Michigan state Rep. Steve Carra, a Republican congressional candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump, announced he will run in Michigan’s new 4th Congressional District, home to both Republican Reps. Fred Upton and Bill Huizenga, and called on Upton to drop out of the race.
“Southwest Michigan is home to me. I have lived here my whole life. I graduated from Portage Northern High School and Western Michigan University. With the newly announced Congressional districts, I am now running in the 4th district to represent my hometown in Congress,” Carra said in a statement first shared with the Washington Examiner.
“While I look forward to defeating spineless Fred Upton, I am officially calling for him to drop out of the 4th district primary. Michigan demands real conservative leadership to fight the radical left,” Carra said.
Carra last April announced a primary challenge to Upton, one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump, and scooped up an early endorsement from the former president in September. But redistricting left some uncertainty about whether Carra would still run in the district.
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Michigan’s new congressional districts, approved in December, could pit Huizenga and Upton against each other in a member-versus-member primary. Both of them live in the bounds of the new 4th District, in southwestern Michigan south of Grand Rapids.
The new lines also mean that Carra resides in the new 5th District, held by Republican Rep. Tim Walberg. But congressional candidates need only be residents of the state that they wish to represent, not necessarily residents of the district. Though he lives slightly south of the new 4th District, Carra grew up within the new lines.
“I have a proven record as a conservative fighter, and it’s a complete honor to have President Donald J. Trump’s full endorsement,” Carra said. “As a Trump-endorsed, America-First conservative fighter, I will stand up against the radical left and RINOs like Upton when elected to Congress.”
The new 4th District is about as competitive as Upton’s current 6th District, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis, with a partisan lean of about 9 points in favor of Republicans.
Upton said in December after the new lines were finalized that while he has been “strongly encouraged” to seek reelection in the new 4th District, he has not announced a decision on whether he will run.
“The redistricting process is never pleasant, particularly when colleagues are pitted against each other,” Upton said.
Huizenga has also signaled his intention to run in the 4th District.
Carra’s announcement is notable because if Upton does not seek reelection, Carra will still go up against an incumbent Republican. But unlike Upton, Huizenga has not cast votes that prompt blowback from the conservative base. He voted against impeaching Trump and against the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
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In September, Trump offered his “Complete and Total Endorsement” of Carra.
“It is my great honor to endorse Michigan State Representative Steve Carra to oppose RINO Congressman Fred Upton,” Trump said at the time. “Upton has not done the job that our Country needs, for years has talked about leaving office and not running again, and he voted for Impeachment of the President of the United States on rigged up charges. He doesn’t deserve to keep his seat. Steve Carra, on the other hand, is strong on Crime, Borders, and loves our Military and our Vets. Steve will continue to fight for Low Taxes and all of the other things that the Great people of Michigan want and need.”
