Rep. Fred Upton is testing his 2022 viability amid calls for his ouster from former President Donald Trump with a television advertisement in his western Michigan congressional district that defends his House voting record.
Upton is among the 10 Republicans who voted to impeach Trump in the aftermath of the ransacking of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 — and also was among the 13 House Republicans to support President Joe Biden’s $1 trillion infrastructure package later the same year. Based on Upton’s impeachment vote alone, Trump vowed to do everything he could to sink Upton in the Republican primary.
Now, the congressman is fighting back with a new, one-minute television spot, and he is spending $200,000 from his campaign account to make sure voters in Michigan’s newly configured 4th Congressional District hear what he has to say.
“I’m proud of my record of always putting our state, nation, and the Constitution first. Common-sense, conservative policies. On issues that matter, we’ve gotten results,” Upton says, talking straight to the camera, according to the Detroit News, which first reported news of the ad.
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“If you want a rubber stamp as your congressman, I’m the wrong guy,” added Upton, 68, now serving in his 18th term. “But if you want someone committed to solving problems, putting policy over politics, then I’m asking for your support. I’m Fred Upton, and I approve this message because I’ll always fight for all of us.”
The spot is running on broadcast and cable television in the Grand Rapids media market, as well as on digital and streaming platforms.
Upton faces three Republicans in the 4th District primary, including Rep. Bill Huizenga.
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Upton currently represents the 6th Congressional District and Huizenga the 2nd District, but both were essentially drawn into the new 4th District based on new district lines approved in the decennial reapportionment process.
