--- title: "Ambrose vs. Moolenaar: 2026 Michigan’s 2nd District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-mi-02" updated: "2026-08-06" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Michigan’s 2nd District race: Ben Ambrose (D) vs. John Moolenaar (R) Rating: Safe R · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 6, 2026 The general election for Michigan's 2nd Congressional District features Democratic nominee Ben Ambrose, a Marine Corps veteran, challenging Republican incumbent John Moolenaar. The race hinges on competing approaches to lower consumer costs, domestic energy and agricultural priorities, foreign influence concerns regarding China, and healthcare access. ## Candidates - **Ben Ambrose** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://www.ambrose4congress.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ben_Ambrose) - **John Moolenaar** (Republican) · [Campaign site](https://www.johnmoolenaarforcongress.com/) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Moolenaar) ## Issues ### Economy and Cost of Living Salience: high Ambrose emphasizes holding corporations accountable for price gouging and promoting 'Buy American' policies, whereas Moolenaar focuses on cutting federal spending and delivering tax relief. **Ben Ambrose:** Supports corporate price-gouging accountability Ambrose focuses on lowering costs for everyday essentials like groceries and gas by holding big corporations accountable for unfair price gouging. He advocates for 'Buy American' manufacturing policies, reduced red tape for small businesses, and clean energy job creation. - Hold corporations accountable for price gouging to lower grocery and gas prices. - Provide tax incentives and reduce red tape for small businesses. - Implement 'Buy American' policies to restore manufacturing jobs to Michigan. > “Bringing down the cost of essentials like groceries and gas by holding big corporations accountable for unfair price gouging” > — Ben Ambrose, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ben_Ambrose) **John Moolenaar:** Supports cutting federal spending Moolenaar advocates for reducing federal spending to curb inflation and make groceries and fuel more affordable. He signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge and voted for federal budget reconciliation measures. - Voted for budget reconciliation bills including H.R.1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act). - Signed Americans for Tax Reform's Taxpayer Protection Pledge. - Supported cutting taxes on Social Security benefits for seniors. > “cut wasteful Washington spending, rebuild our military, grow our economy and defend the dignity and value of every human life.” > — John Moolenaar, via [Campaign site](https://www.johnmoolenaarforcongress.com/) ### Healthcare Salience: high Ambrose supports Medicare for All and strengthening the ACA, whereas Moolenaar opposes federal government involvement in healthcare and voted against the ACA. **Ben Ambrose:** Supports Medicare for All Ambrose champions Medicare for All to guarantee quality healthcare while working to protect and expand the Affordable Care Act. He prioritizes lowering drug costs for seniors, protecting rural hospitals, and expanding mental health services. - Champion Medicare for All to guarantee healthcare for all Americans. - Protect and strengthen the Affordable Care Act while lowering prescription drug costs. - Expand mental health and addiction treatment services and support rural hospitals. > “Ben proudly supports Medicare for All and is committed to making affordable, accessible healthcare a reality for every American.” > — Ben Ambrose, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ben_Ambrose) **John Moolenaar:** Opposes government-run healthcare Moolenaar opposes federal government involvement in healthcare and voted repeatedly to repeal Obamacare. He pledges to preserve Social Security and Medicare while opposing federal healthcare mandates. - Maintains consistent opposition to the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). - Opposes federal government involvement and intervention in healthcare decisions. - Supports protecting Social Security and Medicare programs. > “They have made it clear that they do not want the federal government involved in their health care in any way.” > — John Moolenaar, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Moolenaar) ### Agriculture and Energy Salience: medium Ambrose advocates transitioning to clean energy and expanding regional crop caps, while Moolenaar supports expanding domestic oil and gas production and blocking foreign acquisitions of U.S. farmland. **Ben Ambrose:** Supports clean energy transition Ambrose advocates transitioning to clean energy sources to make Michigan energy independent while protecting the Great Lakes. He supports raising federal caps on West Michigan agricultural products and promoting sustainable farming practices. - Increase Federal Caps on agricultural products grown in West Michigan. - Protect the Great Lakes from pollution and invasive species. - Transition to clean energy to create manufacturing jobs and reduce emissions. > “Transition to clean energy sources and reduce carbon emissions” > — Ben Ambrose, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ben_Ambrose) **John Moolenaar:** Supports traditional energy and farmland protection Moolenaar supports boosting domestic oil, natural gas, and coal production to achieve lower energy costs. He works to protect American agricultural land from purchase by foreign adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party. - Voted for the Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1) to expand domestic fossil fuel production. - Opposes Chinese-linked agricultural developments, including the Gotion project in Michigan. - Works to block foreign adversaries from buying U.S. farmland as Chair of the Select Committee on China. > “This includes preventing our adversaries from buying up American farmland and protecting our Michigan communities from foreign threats, including stopping the Chinese-linked Gotion project right here at home.” > — John Moolenaar, via [Campaign site](https://www.johnmoolenaarforcongress.com/) ### Veterans' Affairs Salience: medium Both candidates prioritize VA reform, with Marine Corps veteran Ambrose highlighting comprehensive mental healthcare access and Moolenaar emphasizing administrative overhaul of the VA. **Ben Ambrose:** Supports comprehensive veteran healthcare Drawing on 20 years of service in the Marine Corps, Ambrose focuses on streamlining the VA system. He pledges to expand comprehensive physical and mental health resources to help veterans transition to civilian life. - Improve VA systems to deliver health services efficiently. - Expand mental health care access for returning veterans. - Protect healthcare and retirement benefits for military families. > “Ben served our country alongside men and women who were injured, mentally