Western Wayne Today

Peter Meijer, a veteran of the U.S. Army, has claimed victory in Michigan's primary election for the 3rd Congressional District.

“We’re going to bring it home in November,” Meijer told a group of supporters Aug. 4, MLive reported. 

Meijer received 50% of the vote in the primary election. State Rep. Lynn Afendoulis (R-Grand Rapids Township) came in second in the primary, with 24% of the votes. Former Sand Lake Village President Tom Norton came in with 18%, Ionia County business owner Joe Farrington with 4% and Battle Creek attorney Emily Rafi with 4%. 

U.S. Army veteran Peter Meijer | VoteMeijer.com

“We’re going to make sure that we show what West Michigan is all about — running a campaign here that makes everyone proud, so we can make sure we’re delivering value up and down the ticket and making sure that we continue to elect strong Republican leaders in West Michigan in 2020," Meijer told MLive. 

Michigan's 3rd Congressional District is currently represented by U.S. Rep. Justin Amash (L-Cascade Township), who is not seeking reelection.

Meijer will be facing Democratic nominee Hillary Scholten, an immigration attorney from Grand Rapids, in the November general election.

Several Michigan Republicans were happy with Meijer's victory and congratulated him.

“Tonight I would like to congratulate @VoteMeijer on the big victory in his primary,” Michigan GOP Chair Laura Cox wrote on Twitter. “Peter is a conservative veteran who will bring strong, stable and effective representation to West Michigan!”

This is Meijer's first time running for an elected office, MLive reported. He is a graduate of Columbia University, with a bachelor's degree in cultural anthropology, and he served in the Army Reserves for eight years. He was also deployed to Iraq from 2010 to 2011. 

In 2017 he earned his master's degree from New York University in business administration. Before his candidacy, Meijer worked as an analyst for Olympia Development of Michigan.