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Republicans seeking to flip 8th Congressional District talk border security, jobs and energy • Michigan Advance
With U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flint) announcing last year that he would not seek reelection in 2024, three Republican candidates are vying for the nomination in hopes of flipping the hotly contested seat in the general election.
Paul Junge is a former Trump administration appointee entering his third congressional race, previously running to represent Michigan’s 8th Congressional District in 2022. Mary Draves is a former executive at Dow Chemical Co. who lives and runs a business in Midland. And Anthony Hudson is a truck driver and small business owner who has been endorsed by the Bay County Republican Party.
Michigan’s 8th Congressional District — which comprises all of Saginaw and Bay Counties, most of Genesee County and parts of Tuscola and Midland County — is considered vital for control of Congress, and is currently rated a tossup by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. Currently, Republicans hold a narrow majority in the U.S. House.
State Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City), Michigan State Board of Education President Pamela Pugh and former Flint Mayor Matt Collier are vying for the Democratic nomination. Profiles and interviews with these candidates will be featured in a separate report.
Ahead of Tuesday’s primary, the Advance spoke with most candidates, discussing issues both in-district and abroad, as well as why they feel they are the best candidate to represent their party in November.
Mary Draves
Mary Draves spent her career at Dow Chemical Co., where she started as a technician in the laboratory and ended her career as the vice president of environmental health and safety as the chief sustainability officer. She and her husband also own a business selling cars.
Draves noted her involvement with her community, serving on multiple boards including economic development and youth leadership efforts.
When heading to Congress, results matter, Draves said, pointing to her work in the community and track record of results as what sets her apart from her opponents.
Draves said there are two issues at the top of her mind: border security and energy independence.
“If there is one issue that I hear from voters when I’m on doors, knocking doors, and talking to them, is that they are very concerned about the safety and security of this country,” Draves said.
Draves said the nation needs to close the border, examine policies for keeping criminals out of the country, and streamline the legal immigration process.
“First and foremost, shut [the border] down. The second thing is, you know, make sure that we’re enforcing the policies that we have and fixing the ones that aren’t helping us control both our southern and our northern borders,” Draves said.
In addressing energy independence, Draves said solutions should be driven by the market, pointing to America’s natural gas reserve as a resource.
“I think that we’ve become too reliant on foreign oil under the [President Joe] Biden administration,” Draves said.
“We got to get a lot smarter about using the things in the United States of America to help American companies grow and prosper,” Draves said.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the United States has produced more crude oil than any other nation for the past six years, reaching a monthly record high in December 2023, with the previous U.S. and global record set in 2019.
In addressing cost-of-living concerns, Draves says the nation needs to get back to basics with national security being a number one priority, and fiscal responsibility being the second.
“How do we make sure that what we’re spending we get the return on the investment,” Draves said.
“Where are we spending our federal dollars? How are we turning on the investment? How are we driving inflation down? How are we looking at driving costs down,” Draves said. “All of those things start with energy independence.”
Draves also supported local control and opposed mandates when addressing housing availability and affordability.
“Local people understand how to solve problems like housing issues, right? So I think that it starts with making sure that the local municipalities have control of the way property uses in their district, and therefore they can help solve issues like this,” Draves said.
Draves said there is a need for leadership in addressing infrastructure issues in the district, such as lead line replacement in Flint and the Edenville and Sanford Dam failure, pledging to lead and solve problems in a pragmatic and practical way if elected to Congress.
Draves also said the U.S. needs to support Israel, and called for European nations to work with the U.S., to support Ukraine saying “we can’t be the only one who’s supporting that issue.”
Draves called abortion an “intensely personal and moral issue.”
“I am personally pro life, but I would say that the voters in Michigan have decided this issue in the last election,” Draves said, referring to Proposal 3 of 2022, which established a constitutional right to abortion.
When asked if she would support a nationwide ban on abortion, Draves said she would not go against the voters in Michigan.
Draves identified public safety and job opportunities as the two biggest issues her district is facing and encouraged “economic gardening” to attract businesses to the state, slamming Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic alongside current economic development efforts.
When looking at ways to attract jobs to both the state and the nation, Draves said a solid tax structure is critical.
“You have to have a tax structure that encourages people to reinvest,” Draves said.
“We can’t continue to tax people out of opportunity, and that’s what’s happening, right? You know, if a corporation’s tax goes up by 8% how does that corporation give raises to their employees? How does that corporation improve the health care package they provide their employees? How does that corporation invest more capital? They don’t, right? They just don’t do it,” Draves said.
If the government is going to regulate, it needs to regulate in a way that helps businesses grow, rather than burden them, Draves said.
