Most Republican seat in Michigan. Even voted for McCain it seems. It’s antecedent last went rat in 1932, the only time in 20th century. Should be safe as long our guy is name Van something.
There have only been three men who have represented the counties up and down Lake Michigan (once was called the 9th CD) since 1956—Bob Griffin, who vacated the seat when he was appointed US Senator at the death of Sen. MacNamara; Guy Vanderjagt, who was a state senator at the time, won the election to replace him—he served from 1966-92, when he was upset in the GOP primary by Peter Hoekstra.
Griffin succeeded Albert Engel, who left Congress to become the local US District Court judge; I don’t know how far back Engel served (I grew up in Fremont, MI, in Newaygo County, which historically has been one of the most GOP-friendly counties in the state, between the Hollanders and the Gerber family). Newaygo County, so far as I can tell, has always been in this district, where the largest city is Muskegon.