There are plenty of those in Washington and elsewhere who consider Upton a moderate Republican, a tag that has followed him around for years. Rep. Fred Upton, one of the longest-tenured Republicans in the House of Representatives, has decided to retire rather than seek reelection in 2022. Stockman, of course, wasnt any ordinary OMB director: He was chief progenitor of Reagans supply-side economics, arguing for deep cuts in taxes and government spending. Even through our toughest discussions, Fred always found a way to make me laugh - except today. More: Rep. Fred Upton pushing back against GOP downplaying Capitol riot. [9], Upton won reelection to a second term with 71% of the vote. We made the right decision.. One of the last acts signed into law by President Barack Obama, it would help pave the way for a COVID-19 vaccine to be speedily brought to the public beginning in late 2020. I look at our district [hugging southern Lake Michigan]. A statement on Uptons web site about his career says he remains focused on the issues that matter to folks in Southwest Michigan: Health care, jobs and economic growth, taking care of our military personnel and veterans, education, protecting our Great Lakes, delivering real results for families and businesses here at home, and much more., Homeowner watched via trail cam as man broke into hunting camp in Northern Michigan, stole several items, Alabama Jumpers: these snake-like worms are spreading across US, Powerball results for 04/04/22; jackpot worth $233 million. Kyle Stewart is an associate producer covering Congress for NBC News. [36] In 2018, Upton and Representative Debbie Dingell worked together on legislation designed to combat opioid addiction. The Michigan Republican is one of the longest-tenured Republicans in the House. He cited several career highlights, including bipartisan passage of the 21st Century Cures Act to speed up cures and treatments for many devastating diseases. ", "To him, bipartisan and compromise are not forbidden words," she said. Subscribe to our News 10 newsletter and receive the latest local news and weather straight to your email every morning. Upton served as a sports editor of the newspaper for UM and had dreams of covering the Chicago Cubs one day. Huizenga beat little-known Democrat Joseph Alfonso by 12 points in November. 4 down and 6 to go. One of the longest serving Republicans in the House, Upton has decided to retire . Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach former President Trump in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, revealed that he has not yet decided if he will run for reelection in 2022, The Hill reports. With the redistricting in Michigan that went into effect this year, Upton would have been forced to run against U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, in the primary, due to new congressional district boundaries that place the two multi-term congressmen in the same district -- Michigans newly created Fourth District. Upton angered many in his party when he joined nine other House Republicans in voting to impeach President Donald Trump a week after the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol. Is there a worldwide run on the Bank of the United States of America? WASHINGTON - Michigan Congressman Fred Upton, a Republican who has been serving the 6th district in West Michigan since 1987, says he's retiring from Congress. Thanks again to the people of my district who placed their faith and confidence in me all these years, Upton said on the morning of April 5. Bill Clark / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images file, GOP Rep. Fred Upton receives death threat after backing infrastructure bill. Known for reaching across the aisle, the former Energy and Commerce chairman and longtime moderate leaves a legacy of crafting bipartisan legislation during his 18 terms, including bills that expanded health research, streamlined approval of drugs and medical products and tackled tough environmental problems. Upton was redrawn into the 4th district with Huizenga, who currently represents the 2nd district. Unlimited access to subscriber only articles on desktop, tablet and mobile web. Fred knew well that if were going to deliver real solutions for the American people, we need to come together and listen to all perspectives, no matter how complicated the issue might be.. [81], Upton voted for the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 which authorizes DHS to nearly double the available H-2B visas for the remainder of FY 2020. Michigan Republican Congressman Fred Upton announced Tuesday he won't be seeking reelection in November, becoming the fourth House Republican who voted for former President Trump's impeachment. Rep. Fred Upton, perennial target of disenchanted conservatives in Michigan's 6th Congressional District, is headed for a pitched battle