John Moolenaar
{{Short description|American politician (born 1961)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = John Moolenaar
| image = John Moolenaar portrait (118th Congress).jpg
| office = Chair of the House Committee on the Chinese Communist Party
| term_start = April 24, 2024
| term_end =
| predecessor = Mike Gallagher
| successor =
| state1 = Michigan
| term_start1 = January 3, 2015
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 = Dave Camp
| successor1 =
| constituency1 = 4th district (2015–2023)
2nd district (2023–present)
| state_senate2 = Michigan
| district2 = 36th
| term_start2 = January 1, 2011
| term_end2 = December 31, 2014
| predecessor2 = Tony Stamas
| successor2 = Jim Stamas
| state_house3 = Michigan
| district3 = 98th
| term_start3 = January 1, 2003
| term_end3 = December 31, 2008
| predecessor3 = Tony Stamas
| successor3 = Jim Stamas
| birth_name = John Robert Moolenaar
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|5|8}}
| birth_place = Midland, Michigan, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Republican
| spouse =
| children =
| education = Hope College (BS)
Harvard University (MPA)
| website = {{URL|moolenaar.house.gov|House website}}
| module = {{Listen
|embed = yes
|pos = center
|filename = John Moolenaar speaks in support of the Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act.ogg
|title = Moolenaar's voice
|type = speech
|description = Moolenaar speaks in support of the Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act
Recorded December 9, 2019}}
}}
John Robert Moolenaar ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|oʊ|l|ə|n|ɑr}} {{Respell|MOHL|ən|ar}}; born May 8, 1961){{Citation needed|date=October 2024|reason=Source needed for middle name.}} is an American chemist and politician serving as a U.S. representative from Michigan since 2015, representing the state's 2nd congressional district since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2003 to 2008 and the Michigan Senate from 2011 to 2014.[http://legislature.mi.gov/(S(oihnpzmtwrwfcs45ex1nab45))/documents/2011-2012/michiganmanual/2011-MM-P0164-p0164.pdf 2011-2012 Michigan Manual: State Senator John Moolenaar]
Early life and education
Moolenaar was born on May 8, 1961, in Midland, Michigan.{{cite web|url=https://www.newnetherlandinstitute.org/history-and-heritage/dutch_americans/john-moolenaar|title = John Moolenaar [1961]|website = New Netherland Institute|accessdate = May 17, 2024}} His family is of Dutch ancestry. He graduated from Hope College in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry.{{cite web|url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/M001194|title = MOOLENAAR, John|website = Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|accessdate = May 17, 2024}} He later earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Harvard University in 1989.
Career
Moolenaar worked at Dow Chemical Company as a chemist for eight months before entering politics.{{cite web|title=Biography|url=https://moolenaar.house.gov/about/full-biography|website=house.gov|access-date=May 29, 2015|date=December 11, 2012}} He was a member of the Midland City Council from 1997 to 2000. He was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2002, where he served three terms.
Moolenaar ran for the 36th district in the 2010 Michigan Senate election. He was elected with 63.79% of the vote, defeating Democratic candidate Andy Neumann.{{cite web|title=2010 Michigan Election Results - General|url=https://mielections.us/election/results/10GEN/|publisher=Michigan Secretary of State|access-date=February 27, 2025|date=September 28, 2016|url-status=live|archive-date=February 10, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250210100859/https://mielections.us/election/results/10GEN/}}
Moolenaar did not run for reelection to the state Senate in 2014, choosing instead to run for U.S. House. He was succeeded in the Senate by Republican Jim Stamas.{{cite web|title=2014 Michigan Election Results - General|url=https://mielections.us/election/results/14GEN/|publisher=Michigan Secretary of State|access-date=February 27, 2025|date=September 28, 2016|url-status=live|archive-date=February 22, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250222141056/https://mielections.us/election/results/14GEN/}} Moolenaar won the August 5 Republican primary for Michigan's 4th congressional district with 52.40% of the vote, defeating Paul Mitchell and Peter Konetchy.{{cite web|title=2014 Michigan Election Results - State Primary|url=https://mielections.us/election/results/14PRI/|publisher=Michigan Secretary of State|access-date=February 27, 2025|date=September 28, 2016|url-status=live|archive-date=December 3, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203204009/https://mielections.us/election/results/14PRI/}} In the general election, he won 56.49% of the vote, defeating Democratic candidate Jeff Holmes, Libertarian candidate Will Tyler White, and U.S. Taxpayers' Party candidate George Zimmer.
