A former housing official who served under the Trump administration launched a campaign last week for the U.S. House, entering a race where he will attempt to primary a fellow Republican representing a district in West Michigan.
Republican John Gibbs is running against freshman U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI), who voted to impeach President Donald Trump on a charge of inciting insurrection after an unruly mob stormed the U.S. Capitol in January.
At the time, Meijer acknowledged the move “may have been an act of political suicide,” but still defended his actions as “necessary for the good of the country.” He was one of only ten Republicans to join the Democrats pushing impeachment. Since then, Gibbs has been the fourth candidate to announce a primary challenge against Meijer.
“AMERICA FIRST, AMERICA ALWAYS,” tweeted Gibbs on Saturday. “America is much more than just an idea, a creed, or a document. Rather America is her people, and our people are the consciousness of our culture, heritage, language, customs, and faith, which we share in continuity with our forefathers.”
The Detroit News reported, “Gibbs, a Michigan native from Lansing, was nominated last year by former President Donald Trump to serve as director of the Office of Personnel Management, but the Senate never confirmed him to the post.”