Candidate Profile: Haley Stevens, U.S. Congress, Oakland County

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI — Democratic U.S. Representative Haley Stevens is running for Michigan's newly drawn 11th U.S. Congressional District, which includes most of Oakland County. She will face Republican Mark Ambrose is the Nov. 8 general election.

Stevens defeated U.S. Rep. Andy Levin in a hotly contested August primary, which featured a unique battle between the two very popular Democratic representatives from Oakland County.

Here's how she filled out her candidate profile:

Name

Haley Stevens

Campaign website

https://haleystevensforcongres...

City or town of residence

Birmingham

Office sought

U.S. Congress

District, if applicable

11th Congressional District

Party affiliation

Democrat

Education

American University; (B.A), Social Policy & Philosophy (M.A); Political Science & Philosophy (B.A)

Occupation

Congresswoman for Michigan's 11th District

Family

Candidate declines to share.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

N/A

Age

39

Previous public office, appointive or elective

Yes. I have represented Michigan's 11th District in the U.S. Congress for two terms.

Why are you seeking this office?

I am running for re-election in Michigan’s newly drawn 11th District because Oakland County deserves a champion in Congress who leads by solving problems and getting things done. I am engaged with school boards, small businesses, our special education community, food banks and the over two dozen communities that comprise Michigan’s 11th District. I am proud to have returned over $100 million to Michigan families and businesses through my record-breaking casework program, and $18 million through community directed funding projects. My goal is to continue championing our innovation economy and incredible workforce training assets, and to ensure that the government paid for by the people works for the people.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

One candidate in this race uses their website to flaunt their support for Donald Trump and echo election conspiracies, while I believe we need accountability for the failures that took place on January 6th and a plan to defend voting rights in this nation. My opponent does not believe in common sense gun safety legislation or a woman’s right to choose. He does not have a plan for the economy but rather talking points that have failed us before. I worry a Republican majority will result in America defaulting on our debt limit which would have cataclysmic impacts for our standing in the world and our economic growth. I believe political games over the needs of hard working people will continue to hold our nation back and sow distrust in the systems of government. I seek to lead with transparency and open communication. Every time I cast a vote I do so with the needs of the people that I represent front and center, not the next election. The question I always seek to answer is: how can I help? How can I get you and your family the best result?

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

N/A

Do you think the federal government can or should do more to curb inflation, which has led to an increase in prices for food, gas and other goods?

I deeply feel the impact of the rising costs of goods on those I represent and seek to be transparent with everyone. When times are tough, we need principled leaders who are willing to offer real solutions. I have taken steps to tackle inflation by passing the Inflation Reduction Act, which lowers prescription drug, health care, and energy costs, and invests in domestic energy production. We will also see reduced costs from the CHIPS and Science Act - legislation I played a key part in getting signed into law to fix our supply chains and re-shore US semiconductor chip manufacturing. But we have more work to do. We must deliver the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act - legislation that lowers farmers’ costs in the field and lowers meat and poultry costs by increasing meatpacking competition. The companies who are profiting off of rising costs for hard-working Americans must be held accountable. We need checks and balances on stock buybacks and must expose the oil companies who are posting record profits as gas prices soar. The US needs clean energy independence which includes a plan for the short and long term. We must extend waivers for free and reduced lunch that is currently stalled in the Senate. I am working with food banks and our school systems to address food insecurity, and not beating around the bush that food costs are a problem. I am in the political party that will offer solutions and refuse to put anything but Michiganders first.

Do you support changing the state’s constitution to ensure that women have to right to get an abortion?

Yes.

Do you support the Raise the Wage ballot initiative, which would increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2027 and provide cost-of-living increases in later years?

Yes.

Would you support an election initiative to require another audit of the 2020 presidential election, to transfer authority over the audit from the Secretary of State to a newly created auditing panel, and to change how elections are reviewed in the future?

No. I accept the results of free and fair elections even when they do not turn out the way I worked or hoped for.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

The horrific Oxford High School shooting furthered my dedication to passing common sense gun safety legislation. As I talk with hard-working parents who are scared to send their children to school, I am eager to get back to Congress and work to end gun violence. Further, I believe we can grow our economy by making sure everyone has a seat at the table. That is why I started the Women in STEM Caucus focused on expanding minority inclusion in STEM fields and creating access to good jobs for people that build generational wealth. Finally, I think we need a government that operates in the century we are living in. We need a constitution that recognizes women’s rights, and we need to codify Roe into law.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I was the first woman Michigan’s 11th District ever sent to Congress and have had the honor of representing my home for two terms now. Since getting elected in 2018, I have been a leading voice for unions, women, innovation, manufacturing, and gun reform. My passion for manufacturing and innovation is rooted in my experience as an Obama appointee, serving as the Chief of Staff for the U.S. Auto Rescue Task Force, which saved over 200,000 Michigan jobs. Currently, I sit on the House Committee on Education & Labor, and the House Committee on Science, Space & Technology, where I also serve as Chairwoman of the Research & Technology Subcommittee.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Assume best intentions until proven otherwise.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Michigan’s 11th District sends me to Congress to champion who we are and that is one of my favorite parts of the job. I am more optimistic about our future than I am otherwise. We are squarely living in a new time and must find ways to lead effectively and turn challenges into opportunities. Before I was in Congress, I worked in an R&D lab that brought competitor companies, universities, and non-profit groups together to work. That has been the plight of the last ten years, forging new alliances, which we can continue doing to address climate change, educational inequities, rising costs and threats from foreign competition. Michigan will play a central role in all of these debates and I am eager to position us to keep leading the way.