Moolenaar was renominated without contest in 2016,{{cite web|title=2016 Michigan Election Results - State Primary|url=https://mielections.us/election/results/2016PRI_CENR.html|publisher=Michigan Secretary of State|access-date=February 27, 2025|date=October 17, 2016|url-status=live|archive-date=September 30, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240930051120/https://mielections.us/election/results/2016PRI_CENR.html}} winning the general with 61.62% of the vote against Democratic candidate Debra Wirth and four third-party candidates.{{cite web|title=2016 Michigan Election Results - General|url=https://mielections.us/election/results/2016GEN_CENR.html|publisher=Michigan Secretary of State|access-date=February 27, 2025|date=November 28, 2016|url-status=live|archive-date=February 12, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250212023850/https://mielections.us/election/results/2016GEN_CENR.html}} In 2018, Moolenaar again faced no primary opposition,{{cite web|title=2018 Michigan Election Results - State Primary|url=https://mielections.us/election/results/2018PRI_CENR.html|publisher=Michigan Secretary of State|access-date=February 27, 2025|date=September 27, 2018|url-status=live|archive-date=February 10, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250210143026/https://mielections.us/election/results/2018PRI_CENR.html}} defeating Democrat Jerry Hilliard with 62.62% of the vote in the general election.{{cite web|title=2018 Michigan Election Results - General|url=https://mielections.us/election/results/2018GEN_CENR.html|publisher=Michigan Secretary of State|access-date=February 25, 2025|date=November 26, 2018|url-status=live|archive-date=February 22, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250222143212/https://mielections.us/election/results/2018GEN_CENR.html}} In 2020, he faced a rematch against Hilliard, winning this time with 65.00% of the vote.{{cite web|title=2020 Michigan Election Results - State Primary|url=https://mielections.us/election/results/2020PRI_CENR.html|publisher=Michigan Secretary of State|access-date=February 27, 2025|date=August 24, 2018|url-status=live|archive-date=December 4, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204012514/https://mielections.us/election/results/2020PRI_CENR.html}}{{cite web|title=2020 Michigan Election Results - General|url=https://mielections.us/election/results/2020GEN_CENR.html|publisher=Michigan Secretary of State|access-date=February 25, 2025|date=November 23, 2020|url-status=live|archive-date=February 22, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250222161324/https://mielections.us/election/results/2020GEN_CENR.html}}
In the 2020 United States redistricting cycle following the 2020 census, the 4th district shifted to the southwestern part of the state, with the 2nd district shifting east, covering more of central Michigan. Moolenaar's home in Midland was drawn into the 8th district. He opted to move to Caledonia, a suburb of Grand Rapids, and ran ran for reelection in the new 2nd district. Bill Huizenga, the incumbent of the old 2nd district, had his home drawn into the 4th and ran for reelection there.{{cite news |last1=Khan |first1=Nisa |last2=Ruberg |first2=Emma |title=The changes to Michigan's congressional map, district by district |url=https://www.michiganpublic.org/politics-government/2022-02-15/the-changes-to-michigans-congressional-map-district-by-district |access-date=February 25, 2025 |work=Michigan Public |date=February 15, 2022 |language=en}} Moolenaar faced Tom Norton in the Republican primary for the new seat, winning renomination with 65.20% of the vote. In the general election, he faced Hilliard for the third time, winning with 63.68% of the vote.{{cite web |title=2022 Michigan Election Results - General |url=https://mielections.us/election/results/2022GEN_CENR.html |publisher=Michigan Secretary of State |access-date=November 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129162327/https://mielections.us/election/results/2022GEN_CENR.html |archive-date=November 29, 2022 |date=November 28, 2022 |url-status=live}} In 2024, Moolenaar won the Republican primary uncontested,{{cite web|title=2024 Michigan Election Results - State Primary|url=https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/votehistory/Index?type=C&electionDate=8-6-2024|publisher=Michigan Secretary of State|access-date=January 3, 2025|date=August 26, 2024|url-status=live|archive-date=January 3, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250103191326/https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/votehistory/Index?type=C&electionDate=8-6-2024}} and defeated Democratic candidate Michael Lynch with 65.14% of the vote.{{cite web|title=2024 Michigan Election Results - General|url=https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/votehistory/Index?type=C&electionDate=11-5-2024|publisher=Michigan Secretary of State|access-date=November 24, 2024|date=November 22, 2024|url-status=live|archive-date=November 24, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241124174348/https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/votehistory/Index?type=C&electionDate=11-5-2024}}