in the 2022 Republican primary after former President. Ultimately, it saved hundreds of thousands of Americans, Upton said. He is now the 16th Republican to retire or seek another office ahead of the 2022 midterms, compared with 31 Democrats. Elected to the House in 1986, Upton became dean of the Michigan congressional delegation, and served as the chairman of the influential Energy and Commerce Committee and as a leader of a caucus of centrist Republicans known as the Tuesday Group. Part of his political base in southwestern Michigan was parceled into another district. Rep. Upton also points to his work restoring jobs to the states vital auto industry and his work to protect the Great Lakes. Upton had no desire to represent an area that didnt even slightly resemble the 6th district he had served reliably for so many years. [47][48] He said the bill "is a sincere effort to focus a targeted solution to lessons learned from the Keystone Pipeline No one can rightly argue that the current presidential permit process as the State Department is not broken, no matter what side of the climate debate you're on. View Comments. Fred Upton is retiring after serving Michigan in Congress for 36 years. News, analysis and scores on Detroit and Michigan sports teams. in journalism from the University of Michigan in 1975. All rights reserved. Moderate Rep. Fred Upton announced his retirement from Congress in an emotional House floor speech Tuesday, telling his colleagues that even the best stories have a last chapter.. Rep. Fred Upton speaks to reporters outside the White House. Dubai 'Butt Squad' model worried for Ukrainian parents aft Woman fatally shot by upstate NY homeowner after pulling into wrong driveway: sheriff, Haribo fans shocked to learn green gummy bear flavor: 'Calling the police', Yuengling takes apparent jab at Bud Light with conspicuous tweet, Bill Hader says Carol Burnett emailed him to say theyre cousins: Its insane, Mike & Molly star Billy Gardell details 150-pound weight loss: My diabetes is gone, Pump Rules alum Billie Lee exits Tom Sandovals home in same clothes from night prior, Larry Brooks previews seventh playoff series between Rangers, Devils, Even AOC Cant Believe Netflix Crashed During Love Is Blind Live Reunion, Viewers pan Kelly Ripa, Mark Consuelos' 'brutal' first 'Live' show together. Hear this story. Both did on Nov. 7, the day the Associated Press and other media outlets called the election for the Democrat. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The new district covers southern Ottawa County to northern Berrien County, including all of Allegan and Van Buren counties, Uptons hometown of St. Joseph, a portion of Kalamazoo County, and Battle Creek. Our baseball bats not as big as it used to be.. Fred Upton is retiring after serving Michigan in Congress for 36 years. [78], In June 2021, Upton was one of 49 House Republicans to vote to repeal the AUMF against Iraq. Upton joins 16 other Republican members of the House who will not contest their seat this fall. Glenn Beck called him all socialist. The conservative Club for Growth took out TV ads against him. Trump endorsed a Republican primary challenger against Upton, state Rep. Steve Carra. And as a key member of the Problem Solvers Caucus, comprised of an equal number of Republicans and Democrats, he helped put forward and pass Biden's signature bill to rebuild roads, bridges and other infrastructure that most House Republicans voted against. [88], In 2022, Upton was one of 39 Republicans to vote for the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022, an antitrust package that would crack down on corporations for anti-competitive behavior. When Michigans Fred Upton retires in a few weeks after 36 years in Congress, its possible Democrats will miss him more than his fellow Republicans. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. From 2010-16, Upton was selected by House colleagues to serve as Chairman of the Committee of Energy and Commerce. Moderate Rep. Fred Upton announced his retirement from Congress in an emotional House floor speech Tuesday, telling his colleagues that "even the best stories have a last chapter." "This is. He is a fiscal conservative and an abortion opponent who has also voted multiple times to repeal the Affordable Care Act. And he flew in from meetings in Cambodia to make it by game time. [38] At the time, he noted that the legislation, ultimately signed into law by President George W. Bush, would "help preserve energy resources and reduce harmful emissions, all while saving American families billions of dollars on their electric bills. [100][101] Open Secrets reported that Upton had a net worth of $78 million in 2018, making him one of Congress's richest members. Upton laments that those kinds of personal attacks have become common in politics today. So thats five electoral votes, thats committee