Republican wins election to represent Southwest Michigan in Congress

KALAMAZOO, MI — The winner has been chosen to represent Southwest Michigan in Congress.

Republican Bill Huizenga, of Zeeland, topped Democrat Jessica Swartz of Kalamazoo and U.S. Taxpayer Party candidate Curtis Clark to represent Michigan's 4th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Huizenga has won reelection, unofficial results show. The Associated Press called the election in favor of Huizenga at 1:50 a.m. Wednesday. The general election was held Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Huizenga is the current U.S. representative for Michigan's 4th Congressional District. He's been in Congress since 2010. Huizenga is a small business operator and co-owner of Huizenga Gravel Co. in Georgetown Township. Previously, he was a realtor, district director and representative for the 90th District in the Michigan State Legislature.

When the race was called, Huizenga had 140,871 votes, about 60% of the total, compared to Swartz's 89,191. Clark secured 3,688 votes.

The district includes all of Allegan and Van Buren counties, and parts of Berrien, Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Ottawa counties. That includes the cities of Battle Creek, Holland, Kalamazoo, Portage, South Haven, St. Joseph and others.

Swartz is attorney at Miller Johnson in Kalamazoo and has worked as an appellate attorney for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. She has waited tables on nights and weekends to pay down her student loans and mortgage, she said in her voter guide questionnaire from the League of Women Voters.

Clark's website says he was born in Holland and served in the U.S. Army.