U.S. House of Representatives
=Committee assignments=
For the 118th Congress:{{cite web |url=https://moolenaar.house.gov/about/committees-and-caucuses | title=Committees and Caucuses | Congressman John Moolenaar | date=January 3, 2021 }}
- Committee on Appropriations
- Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
- Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
- Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (Chair)
=Caucus memberships=
- Republican Study Committee{{cite web|title=Member List|url=https://rsc-walker.house.gov/|publisher=Republican Study Committee|access-date=2 January 2018|archive-date=January 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101195017/https://rsc-walker.house.gov/|url-status=dead}}
- Republican Main Street Partnership{{cite web|title=Members|url=https://republicanmainstreet.org/members/|publisher=Republican Main Street Partnership|access-date=25 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826123025/https://republicanmainstreet.org/members/|archive-date=August 26, 2018|url-status=dead}}
- U.S.-Japan Caucus{{cite web|title=Members|url=https://usjapancaucus-castro.house.gov/members| publisher=U.S. - Japan Caucus|access-date=14 December 2018}}
- Congressional Coalition on Adoption{{Cite web|title=Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute|url=https://www.ccainstitute.org|language=en}}
Political positions
In December 2020, Moolenaar was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden defeated{{cite web|last1=Blood|first1=Michael R.|last2=Riccardi|first2=Nicholas|date=December 5, 2020|title=Biden officially secures enough electors to become president|url=https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-elections-electoral-college-3e0b852c3cfadf853b08aecbfc3569fa|url-status=live|access-date=December 12, 2020|website=AP News|archive-date=December 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208201209/https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-elections-electoral-college-3e0b852c3cfadf853b08aecbfc3569fa}} incumbent Donald Trump. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.{{Cite news|last=Liptak|first=Adam|author-link=Adam Liptak|date=2020-12-11|title=Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/us/politics/supreme-court-election-texas.html|access-date=2020-12-12|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=December 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211234955/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/us/politics/supreme-court-election-texas.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Order in Pending Case|url=https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/121120zr_p860.pdf|date=2020-12-11|publisher=Supreme Court of the United States|access-date=December 11, 2020|archive-date=December 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211234004/https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/121120zr_p860.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/10/politics/read-house-republicans-texas-supreme-court/index.html|title=Brief from 126 Republicans supporting Texas lawsuit in Supreme Court|first=Daniella |last=Diaz|work=CNN|access-date=December 11, 2020|archive-date=December 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212000435/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/10/politics/read-house-republicans-texas-supreme-court/index.html|url-status=live}}
In 2022, Moolenaar voted against the Respect for Marriage Act.
{{cite web
|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gay-marriage-republicans-house_n_62d74240e4b081f3a8f8511f
| title=These 157 House Republicans Voted Against Protections For Same-Sex Marriage
| first=Igor
| last=Bobic
| date=July 19, 2022
| website=Huffington Post
| access-date=2022-07-20
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://moolenaar.house.gov/ Congressman John Moolenaar] official U.S. House website
- [http://johnmoolenaarforcongress.com/ Campaign website]
- {{C-SPAN|76660}}
- {{ CongLinks | congbio = M001194 | fec = H4MI04126 | votesmart = 37676 | congress = john-moolenaar/M001194}}
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Category:21st-century American chemists
Category:American politicians of Dutch descent
Category:Dow Chemical Company employees
Category:Harvard Kennedy School alumni
Category:Michigan city council members
Category:People from Midland, Michigan
Category:Republican Party members of the Michigan House of Representatives
Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Michigan
Category:Republican Party Michigan state senators
Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives