Four candidates in the running for Michigan’s 1st Congressional District, which represents the entire Upper Peninsula and most of the northern Lower Peninsula, are set to take part in a candidate forum this Friday.
However, incumbent U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, and Democratic candidate Callie Barr of Traverse City are likely not to attend, according to organizers. Barr was the Democratic Party's nominee for the district in 2024 and lost to Bergman in the general election, garnering only 37.9% of the vote in the deeply red region.
The nonpartisan forum is being hosted by the Eastern U.P. League of Women Voters and Up North Advocacy. It will be held at Lake Superior State’s Walker Crisler Center and begin at 6:30 p.m.
Four candidates are confirmed to appear, including Democrats Wayne Stiles and Kyle Blomquist, Independent Zebulon Featherly and Republican Justin Michal.
Kalvin Carter is the executive director of Up North Advocacy. He said those interested can register online and ask questions for the candidates. Attendees will also be able to ask questions in person.
Carter said he has yet to hear from the Bergman campaign, “we'll be reaching out again, but so far have not heard back,” he said. “The Callie Barr campaign said that they are booked and that they are doing small town halls throughout the district,” Carter added.
Dani Revord is Blomquist's campaign manager. She said the campaign wants to reach out to all voters.
"He's not afraid to talk to Republicans And we're not just putting blame on one party or the other. We're really focused on radically improving people's lives," Revord said.
Michal told WCMU he’s looking forward to speaking to voters at the event.
“I'm trying to give them at least a perspective by representing the Republicans,” he said. “If you think we're all monsters, we're not. We can be decent, civil human beings that care about similar things.”
The Barr and Bergman campaigns did not respond to multiple requests for comment on this story.
