent representative for Michigan’s 2nd Congressional District. He has served in the U.S. House since 2015.
Moolenaar earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Hope College and a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University. His professional background includes work as a chemist, business development director and school administrator.
Before entering Congress, Moolenaar served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2003 to 2008 and the Michigan Senate from 2011 to 2014.
Moolenaar serves on the House Appropriations Committee and is chairman of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party.
He and his wife, Amy, have six children and four grandchildren.
Moolenaar identified national security and trade, policies affecting farmers and small businesses, and competition with China as three of the district’s key issues.
National security and trade
Moolenaar said national security and economic growth should be pursued through trade relationships with U.S. allies and partners.
“Trade agreements, like the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement), provide increased market access for our agricultural producers and manufacturers to ship high-quality American products around the world,” he said.
Moolenaar said the administration should review existing agreements to determine whether they are being implemented as intended while providing farmers, manufacturers and automakers with greater stability in the marketplace.
Farmers and small businesses
Moolenaar said federal policy should allow farmers and small businesses to operate with lower taxes and fewer regulations.
“Michigan deserves an economy that rewards hard work, creates opportunity and helps businesses succeed,” he said. “Growth is driven by free markets, lower taxes, reduced regulations, affordable energy, and policies that encourage innovation and investment.”
Moolenaar said he supported the Working Families Tax Cuts, which included provisions affecting taxes on tips and overtime, the child tax credit and deductions available to seniors, along with making provisions of the 2017 federal tax law permanent.
China and U.S. competitiveness
Moolenaar said competing with China in artificial intelligence, manufacturing and other technologies is both an economic and national security issue.
“As chair of the Select Committee on China, we cannot allow China to win the AI race or use the technology for military dominance and surveillance,” he said.
Moolenaar said he has introduced legislation aimed at restricting Chinese purchases of American farmland. He also cited the bipartisan GAIN AI Act, intended to give American buyers priority access to advanced artificial intelligence chips before they are exported to certain foreign countries.
Moolenaar also said he has backed measures addressing Chinese electric vehicles, domestic polysilicon production and enforcement of trade rules involving chemicals.
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