HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Bryan Berghoef, the Holland pastor running in the Second Congressional District seat in West Michigan, announced via email he has raised more than $200,000 in his campaign, through the final two quarters of 2019.
The amount is a record for a Second District Democrat at this point in the campaign and, according to his statement, “a reflection that voters are ready for change in the once-heavily Republican district.”
“Our campaign is truly a people’s campaign because we did not take a single cent from corporate political action committees and we’re focused on Michigan because 84 cents of every dollar we raised came from inside our great state,” Berghoef said, adding that his campaign volunteers were “working tirelessly.”
Highlights of Berghoef’s fundraising through the fourth quarter ending Dec. 31, 2019, include:
- 100 percent of contributions to his campaign to date are from individuals
- 84 percent of contributions are from inside Michigan
- Donations came from more than 1,300 individuals
- 86 percent of contributions were for $100 or less
Incumbent Congressman Bill Huizenga has raised more than $800,000 as of Sept. 30, 2019 — the most-recent information available.
The three industries contributing the most to his campaign are from the fields of securities and investments; insurance; and commercial banks. His top three donors:
- Votesane PAC, $73,600
- New York Life Insurance, $20,300
- Alticor Inc. $16,800
Huizenga’s past campaign finances are under a bipartisan congressional ethics investigation, examining whether or not some of the money was used to inappropriately reimburse famly members or pay for trips, such as for his family to Disney World in Florida, or for other non-political purposes.
Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) was investigated by San Diego’s U.S. Attorney’s office. ed by Trump administration appointee Adam L. Braverman, for similar campaign finance violations. Hunter later pled guilty to spending campaign funds on trips to Disneyland, Europe and Hawaii, among other non-political purchases. He resigned earlier this month..
Berghoef, a Calvin College Theological Seminary graduate, founded Holland United Church of Christ in 2016. He is also a Univeristy of Michigan graduate. He and his wife, Christy, live in Holland with their four children.
