Republican political candidates get to meet and greet in Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The August 6 primary election is now a little more than three months away, and some Republican candidates for political office in Michigan got a chance Thursday to mingle at a meet-and-greet in downtown Grand Rapids.

The late afternoon/early evening event was held at Uccello's Ristorante on Monroe Center, across from Rosa Parks Circle, and hosted by former Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land. The Grand Rapids native is also a former Kent County Clerk and current member of the Wayne State University Board of Governors.

She gave brief remarks to the crowd about midway through the event, thanking everyone for participating. Several other dignitaries were in attendance, such as Kent County Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Becker and Michael Farage, who has served as president of the Grand Rapids Taxpayers Association and organized various political debates and other activities.

It was a casual and upbeat candidates' meet-and-greet, with an Italian buffet dinner and drinks available to the standing crowd of about 80 invited guests.

Kent County Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young was all smiles. She was appointed sheriff in 2018 to fill the remainder of her predecessor's term in office, and then elected to a four-year term in 2020.

"It's great to be here with everybody and kind of get a game plan going for the upcoming election cycle. So, a chance to see everybody in person, make sure we connect names and faces, and figure out how our candidacies either sync up or don't," LaJoye-Young said.

Grand Rapids businessman Joel Langlois, who ran for the 3rd District Congressional seat in 2020, is now running for a District 2 Kent County Board of Commissioners seat. He is looking to fill the position of incumbent commissioner Tom Antor, who is not seeking re-election.

"I've lived in Alpine Township, essentially, my whole life," Langlois told WOOD Radio. "And I think I have some value, based on my business experience and farm experience ... so, I know the community and I know the issues that are in the community."

Former 8th District Congressman Mike Rogers is running for the U.S. Senate seat that will become available in Michigan after longtime Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow's fourth term ends after the end of this year. She is not seeking re-election. Rogers was in Congress from 2001 to 2015, and chaired the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He retired from the U.S. House after that.

After eight years in the private sector, Rogers and his wife Kristi, decided it was time he got back into politics.

"We looked around and said, 'Man, everything is broken and the country's in trouble'," he said, citing how the U.S. military is viewed by many in the international community as weakened.

"We looked at all these touch points - the cost of groceries, all of these things - the (Southern) border out of control, and said, 'We've got to do something about it.' And sometimes, when you have the capability you have a responsibility. I've been through this before, I don't have to have on-the-job training when I get there."

Rogers added that anti-semitism is becoming a major concern on college campuses, and elsewhere.

"When you have people calling out not only 'Death to Jews' but 'Death to America,' it's time to check their visa status, and maybe they need to go home," Rogers said.

Paul Junge is running for the congressional seat in Michigan's District 8, which covers Genesee, Saginaw, Bay and Midland counties.

"The redistricting has made that a very competitive seat," Junge said, noting that longtime incumbent Democrat Dan Kildee is not seeking re-election. His current term expires on Jan. 3, 2025.

"Without an incumbent there on the Democratic side, I think we have an excellent shot to flip this seat from blue to red," he said.

Junge is one of four Republicans running for the seat. He said his campaign commissioned a new poll that shows he is the front-runner among the GOP candidates. There are also four candidates running on the Democratic side.

"The Democrats may battle it out. I hope they really battle it out, and then I'll sit there and be ready for them in the general (election)," Junge said.

State Representative Andrew Fink of the 35th District is running for Michigan Supreme Court. It's a non-partisan seat, but the nominating process is done through the respective party conventions.

"it is unique in our state. It's the only office that we nominate this way - where the parties put you on the non-partisan section of the ballot. But ... it's important that people understand that everybody who walks into the courtroom will be treated fairly. Their case won't be pre-judged," he said.

Fink is from Hillsdale County and the Minority Vice Chair of the House Judiciary Committee. He has been an attorney since 2010. He first practiced law in the U.S. Marine Corps, and later in private practice for seven years.

Jordan Youngquist of Grand Rapids is running for 81st District state representative. The district covers most of Plainfield Township, Grand Rapids Charter Township, the northeast corner of the City of Grand Rapids, and most of Ada Township.

Youngquist is the father of five children, and he said that inspired him to run for office.

"It's for the kids' future. We're living in an era right now where it seems that the children are under attack in every way possible. So, for me, it's definitely for the kids in the future generations," he said.

Youngquist would have to defeat Democratic candidate Stephen Wooden, who has served as Minority Vice Chair on the Kent County Commission. Incumbent Democratic State Rep Rachel Hood is not seeking re-election in the Legislature.

Youngquist said he and Wooden both have experience in the construction industry. Youngquist has business experience in farming, as well. He was on the board of the Kent County Farm Bureau.

"Running an orchard ... outside of Sparta. And now, I run my own business flipping houses and doing construction work," he said.

Youngquist indicated one priority, if he is elected, would be to address the immigration issue.

"I'd love to be able to help out with that and rein down all this immigration that is happening, trying to make our state a sanctuary state. I'm not one that agrees with that," he said.

Josie Kornev is a candidate for the 18th District Kent County Board of Commissioners' seat held by incumbent Stephen Wooden who, as mentioned before, is running for 81st District state representative.

"Our constituents are concerned about what's happening with inflation and safety. After I retired, I wanted to give back to my community and serve. And I thought this was one of the best ways," Kornev said.

Paul Hudson is running for a congressional seat in the 3rd District, which he believes is one of the key battleground districts nationally. He is looking forward to potentially competing against Democratic U.S. Representative Hillary Scholten in the November election.

Hudson said he would focus on "bread and butter" issues in the district.

"Securing the border, tackling inflation, and bringing down government spending," he said.

Hudson has been a lawyer for 17 years.

"And I've had the pleasure of defending police officers in the court of law. Standing up for constitutional rights and advocating for a better business climate here in the state," he said.

Hudson claims Scholten ran a bipartisan, moderate campaign for office in 2022.

"And then she got to Washington, and she has a 96 percent party-line, left wing voting record. I don't think that reflects the values of West Michigan. So, Congress is a mess right now. We need better people to step up to run for all of these positions," he said.

Sunny Reddy is running for the Wayne State Board of Governors. He said a lot of students are learning something in college that they should not be taught.

"Definitely, there are problems on the campuses ... it's so political in this country, people are burning the American flag while praising Hezbollah. That's a terrorist organization. I'm worried about it, I'm worried about the future of our kids, and that's one of the main reasons I'm running," Reddy said.

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