Northern Michigan University professor Dwight Brady first came close to running for Congress in 2010. But the Upper Peninsula Democrat says he stepped aside when former state Rep. Gary McDowell entered the race.
Now, four elections later, Brady has decided to challenge Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Watersmeet) in Michigan’s 1st District.
“I would say if you make over a quarter of a million dollars a year, I’m probably not your guy,” Brady says. “If you make less than that, the policies that I want to put forward and the Democrats want to put forward will help you.”
Brady, who lives in a suburb of Marquette called Harvey, has never held elected office. He teaches multimedia journalism and media law at NMU.
Brady says his experience making documentaries about northern Michigan issues has helped prepare him for Congress.
Brady was also appointed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm to the Michigan Climate Action Council in 2007.
Retired Marine Corps officer Matt Morgan (D-Traverse City) and small-business owner Dana Ferguson (D-Negaunee) are also running on the Democratic side.
Republican Jack Bergman was elected to his first term in 2016.