When asked about gun violence, Draves noted she is a gun owner and supports the Second Amendment. She pointed to mental health as a cause for gun violence, and said the problem should be addressed at its root.
Anthony Hudson
Anthony Hudson describes himself as an “average American citizen that is tired of the direction our country is going,” noting his support for former President Donald Trump and the former president’s vision for the nation.
Hudson works as a truck driver and runs his own trucking company. He pointed to crime and poverty as the biggest concerns in Michigan’s 8th Congressional District.
“We are a very poor district. You look at Flint, Saginaw, parts of Bay City, there’s not a lot going on here. There’s not a lot of good jobs here that want to entice people to move here and bring their families or raise a family here,” Hudson said.
“Right now, it just seems like anyone who wants to commit a crime can get away with it, and those of us who follow the law are the ones suffering because of it,” Hudson said.
When asked what sets him apart from his opponents, Hudson pointed to his background, saying “I am literally cut from the same cloth as 95% of the people in this district.”
“We live the same lives, we have the same struggles. We are similar in income, we’re similar in hobbies, we’re similar in lifestyles. And I think when I get up on a stage and I talk to the people, I resonate with them, because I am literally from the people,” Hudson said. “We keep hearing this across politics, we need more representation from ‘we the people.’ And I just don’t think you get more ‘we the people’ than someone like myself who works hard every day.”
Hudson’s first priority if elected would be completing the southern border wall and closing the northern and southern borders.
“I think the most important thing right now is to protect our national security and get on board and start supporting Trump in closing down the border and initiating the largest deportation this country has ever seen,” Hudson said.
“We have phenomenal immigration laws. A lot of people don’t take the time to go and read what the laws are. We just don’t enforce them and that’s our problem.… Our country was founded on immigration, but there’s a right way to do things and there’s a wrong way to do things, and when you just come across the river, or come across a dry riverbed, or you sneak into this country and then just run from the authorities, that’s not the way to come into our country,” Hudson said.
Hudson also pointed to infrastructure as another big piece in need of work in Michigan’s 8th District, calling for ways to rebuild Flint and Saginaw.
“We’re talking about bringing businesses back here, putting light bulbs back in the heavy crime areas to light up those neighborhoods, getting more law enforcement hired and trained properly to do their job, so that they can instill law and order in our district. We have to find a way to rebuild what used to be powerful cities in this state,” Hudson said.
“It’s going to take federal dollars to fix our local issues and I’m the guy that’s going to bring that back to Flint, Saginaw, Bay County and Midland County,” he said.
Hudson also called for energy independence through increased drilling for crude oil, coal mining and nuclear energy production, saying energy independence would help combat inflation.
“Right now, everything is so expensive, and the heartbeat behind that expense is the cost of getting the goods to the people. Truck drivers, the trains, the ships coming in from overseas, we can’t transport that stuff without the fuel and when fuel goes up, the cost goes up. So we have to start with becoming energy independent,” he said.
Hudson called efforts to mitigate climate change “a scam” and criticized U.S. spending on climate. He also noted he signed the petition launched by Citizens for Local Control in opposition to the state’s clean energy siting laws allowing developers for large-scale wind, solar and battery storage projects to apply for a permit with the Michigan Public Service Commission should they fail to reach an agreement with municipalities, if a community’s local zoning standards are stricter than those outlined in the law, or if the project meets the law’s standards but the application is denied.
The effort will not appear on the 2024 ballot after failing to gather enough signatures before the May 29 deadline.
Once the nation has achieved energy and fuel independence, it can look to addressing housing costs, Hudson said,
“We need to get the rates down. We need to be able to make sure that there’s plenty of housing available for people to purchase a home,” Hudson said.
“If there’s nothing in your city to entice people to stay there, they’re not going to want to buy homes. So we have to, again, go back to the infrastructure, Hudson said. “We have to make sure that we rebuild our cities so that we have something to offer young people, or those who are relocating, coming into Michigan to where they want to buy a home and make it a competitive market, but a competitive market for the buyer, not the seller.”
Hudson noted his campaign team was looking into further efforts to address housing costs, such as changing the structure of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or altering the criteria for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans to make it easier for first time buyers, veterans or people in the medical field to buy homes.
He also called to get the government out of the medical industry in order to lower costs.
“I’ve talked to many people that are nurses or doctors or nurse practitioners, and they’ve all said the same thing: just let the government get out of our job so that we can do what we need to do,” Hudson said.
“Anytime the government is involved in an industry, they want their cut. So if we get the government out of the medical industry, I think that we can bring down the cost of regular medical health care, the treatments, the cost of the machines, the cost of the service,” Hudson said.