representation on, whether it be ways and means or appropriations, or energy and commerce. Have House Republicans learnedthe lessons of their own history? Upton thanked his constituents for placing their confidence in him. He is one of the greatest Michiganders to serve our country., Congressman Bill Huizenga, who would have run against Upton in his next election, said, I want to thank Fred for his commitment, service, and dedication to Michigan over the years. He also reminded Wolpe that when he began to represent Kalamazoo, he kept Wolpes staff on his team because they were excellent at constituent service. She said, And they lived happily ever after. Indeed we will.. The closest he came to losing was in 2018, a wave year for Democrats nationally, when he beat Matt Longjohn 50%-46%. Looking back on his career, Upton talks proudly about legislative accomplishments like the 21st Century Cures Act one of the last bills President Barack Obama signed into law in 2016 which increased funding for health research and sped up approvals of drugs and medical devices at the Food and Drug Administration. But in retelling stories about important bills, Uptons fondest memories are about the people who helped get them passed. Mobile app for news, photos and video on the go. Fred Upton, Michigans longest serving member of Congress, is retiring, he announced today from the House floor. [16], Upton defeated Democratic nominee Kim Clark, 61%38%. Thinking back on his legacy in Congress, Upton points to his shining accomplishment: the passage of the 21st Century Cares Act in 2016. Upton was one of ten Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump over the Capitol riots in January of 2021. [11] In the general election, he was reelected to a third term with 58% of the vote. An independent commission in 2021 cut off the southern portion of Uptons old district, including a middle school named after him in his hometown of St. Joseph, and stretched it across the bottom of the state all the way to Lake Erie. When I first ran, I thought Id be here 10.. He also called for expanded background checks in response to mass shootings and voted to ensure that the federal government recognize legal marriages regardless of the couples sex, race or ethnicity, even going to the White House for the signing ceremony. "It is a little bit in that some of the folks here are so beholden to him that they dont accept those of us that are willing to stand up," Upton said. It wasnt even close. Starting his career in politics working for the Office of Budget Management in the administration of President Ronald Regan, Upton says hes seen a great change in politics since he first arrived in Washington. [37], In 2007 Upton co-sponsored the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which, among other things, mandated phased-in energy efficiency standards for most light bulbs. He first worked as a staffer for then-Rep. David Stockman, R-Mich., and then followed his boss to the Office of Management and Budget during the Reagan administration. Our district had to grow by about 20,000 people. Even the best stories have. That approval wouldnt have come for six, eight, ten months later so we literally saved hundreds of thousands of Americans, said Upton, who noted hes seeking an extension of the act in Congress before he leaves office at the end of the year. Michigan Rep. Fred Upton, a centrist stalwart who later was one of 10 Republicans who voted to impeach Donald Trump over his role in the Jan. 6 attack, said Tuesday that he would not run for re-election after 18 terms in the House. The other three who have . As chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee from 2010-16, he led dozens of efforts and since then has continued to serve as a mentor and force for bipartisanship. So far, 31 Democrats have announced they will not seek re-election. It would have been a fun campaign, Upton said, but we would have had to raise a ton of money.. He does have this magnetic pull on 35%-40% of the base and theyre going to be there for him.. A moderate in a 'toxic' place, Fred Upton says goodbye to Congress He built a bipartisan legacy and took flak for impeaching Trump Rep. Fred Upton poses this month in front of his portrait. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, a genial politician who worked for the Reagan administration before winning a seat in Congress in 1986, announced Tuesday he was stepping down after his current term. Thats put him in a tough place because he also has wanted to be a loyal member of his party. Democrats face a steep climb to keep the majority in both chambers later this year, as the GOP will only need a net gain of five seats to win back the majority in the House. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. This is it for me, he said about 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 5. [27], Upton was reelected with 55.9% of the vote against Democratic nominee Jon Hoadley (40.2%), Libertarian Party nominee Jeff Depoy (2.75%), and Green Party candidate John Lawrence (1.2%). He told FOX 17 about his decision and his vote to impeach former President Trump after Jan. 6. Even the best stories have the last chapter, Upton said. Local Republican groups censured Upton. On July 19, 2022, Upton and 46 other Republican Representatives voted for the Respect for Marriage Act, which would codify the right to same-sex marriage in federal law. counties, Man in critical condition after stabbing in Lansing, suspect arrested, Charlotte Mayor announces he will not seek re-election in November, Holt High School Robo-Rams ready to take on international robotics tournament, Michigan State University creates resource office for victims of campus shooting. 3301; 113th Congress), a bill that would make changes to permitting requirements for pipelines and other energy infrastructure at international borders. Last year, some of the criticism aimed at Upton turned extreme after he became one of the 13 Republicans to vote for the infrastructure bill. Upton made the announcement. But suggesting John Dingell was in hell, as Trump did, and using the Dingell name in a dishonorable manner, he thought, was unacceptable from anyone." He falls into easy conversation about anything U-M sports, politics, whatever with just about anybody. My district was cut like Zorro three different ways, the Michigan Republican told reporters. You know, this place is more toxic than ever before, he said. Michigan GOP roiled as Trump injects. Fred really believed that he was an American first - that reaching across the aisle was important, that working together was how to get things done for the American people. [15], Upton defeated Democratic nominee Scott Elliott, an art gallery owner, 65%32%. [40], In April 2009, Upton said that "climate change is a serious problem that necessitates serious solutions. Carbon regulation, he said, "threatens to drive energy prices higher, destroy jobs and hamstring our economic recovery. If its good policy for Michigan, its good enough for all of us, added Upton, who was one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump following last years Capitol riot. Fred and I have worked together on a host of issues including prioritizing the protection of the Great Lakes, leveling the playing field for Michigan agriculture, and supporting efforts to clean up PFAS and lead contamination. Upton announced his retirement in a speech on the House floor Tuesday morning. Hes one of the all-time greats, said U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., who will take over as chairman of the committee in the new Congress and is a close friend of Uptons. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) is the only other Republican in Michigan's congressional delegation who has stated that Biden is the winner of the 2020 presidential election. House unanimously approves resolution condemning Russia for downing US drone, 4 progressives, 2 conservatives vote against bill to hold China accountable for spy balloon, Florida Republican Greg Steube endorsing Trump for president, Scalise says House GOP will roll out debt ceiling plan Tuesday. [68], In July 2019, Upton was one of four Republican House members to vote in support of a motion to condemn comments Trump made on Twitter calling on four Democratic Congresswomen, three of whom were born in the U.S., to "go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came. [23][24], Initial polls showed Upton with a sizable lead over O'Brien, but an October poll showed Upton and O'Brien in a dead heat heading into the final stretch of the campaign.[25][26]. Bipartisanship cripples legislative efforts, and even Michigans political landscape has changed drastically. Oklahoma governor calls for resignations after county officials reportedly 10 key questions for this weeks historic UFO hearing. Fred is a dear friend to me, he was Johns best friend. Michigan redrew its map after the 2020 census. Four were defeated in primaries, and four, including Upton, opted to retire. Rep. Fred Upton, a Republican from Michigan, listens during a news. Someone asked my wife, Amy, what would be the next chapter? the outgoing lawmaker concluded, choking up as he spoke. "[50], As of 2017, Upton has received more than $2 million in campaign donations from oil and gas companies and electric utilities over the course of his political career. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Believing that Trump incited the mob on Jan. 6 to attack the Capitol, he voted to impeach him becoming one of just 10 House Republicans to do so and earning the presidents lasting ire. Clark / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images file, GOP Rep. 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