MIDLAND, Mich. — Republican Bill G. Schuette prevailed over his Democratic opponent, Matthew Dawson, on Tuesday. The former intelligence officer will represent the newly-formed 95th District which comprises of Midland County and stretches into the lower half of Gladwin County.
Mr. Schuette focused his campaign on three things: freedom, family, and future. During the campaign, he also touched upon some hot-button social issues, such as alleged efforts to defund the police, parental rights when it comes to education curriculum and election integrity.
Mr. Schuette defeated Midland County Clerk Ann Manary in the G.O.P. primary election, in August. In a generally conservative district, Mr. Dawson, a political newcomer, was dogged by campaign finance errors and was significantly outraised by Mr. Schuette.
“I would like to congratulate Bill G. Schuette for State Representative on his well earned victory,” Mr. Dawson said in a statement released by his campaign. “Mr. Schuette has been a consummate figure on the campaign trail and I look forward to an opportunity to sit down and speak with him about a way to present a unified front in the community. If he brings the same vigor to the capital that he brought to the campaign trail, the community should be better for it.”
The state House seat, which now represents the 98th District, is currently held by Annette Glenn. The district lines for the 2022 race were recently changed by the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission.
Mr. Schuette previously served with the Defense Intelligence Agency as an Intelligence Analyst, drafting multiple Presidential Daily Briefs “which directly supported Oval Office meetings.” He was also once recognized as the agency’s Latin America Division “Intelligence Officer of the Year.”
Mr. Schuette has a Master’s Degree in Latin America Studies from Georgetown University. Before his campaign for state House, he worked as a Government Affairs Specialist for Dow, preparing briefing documents for Dow C-suite executives to support their external engagements and board meetings.