Bill Huizenga

Early life, education, and career

Huizenga is the current co-owner and operator of Huizenga Gravel Company, a third generation business located in Jenison, Michigan. He has been affiliated with it for most of his life.

In the early 1990s, Huizenga obtained his Michigan Real Estate sales license, and he quickly became one of the most successful realtors in southwest Michigan. He left real estate in 1996 when he was recruited by U.S. Congressman Peter Hoekstra to be his Director of Public Policy. For six years, from 1996 through 2002, he traveled throughout western Michigan becoming familiar with the various towns and cities, and eventually decided to run for political office.

Michigan legislature

Starting with his first election in 2002, Huizenga represented the 90th district for three terms, by winning re-election in 2004 and 2006. After the 2006 election he was term limited. The district is located in Ottawa County and includes the cities of Holland, Zeeland, Hudsonville, and the four townships of Blendon Township, Jamestown Township, Holland Township, and Zeeland Township.

Huizenga voted for the initial version of the Michigan Business Tax, but opposed the 22% surcharge and a sales and services tax later in the process.

Elections

Huizenga is the U.S. Representative for Michigan's 2nd congressional district, defeating Democratic nominee Fred Johnson in the general election. 64% of the ballots were cast for Huizenga, and 32% were cast for Johnson.

The district is rated "Solid Republican" by The New York Times, and simply marked as an "Open Seat" according to The Washington Post.

This district and its predecessors have been in Republican hands without interruption since 1935, and only four Democrats have ever represented it since its creation in 1873.

After serving 18 years, Republican incumbent Peter Hoekstra retired to run for the Republican nomination in the 2010 Michigan Gubernatorial race. Huizenga defeated Jay Riemersma, State Senator Wayne Kuipers, businessman Bill Cooper, and three others in the Republican primary election—the real contest in this heavily Republican district—on August 3, 2010.

In 2012, Huizenga was reelected to the U.S. House, defeating Willie German Jr. of the Democratic Party, Mary Buzuma of the Libertarian Party, Ronald Graeser of the U.S. Taxpayers Party and William Opalicky of the Green Party.

Committee assignments

Legislation

On September 28, 2013, Huizenga introduced the Mortgage Choice Act of 2013 (H.R. 3211; 113 Congress), a bill that would direct the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to amend its regulations related to qualified mortgages to reflect new exclusions made by this bill.

Political positions and votes

Huizenga has served as his church's representative to Michigan Right to Life for the last 9 years. Huizenga was endorsed for the 2010 general election by a number of groups including the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, The NRA, NFIB, Right to Life, FRC, The National Association of Realtors, The Young Guns Vanguard and the Michigan Farm Bureau.

Personal life

Huizenga and his wife have five children and live in Zeeland. In December 2016, Rep. Huizenga used his sons broken arm as an example of "rationing" healthcare. Instead of visiting an ER or urgent care center, Rep. Huizenga and his wife waited an evening and a night to visit a doctor. Huizenga attends Haven Christian Reformed Church in Holland, Michigan.