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.
My source is this. They have a chart for every state.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_congressional_delegations_from_Michigan
The 2nd was the 9th before 1992.
A woman named Ruth Thompson served between Engel and Griffin.
Engel won in 1934, beat the 1 term rat.
My source is this. They have a chart for every state.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_congressional_delegations_from_Michigan
The 2nd was the 9th before 1992.
A woman named Ruth Thompson first woman on the House Judiciary committee served between Engel and Griffin. Griffin beat her in the primary in 56. Griffin seems to have been a moderate. Maybe she was more a conservative.
Engel won in 1934, beat the 1 term rat.
There have only been 7 individuals to represent that seat since 1907 (8 since 1895). When Republican James McLaughlin won in 1906, he lasted for the next 26 years, but lost reelection (at 74) to Democrat Harry Musselwhite in the ‘32 FDR landslide. McLaughlin died only 3 weeks later before the end of the session. Republican Albert Engel then beat Musselwhite in 1934, one of the modest gains made by the GOP that year (though we overall lost seats).
Engel decided to run for Governor in 1950 (ill-advised), and lost the primary to ex-Gov. Harry Kelly. Kelly lost a heartbreakingly narrow margin to freshman Democrat Soapy Williams (just a smidge over 1,000 votes where the Prohibitionist candidate probably made the difference).
Engel was succeeded by Republican Ruth Thompson. Bob Griffin beat Thompson in the ‘56 GOP primary (I’d imagine age played a factor, as she was 69 and Griffin was a vigorous 33. Griffin has now outlived his successor, Vander Jagt, and is 85). If Hoekstra runs for Governor, he’d be well-advised to make sure the path is cleared, or he might end up like Engel did back in ‘50.