On August 5, 2026 the August 4th primary election in Michigan’s 4th Congressional District will have finally concluded. For months, our communities from Kalamazoo to Battle Creek, and from Benton Harbor up the coast to Holland, have been the epicenter of rigorous debate. Campaign signs have dotted our lawns, mailboxes have overflowed with literature, and passionate conversations have taken place in diners, union halls, and living rooms across southwestern Michigan. It was a hard-fought, occasionally contentious battle. But as the dust settles, a new and urgent task lies before us: we must come together.
The Purpose of the Primary
Primaries are fundamentally designed to test ideas and leadership. They are the crucible in which a party’s vision is forged. It is entirely natural—and even healthy—for such contests to highlight our differences. Opposing camps drew sharp contrasts on policy priorities, strategic approaches, and visions for the future. Passions ran high precisely because the stakes are so monumental. The hardworking people of MI-04 care deeply about the economic vitality of our region, the preservation of our Great Lakes, the cost of living for working families, and the future we are leaving for our children.
However, while a primary election is meant to distinguish candidates, the general election demands that we distinguish our shared values from those who oppose them. The primary will be over. The time for internal division will have passed.
The Peril of a Fractured Front
History offers a stark warning to those who allow primary squabbles to fester: a house divided cannot stand. Lingering resentments, bruised egos, and refusal to support the chosen nominee do not serve the interests of the district; they only empower our political adversaries. If we remain fractured, we forfeit our collective voice.
We cannot afford to let the temporary fractures of August become the permanent failures of November. The challenges facing our district require a united front, blending the best ideas from all campaigns to build a stronger coalition.
Our opponents are already looking toward November, well-funded and thoroughly unified. They are banking on our inability to reconcile. They hope that those whose preferred candidate did not win will simply stay home, or worse, vote out of spite. We must prove them wrong. The path to victory is paved with compromise, grace, and an unwavering commitment to the bigger picture.
Finding Our Common Ground
Now is the time to remember that what unites us is far greater than what briefly divided us. Every door knocked, every phone call made, and every dollar donated during this primary was fueled by a shared desire to improve the lives of the people in Michigan’s 4th Congressional District. Whether a voter cast their ballot in Kalamazoo County or Ottawa County, Van Buren County or Allegan County, Berrien County or Calhoun County, they did so hoping for robust infrastructure, stronger schools, safer neighborhoods, and a government that respects and serves its constituents.
We must rally behind our nominee, not just with reluctant acceptance, but with genuine enthusiasm. The winning campaign must also extend an olive branch, actively listening to the concerns of those who voted differently and incorporating their best ideas into the platform. True unity is not merely falling in line; it is building a broader, more inclusive coalition where every voice feels heard and valued.
Moving Forward
The road to November is short, and the work ahead is immense. Let us take down the competing yard signs and replace them with a unified message. Let us redirect our energy away from internal debates and toward the general electorate. For the sake of Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Holland, and every community in MICD-04, we must move forward—together, resolute, and ready to win.
Tickets are still available for our Unity Gala: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/unitygala2026