and physically, he knows what Veterans need to assimilate back into civilian life” > — Ben Ambrose, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ben_Ambrose) **John Moolenaar:** Supports reforming VA benefits Moolenaar emphasizes upholding promises to veterans by addressing systemic failures within the Department of Veterans Affairs and securing necessary healthcare funding through appropriations. - Voted for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs continuing appropriations. - Advocates reform of the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure benefit delivery. > “Sadly, the current situation of Veterans Administration is proof that the federal government is failing our veterans in the most basic way.” > — John Moolenaar, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Moolenaar) ### Education Salience: medium Ambrose focuses on increasing federal funding for public schools and Pell Grants, whereas Moolenaar supports local educational control and federal restrictions on transgender participation in female sports. **Ben Ambrose:** Supports federal public school funding Ambrose prioritizes increasing federal investments in public K-12 education, expanding Pell Grants, and reducing class sizes. He advocates for higher teacher pay and accessible vocational and apprenticeship programs. - Increase federal funding for public schools and reduce class sizes. - Expand Pell Grants and vocational apprenticeship programs. - Improve teacher compensation and professional development. > “Increase federal funding for public schools and reduce class sizes” > — Ben Ambrose, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ben_Ambrose) **John Moolenaar:** Supports parental rights and athletic restrictions Moolenaar supports local control of education and federal legislation restricting athletic participation based on biological sex. - Voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 (H.R. 28). - Supports local educational control and parental involvement. > “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025” > — John Moolenaar, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Moolenaar) ### Abortion and Reproductive Rights Salience: medium Ambrose supports protecting access to reproductive healthcare services, while Moolenaar opposes abortion and believes life begins at conception. **Ben Ambrose:** Supports reproductive healthcare access Ambrose advocates protecting women's access to reproductive healthcare as a core pillar of his healthcare platform. - Ensure women have access to full reproductive healthcare services. > “Ensure women have access to reproductive healthcare” > — Ben Ambrose, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ben_Ambrose) **John Moolenaar:** Opposes abortion; pro-life Moolenaar maintains a strict pro-life stance, stating that human life begins at conception. He is endorsed by Right to Life of Michigan PAC. - Endorsed by the Right to Life of Michigan PAC. - Believes human life begins at conception and opposes abortion access. > “Life begins at conception. We must protect human life, the foundation of our civilization.” > — John Moolenaar, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Moolenaar) ### Gun Rights Salience: low Ambrose is endorsed by Gun Sense Voter, whereas Moolenaar pledges to defend Second Amendment rights against new firearm restrictions. **Ben Ambrose:** Supports gun safety legislation Ambrose is endorsed by Gun Sense Voter and supports common-sense gun safety policies. - Endorsed by Gun Sense Voter. > “Gun Sense Voter” > — Ben Ambrose, via [Campaign site](https://www.ambrose4congress.com/) **John Moolenaar:** Supports Second Amendment rights Moolenaar strongly defends Second Amendment rights and opposes restrictions on law-abiding gun owners. - Pledges to defend Second Amendment rights against new gun control measures. > “As your member of Congress, I will always defend the 2nd Amendment” > — John Moolenaar, via [Campaign site](https://www.johnmoolenaarforcongress.com/) ### Border Security and Immigration Salience: medium **Ben Ambrose:** No documented position in our sources **John Moolenaar:** Supports strict border enforcement Moolenaar contends immigration reform must start with physical border security. He voted for strict enforcement legislation, including mandatory detention for unauthorized immigrants charged with theft and proof of citizenship for voting. - Voted for the Laken Riley Act (S.5) requiring detention of unauthorized immigrants arrested for theft. - Voted for the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register for federal elections. - Voted for H.R. 875 to make driving while impaired grounds for deportation or inadmissibility. > “I strongly believe that immigration reform must begin with border security.” > — John Moolenaar, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Moolenaar) ### Public Safety and Crime Salience: medium **Ben Ambrose:** Supports community policing and accountability Ambrose supports community policing alongside police accountability measures and increased transparency. He champions investments in violence intervention, increased public servant pay, and treatment programs to combat the opioid crisis. - Support community policing and law enforcement transparency measures. - Invest in community violence prevention and intervention programs. - Increase pay for public safety personnel and expand opioid addiction treatment. > “Support community policing and police accountability measures” > — Ben Ambrose, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ben_Ambrose) **John Moolenaar:** No documented position in our sources ### Foreign Policy and China Salience: medium **Ben Ambrose:** No documented position in our sources **John Moolenaar:** Supports countering Chinese influence As Chairman of the Select Committee on China, Moolenaar focuses on protecting U.S. national security and economic interests from the Chinese Communist Party, including stopping Chinese-linked local industrial projects. - Serves as Chairman of the Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the CCP. - Opposes Chinese-backed investments in Michigan like the Gotion battery plant project. - Pushes policies to stop CCP purchase of American farmland. > “It's been a privilege to Chair the Select Committee on China for the past two years working with our allies to hold the CCP accountable.” > — John Moolenaar, via [Campaign site](https://www.johnmoolenaarforcongress.com/) ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/mi-02-house-election-winner) — MI-02 House Election Winner: Republicans 97.9%, Democrats 1.8% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXHOUSERACE-MI02-26) — MI-02 House winner?: John Moolenaar 97.0%, Benjamin Ambrose 2.7% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXMIPRIMARY-02D26) — MI-02 Democratic nominee?: Ben Ambrose 99.0%, Jamie Hill 1.0%, Clyde Welford 1.0% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-mi-02)