Six candidates are running for Michigan's First Congressional District seat in the primary election on Aug. 4. The seat is currently occupied by U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, who is running for a fifth term.
WCMU Public Media sent a questionnaire to all six of the candidates in this race on July 9, asking for their views on different issues impacting the region.
Wayne Stiles is one of three Democratic candidates in the race. His responses are listed below.
Methodology: The same survey was sent to all six candidates. Each response was thoroughly reviewed for grammar and accuracy. We also included links and/or editor's notes for additional information and clarity as needed.
Residents throughout the district are most concerned about affordability. What legislative ideas do you have to make life more affordable in northern Michigan?
"Affordability starts by reducing the biggest expenses families face every month: healthcare, housing, and everyday costs. Universal healthcare is the goal because no American should go bankrupt just because they get sick. But families need relief now. That’s why I support Public Option+ — Michigan’s Road to Universal Healthcare. It would give every American the choice of an affordable public insurance plan, lower prescription drug costs through Medicare negotiation, and strengthen rural healthcare so where you live doesn’t determine the care you receive. We also need to build more starter homes—not just luxury developments—by investing in infrastructure, helping first-time homebuyers, and stopping Wall Street investors from buying up single-family homes. Finally, I’ll invest in skilled trades, small businesses, rural broadband, and modern infrastructure so people can earn good-paying jobs close to home. The American Dream should be within reach for every hardworking family."
Many communities have been affected by PFAS contamination, including Oscoda and Grayling. Residents there are upset after the Department of Defense recently announced that clean-up efforts would be delayed for five more years. What actions can be done in Congress to address people's concerns about the clean-up timeline?
"The Department of Defense has a responsibility to clean up the contamination it created, and northern Michigan shouldn’t have to wait another five years. In Congress, I’d push for full funding to accelerate PFAS cleanup, stronger oversight through public hearings, and legally enforceable cleanup deadlines so agencies can’t simply delay action without consequences. I also support applying the polluter pays principle—taxpayers shouldn’t be left covering the cost of contamination caused by the federal government or private industry. Finally, affected communities deserve transparent public reporting, regular groundwater testing, and the resources they need to protect public health while cleanup is underway. Clean water isn’t optional in northern Michigan—it’s essential to our families, our economy, and our future."
How should the federal government involve communities when making decisions about implementing AI data centers?
"The first question is: Do we really need AI data centers in Michigan? If the answer is yes, it should be because a local community wants one—not because a corporation found cheap land, abundant water, and weak bargaining power. The federal government’s role is to protect communities by guaranteeing local control, requiring full transparency, and backing legally enforceable Community Benefit Agreements. AI developers should pay for the infrastructure they need, bring new clean energy instead of straining the existing grid, protect our Great Lakes, provide meaningful long-term tax revenue, and post decommissioning bonds so taxpayers are never left with the cleanup bill. Innovation is welcome, but Michigan’s natural resources are not for sale. Local communities—not outside corporations—should decide what development is right for their future."
After two years of floods and ice storms, what do you think the federal government should do to help prepare northern counties for future disasters?
"Nobody can stop an ice storm. But we can stop turning every disaster into a surprise. If a bridge washes out every few years, it’s telling us something. If the power grid keeps failing, it’s time to redesign it—not just repair it. I’d rather spend money replacing undersized culverts, strengthening roads and dams, and burying critical power lines where it makes sense than writing bigger disaster checks after the fact. Northern Michigan pays into FEMA like everyone else. We deserve a partner that helps communities prepare before the next storm, not just shows up afterward with paperwork."
Several dams across northern Michigan were at risk of failing after historic floods this spring. How should Congress address improving the district's dam infrastucture?
"Dams are one of those things nobody thinks about until they’re about to fail. Then they become everyone’s problem. Congress should help communities inspect, repair, and modernize aging dams before they become emergencies. That’s cheaper than rebuilding towns, roads, and bridges after a failure. We also need to stop treating every flood like a once-in-a-century event. Northern Michigan is seeing bigger storms more often, and our infrastructure has to catch up. Protecting our communities starts with maintaining the infrastructure we already have—not waiting until it makes the evening news."
Last year, President Donald Trump called a national energy emergency which would accelerate the permitting for different projects regarding oil, power and gas. Line 5 was one of the first projects chosen to fast track the decision to reconstruct a tunnel. Do you back the Trump Administration's assessment in declaring this emergency and fast-tracking of the tunnel permitting process?
"Calling something an emergency doesn’t make it one. Emergency powers should be reserved for genuine crises, not used to bypass environmental review and public input. Line 5 carries real economic importance, but the Great Lakes are the drinking water supply for millions of people and the foundation of northern Michigan’s economy. Any decision this significant deserves a transparent, science-based review—not a rushed permitting process. If a project can’t withstand careful scrutiny, it shouldn’t be fast-tracked. We can protect both our energy needs and our Great Lakes, but sacrificing one for the other is a false choice."
Housing costs are another major concern for voters. Experts say one way to help the market is to build more housing units. How can Congress make it easier for contractors to build more homes, or do you believe other solutions are necessary to alleviate the cost of housing?
"The problem isn’t just that we’re not building enough homes. It’s that we’re not building enough homes ordinary families can actually afford. Builders naturally follow the highest profit margins, so we get luxury homes while starter homes disappear. Congress can help by investing in the infrastructure that makes new neighborhoods possible, expanding first-time homebuyer assistance, and restoring older homes already sitting in our communities. I’d also stop Wall Street firms from buying up single-family homes that should be available to working families. We don’t need more houses at any cost—we need the right mix of housing so teachers, nurses, skilled tradespeople, and young families can afford to live where they work."
What role should American foreign policy play moving forward in Iran?
"Too many leaders benefit from continuing conflict. Too few are rewarded for ending it. America should have the strongest military in the world, but military force should be our last resort—not our first. Our goal should be to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon through diplomacy, strong alliances, and targeted pressure while avoiding another endless war in the Middle East. Congress—not just the President—should decide when America goes to war. Washington always seems to find billions of dollars for another conflict, yet we’re told we can’t afford healthcare, lower prescription drug prices, affordable housing, or other investments that help American families. We can protect our national security without losing sight of the people we’re elected to serve. The goal isn’t more war. The goal is lasting peace and a stronger America at home."