When asked how he would address gun violence in the nation, Hudson pointed to mental health as the root of the problem.
“Guns are inanimate objects. They do not work without the human element. What we do have is a mental health crisis in our country. And I even think the Democrats would agree that mental health is a big issue, Hudson said. “I think if we can keep our money in this country, we can provide free mental health to every American here in our country, as well as every American across the world.”
He opposed red flag laws like those implemented in Michigan, calling them “unconstitutional” and advocated for a greater focus on education on education and safety.
“I actually propose that instead of the universal background checks, that we should have the safety courses completed before you purchase a weapon. Have your [Concealed Pistol License], have your safety skills courses and things like that completed before you can go to the store and purchase a weapon legally,” Hudson said.
“I just think that that’s one more step we could do to ensure that people have been trained, they understand the weapon they’re purchasing, they understand the safety and how to store the weapons in their homes without the government making it a law that if you don’t do it this way, you could be arrested and have your guns taken without due process,” Hudson said.
When asked about abortion, Hudson said the issue is best left to the states, but said he would support a nationwide abortion ban with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother if the issue came to a vote in Congress.
In addressing foreign policy, Hudson said he felt Israel had gone too far in its campaign against Hamas, but clarified he supported defending Israel.
“Let me be clear: defense only because that is a sovereign nation. They are one of our biggest allies in the Middle East, and they have a right to survive on this planet, just like any of us do. So do the Palestinians, but the Palestinians are controlled by Hamas,” he said.
“I do not approve any offensive counter-attacks that the United States would be supplying weapons for offensive counter attacks or money to support Israel fighting back against Iran, or shooting at the Houthis or those in Syria. Defense only,” Hudson said.
He also proposed cutting aid to Ukraine, calling for the United Nations to match U.S. aid efforts.
Hudson’s campaign previously faced controversy when a video was shared to Hudson’s TikTok featuring the AI-generated voice of Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King Jr. saying, “I have another dream that Anthony Hudson will be Michigan’s 8th District’s next congressman. Yes, I have a dream again.”
The video was later deleted, with Hudson later responding to a version reposted to X, saying the video was posted without his knowledge, and had been posted by a friend of a campaign volunteer.
“The volunteer has been released and all my social media credentials have been updated. I would have NEVER approved such a STUPID and DISRESPECTFUL video,” Hudson wrote in his post.
“I sincerely apologize that all of you have seen this and I’m extremely furious about this situation. This could happen to any of us so please be cautious and aware of who has your person (sic) information.”
Paul Junge
Paul Junge, a former prosecutor who worked in U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during the Trump administration, is once again seeking the Republican nomination for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District.
Junge, who received a key endorsement from Trump on Friday, previously ran for Congress in 2022, where he ran an unsuccessful campaign against Kildee losing the race by more than 10 points. He also unsuccessfully ran against U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) in 2020.
While Junge’s campaign did not respond to multiple emails requesting an interview, his website highlighted his work during the Trump administration, while outlining his promise to “secure the border, build the wall, stop the deadly flow of illegal drugs like fentanyl” and combat human trafficking.
Junge supports an “all of the above” approach to energy that includes natural gas, nuclear renewables, and the use of pipelines like Enbridge’s controversial Line 5 that runs under the Straits of Mackinac. On his website, Junge said he supports private sector innovation toward renewable energy sources, and opposed mandates, likely referencing policies such as Michigan’s goal of 100% clean energy sources by 2040, and the Biden Administration’s goal of 100% carbon-pollution free electricity by 2035.
Junge’s website also notes his support for the second amendment, opposing “efforts to infringe upon lawful gun ownership.”
Junge told MLive and the League of Women Voters he supports former president Trump’s stance that abortion should be handled at the state level.
During his 2022 campaign, Junge told the Detroit News he would not seek a federal ban on abortion. At a Livingston County Republicans debate in February 2020, Junge said “If I’m a federal legislator, I will support life,” echoing an earlier statement — “I am pro-life. I support life at all times.”
On the economy, Junge’s website says he will fight for Congress to incentivize companies to bring operations back to the U.S. and invest in states like Michigan. He also supports fewer regulations and lower taxes “so businesses can invest in expansion and new technologies, and families can keep more of their hard-earned dollars.”
Looking at foreign policy, Junge said the nation should support Israel, and called for the defense of Americans worldwide.
“When Americans are attacked anywhere in the world, the U.S. must always respond to the threat…. America must always be a strong country ready to protect our interests, safeguard our people and stand up for our values,” Junge’s website reads.
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