McCann ousts eight-term Rep. Bill Huizenga in southwest Michigan

State Sen. Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo) has won Michigan’s 4th Congressional District, beating incumbent U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI).

The Associated Press called the race for McCann on Wednesday at 1:13 p.m. EST. As of 1:30 p.m. EST, McCann led Huizenga 50.1% to 48.3%, or 185,440 votes to 178,741, with an estimated 97% of votes counted. As of 2:40 p.m. EST, Democrats had won 237 House seats to Republicans’ 139, with 59 races uncalled, according to AP. A party needs 218 for a majority.

McCann served in the state House from 2011 to 2014 and has served in the state Senate since 2019. Republicans have long held the seat. Kalamazoo last had a Democrat in Congress when Howard Wolpe left office in 1993. Huizenga, an eight-term congressman, won the 4th District by nearly 12 points in 2024.

McCann campaigned on a platform of affordability, clean energy and reducing healthcare costs. McCann raised about $4.7 million through Oct. 14, compared with about $5.6 million for Huizenga, according to Federal Election Commission filings. McCann campaigned with former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Huizenga ran on a platform of expanding domestic energy production and manufacturing. He is an ardent supporter of President Donald Trump’s tariff policies and war in Iran.

The race received national attention because of its potential to flip control of the U.S. House to Democrats. As of 1:30 p.m. EST, Democrats flipped 62 seats in the House, securing the majority.