Meet the Candidates: McDonald Rivet, Junge for 8th Congressional seat

Oct 14, 2024

Republican candidate for U.S. House Paul Junge speaks to about 2,000 supporters on Thursday, Oct. 3 at the Ryder Center for Health and Physical Education at Saginaw Valley State University.

Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet talks division in politics during the Midland County Democratic Party Blue Gala fundraiser on May 2, 2024 at the Midland Country Club.

The race for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District has become one of the most competitive races in the country as it is down to six candidates - the two most prominent being Republican Paul Junge and Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet.

The 8th District covers most of Genesee County, all of Saginaw and Bay counties and portions of Midland and Tuscola counties, including the city of Midland. The district is represented by Dan Kildee (D-Flint), who announced last November that he would retire from the position at the end of his term. He has served the U.S. House of Representatives since 2012.

A majority of the area was previously the 5th Congressional District from 1993-2022. Before Dan Kildee, it was represented by his uncle, Dale Kildee. The district has been represented by a Democrat since 1974.

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Current candidates include Junge, who has campaigned for the seat twice before; State Sen. McDonald Rivet; Steve Barcelo from the Libertarian Party; James Allen Little from the US Taxpayers; Jim Casha from the Green Party; and Kathy Goodwin from the Working Class.

The race is considered to be among the most competitive in the country, according to Open Secrets. It is also one of two U.S. House races in Michigan still considered a toss-up, according to Cook Political Report.

The most recent data from the Federal Elections Commission, as of July 17, 2024, shows McDonald Rivet had raised over $1.68 million and had spent $881,524. Junge had raised over $2.1 million and had spent over $1.8 million.

McDonald Rivet

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McDonald Rivet serves as a state senator representing the 35th District, which covers portions of Saginaw, Bay and Midland counties. She was elected to the seat in November 2022.

She grew up in Portland, Michigan and moved to Bay City 15 years ago. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Michigan State University and a master’s of public administration from the University of Michigan with a specialty in education administration.

McDonald Rivet was executive director of Michigan Head Start Association, a senior policy advisor for Gov. Jennifer Granholm, chief of staff for Michigan’s Department of Education, vice president of the Skillman Foundation, president/CEO of Greater Midland and vice president of Michigan Future.

Prior to becoming a state senator, McDonald Rivet served as a Bay City commissioner for two years and was the chair of Bay City’s charter commission. She is the assistant majority floor leader in the Senate and serves on seven committees.

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If elected to Congress, she would have three goals: to lower costs and raise wages for working-class families, to support children and the families who raise them, and to protect rights including the right to an abortion.

“These have been my priorities in the State Senate as well, which is why I was able to champion the Working Families Tax Credit and why we were able to repeal the 1931 abortion law and pass legislation that makes housing more affordable,” McDonald Rivet said. “The way that I will accomplish that in Congress is the way we have been able to get a lot of that done in the state legislature. It’s about rolling up your sleeves, being willing to compromise and work across the aisle and directly focusing on actions that can actually get something done. I stay away from political theater, I don't engage in the chaos and Twitter fighting. I’m going to go to Congress and work with anyone who wants to work with me.”

McDonald Rivet’s endorsements including Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, Congressman Dan Kildee, the United Auto Workers, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce and more.

Junge

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Junge was born in Ann Arbor and earned his MBA at the University of Michigan before heading to the University of San Diego School of Law for his Juris Doctor. He has lived in Genesee County for several years and currently resides in Grand Blanc.

Junge previously served in the Trump Administration at the Department of Homeland Security, working to secure the border, and as investigative counsel in the U.S. Senate for Republican Chair Chuck Grassley of the Judiciary Committee.

Junge has also worked in his family business maintaining housing on military bases, as a prosecutor in the domestic violence unit, and as a television news anchor.

“Stopping the rising cost of goods and improving the economy for working families is a top priority to my campaign,” Junge said. “Equally as important, I will fight to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and poisonous synthetic opioids across our southern border, which are devastating forgotten communities across our state and across our country. I will also protect Social Security and Medicare and give seniors the support they deserve. Our communities need a strong voice that stands up against liberal Washington elites and puts the interests of Michigan families first.”

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Junge’s endorsements include former President Donald Trump, Congressman and U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers, Congressman Tim Walberg of Michigan, Congressman Jim Jordan of Ohio, Michigan Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt, Congressman Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, and more.

Isabelle Pasciolla is a political reporter at the Midland Daily News. Email her at [email protected].