Victory, Ottawa Impact Head Lead GOP Possibilities In MI-4

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 07/16/2025) A U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland) announcement for U.S. Senate is coming any day now, multiple sources tell MIRS. 

The eight-term congressman has been teasing a run for several weeks, but has allegedly held off on an official announcement until after President Donald Trump's “Big, Beautiful Bill” was signed and a new campaign finance cycle had started.

turtle leading race

Now that Huizenga's campaign committee raised more in the second quarter than that of presumed GOP U.S. Senate frontrunner Mike Rogers, sources tell MIRS the only way Huizenga doesn't run for Congress is if Trump convinces him to run for re-election.

But Huizenga may be done with the U.S. House regardless. Some have speculated that just as Huizenga seemed to shift his focus from the state House to the U.S. House after he lost the Speaker's race to Craig Deztoche in 2004, he may be ready for greener pastures after getting bumped for the Financial Services Chair. 

Democrats have a top-tier MI-4 candidate in Sen. Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo) and another candidate who will at least push McCann, if not surprise him, in 2024 nominee Jessica Swartz. Former congressional staffer Diop Harris is expected to formally start his campaign next week, swelling the field to at least three.

On the Republican side, nobody has announced out of deference to Huizenga. However, there is movement behind the scenes. The most likely candidate appears to be term-limited Sen. Roger Victory (R-Hudsonville), the turnip farmer who has won every GOP primary he's run in. 

The 60-year-old conceded Wednesday that the congressional seat is “something we're looking at. We're looking at what options may be out there. Obviously, I'm representing the 31st Senate District for another year and a half, but if there are other areas to serve, we'll keep our eyes open, whatever level that may be.”

The other name that's surfaced is that of Ottawa County Commissioner Joe Moss, a leader in the Ottawa Impact movement. Moss acknowledged Wednesday that he's been approached about getting into the race, and is considering it. Like Victory, the two-term commissioner said he has made no final decision.

“I'm honored to have my name put out there. It's not something I expected, but I can understand why people are asking if I'd consider it,” Moss said. “They've enjoyed seeing President Trump champion his American First agenda and they want to see it continue."

Another theory floated is that gubernatorial candidate Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton) would drop his statewide bid and run for Congress. To that theory, Nesbitt told MIRS, “I'm running for governor. Period.”

Various other former and current state lawmakers are at a point in their careers where a run for Congress doesn't fit. Sources indicate former Sen. John Proos is a potential option, but he's not actively pursuing it at this time. Former Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker is expanding her law firm. Former Rep. Al Pscholka is doing well as a vice president at Lake Michigan College. Rep. Pauline Wendzel (R-Watervliet) may be looking at the state Senate.

Another name mentioned as a possibility is former gubernatorial candidate Ryan Kelley, but he said Wednesday that a run for Congress is “highly unlikely.” Former gubernatorial candidate Michael Brown is a township clerk, doing DNR hunter safety classes and running a squirrel food business.

The name of former Michigan Republican Party official Kevin Whiteford is also being floated, but a source close to him indicated that a congressional run is not likely. Another former gubernatorial candidate, Garrett Soldano, was also mentioned.

The issue for Soldano is that he doesn't come from the population center in a Republican primary. In the 2024 General Election, about half of the Republican vote came from Ottawa and Allegan counties, giving a candidate from that area a leg up. About 23 percent comes from Allegan County and the other quarter comes from Berrien, Van Buren and the small slice of Calhoun.