Democrat McCann running for Congress in west Michigan

Melissa Nann Burke, The Detroit News on Jul 14, 2025

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DETROIT — Michigan Democratic state Sen. Sean McCann launched a bid for the U.S. House on Monday, aiming to challenge long-time GOP Rep. Bill Huizenga of Holland.

McCann of Kalamazoo, who is seeking the Democratic nomination, said he's running because Washington politicians are too focused on special interests and giving tax breaks to billionaires.

“I’ve spent my life working for our community and putting politics aside to deliver tax relief for Michigan families, protect women's right to choose, and bring good-paying jobs back home,” McCann said in a statement.

“And I’ll keep fighting to get your costs down, protect your Social Security and health care, and take on the special interests to actually get things done for working people ― because it’s time for Washington to work for the people of Southwest Michigan.”

Huizenga has represented Michigan in the U.S. House since 2011 and serves as vice chair of the House Financial Services Committee. He's publicly teased a bid for U.S. Senate that he could announce later this summer, which would leave his seat up for grabs.

Huizenga has said he's not persuaded by the arguments that his running for the Senate could endanger his seat in Congress, where he represents a swath of the lakeshore. Michigan's 4th District stretches from southern Ottawa County to northern Berrien County, covering all of Allegan and Van Buren counties, part of Kalamazoo County and Battle Creek in Calhoun County.

Huizenga defeated Democrat Jessica Swartz, an attorney, last November by nearly 12 percentage points, 55% to 43.4%. Swartz of Kalamazoo is running again.

McCann has said he became more intrigued in a bid for Congress after the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added Huizenga's seat to its target list in April. McCann's Senate district, which covers much of Kalamazoo County and a slice of Van Buren County, falls within the boundaries of the 4th District.

McCann, 53, grew up in Livonia and Ludington before moving to Kalamazoo to attend Western Michigan University in 1989, he said. Prior to his election to the state House in 2010, McCann spent 10 years on the Kalamazoo City Commission. He has a small business involving rental real estate.

Democrats have been optimistic that the 4th is getting "bluer" since Gov. Gretchen Whitmer won the district in 2022 and its residents voted in support of Proposal 3 to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution that year.

Cook Political Report last month called the 4th District a "bright spot" for Democrats that could potentially "host a competitive race next year” after Dems slightly increased their margins against Huizenga last fall over 2022's returns.

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