Former democratic candidate for Michigan’s 2nd Congressional District, Michael Lynch, said he might run again for the 2026 election.
After speaking out against the district’s current U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Caledonia) during an "empty chair" town hall, he said that his decision isn't final but that he will be putting together a committee to consider his candidacy.
“I'm putting together some different groups, and we're making the decision pretty soon,” he said.
Lynch ran against Moolenaar during the 2024 election but lost in a landslide. Moolenaar received 65% of the vote, while Lynch received 31%.
Moolenaar has been in office since 2015 and has won the majority of voters since he was elected. During his race against Democratic candidate Jerry Hilliard in 2022, Moolenaar won nearly 64% of the votes.
Lynch recently spoke out against Moolenaar during an “empty chair" town hall organized by Indivisible Central Michigan, where people criticized the Trump administration's sweeping reforms and actions in the federal government and called on Moolenaar to stand up to President Trump. He said that Moolenaar isn’t properly representing his constituents.
“John Moolenaar does not understand what it means to represent his constituents,” Lynch said. “For him, this is a job. Being a member of the House of Representatives is not a job, it's an honor. It is a privilege.”
According to his website, Lynch is an advocate for affordable health care, labor unions, the right to choose and responsible gun legislation.
In an email to CM Life, the Chair of the Democratic Party for Michigan's 2nd Congressional District, John Helge, said his party is preparing for the upcoming race.
“I can assure Mr. Moolenaar that he will face a viable candidate and a vigorous, well-organized campaign focused on defeating him in 2026,” Helge wrote.
When asked if Moolenaar will run for reelection in 2026, spokesperson Ashton Maloney didn't give a clear answer on his decision.
In an email to WCMU, Maloney stated the congressman is thankful for winning the 2024 election and hopes to fulfill promises he made during his campaign.
"In Congress, he [Moolenaar] remains focused on serving the residents of Michigan's 2nd District and fulfilling the promises he made on the campaign trail, including working to cut taxes, secure the southern border, protect our constitutional freedoms and win the strategic competition against the Chinese Communist Party," Maloney wrote.
