Peter Meijer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Peter Meijer
Rep. Peter Meijer official photo 117th Congress.jpg
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Michigan's 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2021
Preceded byJustin Amash
Personal details
Born
Peter James Meijer

(1988-01-10) January 10, 1988 (age 34)
Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)
Gabriella Zacarias
​
​
(m. 2016)​
[1]
Parent(s)
  • Hank Meijer (father)
RelativesHendrik Meijer (great-grandfather)
Frederik Meijer (grandfather)
Doug Meijer (uncle)
EducationColumbia University (BA)
New York University (MBA)
Signature
WebsiteHouse website
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service2008–2016
RankArmy-U.S.-OR-05.png Sergeant[2]
Unit325th Military Intelligence Battalion[3]
Battles/warsIraq War

Peter James Meijer (/ˈmaɪ.ər/; born January 10, 1988) is an American politician and business analyst serving as the U.S. representative for Michigan's 3rd congressional district since 2021.[4] The district is based in Grand Rapids. He is a member of the Republican Party.

He is a member of the Meijer family, the founders and owners of the Meijer superstore chain.[5] Meijer was one of ten Republicans who voted to impeach Donald Trump during Trump's second impeachment.[6][7]

Early life and education[]

Meijer was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is the oldest son of Hank Meijer and the grandson of Frederik Meijer, whose father, Hendrik Meijer, founded supermarket chain Meijer after he emigrated to the United States from the Netherlands.[5][8] Forbes has recognized his family as one of the wealthiest in Michigan, with a net worth above $6 billion.[8] His financial disclosures list more than $50 million in assets, primarily from a Meijer family trust.[9][10]

Meijer graduated from East Grand Rapids High School in 2006.[11] He initially studied for one year at the United States Military Academy at West Point before transferring to Columbia University in 2008, graduating with a bachelor's degree in cultural anthropology in 2012.[8][12] At Columbia, he was an advocate for reinstating the Reserve Officers' Training Corps on campus.[13] From 2008 to 2016, Meijer served in the United States Army Reserve and was deployed to Iraq from 2010 into 2011, serving as an intelligence advisor.[8][12][14]

In 2017, Meijer graduated from the New York University Stern School of Business with a Master of Business Administration.[8]

Career[]

From 2013 to 2015, Meijer worked as a conflict analyst for an international NGO.[8] He was later employed by Olympia Development of Michigan of Ilitch Holdings as an analyst from April 2018 to January 2019.[8] During this time, Meijer also worked on veterans projects such as Project Rubicon, was on the advisory board of the With Honor super political action committee, and assisted with urban renewal projects throughout Michigan.[12]

U.S. House of Representatives[]

Elections[]

2020
See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan § District 3

Following Justin Amash's departure from the Republican Party in July 2019, Meijer announced his candidacy for Michigan's 3rd congressional district, competing in the Republican primary. He voiced his support for Trump, saying he would work with Trump to "make sure that we advance policies and an agenda that is in the best interest of West Michigan."[8] In his primary campaign, Meijer received funding from several wealthy Michigan-based business families and outraised the other Republican candidates.[15]

The DeVos and Van Andel families, who co-founded Amway, contributed to Meijer's campaign, though United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and her husband Dick DeVos abstained from fundraising efforts.[15] Mark J. Bissell of Bissell home-care products and the late businessman Peter Secchia also donated to Meijer's campaign.[15] Vice President Mike Pence, Representative Dan Crenshaw,[16] House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy,[17] House Minority Whip Steve Scalise,[18] and Senator Tom Cotton endorsed Meijer.[19] Meijer defeated Lynn Afendoulis in the August 4 primary election. Meijer faced Democratic nominee Hillary Scholten in the general election.[20] He raised $2.7 million during the campaign, to Scholten's $3 million.[21] The 3rd has historically tilted Republican; the district and its predecessors have been in GOP hands for all but 35 months since 1913 (it was numbered as the 5th before 1993). But the race was very close; Cook Political Report rated it a toss-up.[22]

Ultimately, Meijer defeated Scholten, 53%-47%.[23] It was the closest race in the district since Harold S. Sawyer was held to 53% in what was then the 5th district in 1982,[24] and only the second time since 1982 that a Democrat had managed 40% of the vote (Amash's Democratic opponent had taken 43% two years earlier[25]). He ran slightly ahead of Trump, who narrowly carried the district with 51% of the vote.[26]

Tenure[]

Meijer accepted the 2020 presidential election results, announcing publicly that he accepted the outcome and recognized Joe Biden as president-elect.[27] After experiencing the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, he called on Republicans to take responsibility for their "lies" about election fraud.[28] On January 13, 2021, he voted to impeach Donald Trump alongside nine other Republicans.[29][7] The next day, Meijer stated in an interview with MSNBC that he had purchased body armor and made changes to his daily schedule due to threats against his life in reaction to his vote for impeachment.[30] On January 20, 2021, the day of the inauguration of Joe Biden, Meijer was one of 17 newly elected House Republicans to sign a letter congratulating Biden and expressing hope of working across the partisan divide.[31]

On May 19, 2021, Meijer became one of 35 Republicans who joined all Democrats in voting to approve legislation to establish the January 6, 2021 commission meant to investigate the storming of the U.S. Capitol.[32]

On May 23, 2021, Meijer condemned Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene's comparison between having to wear face masks on the House and the Holocaust. He was the first Republican to condemn Greene's remarks and said that "such comparisons demean the Holocaust and contaminate American political speech."[33]

In June 2021, Meijer was one of 49 House Republicans to vote to repeal the AUMF against Iraq.[34][35]

On August 24, 2021, Meijer and Representative Seth Moulton flew unannounced into Hamid Karzai International Airport during the 2021 Taliban offensive amid evacuation of Americans and allies. The Defense Department and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were not given advance notice.[36][37] The next day, Pelosi sent a letter to all House members saying that "the Departments of Defense and State have requested that Members not travel to Afghanistan and the region during this time of danger" because such travel "would unnecessarily divert needed resources" from the evacuation efforts.[36]

On October 21, 2021, Meijer was one of nine House Republicans who voted to hold Steve Bannon in contempt of Congress.[38]

Meijer voted for the Immunization Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2021. The bill helps create confidential, population-based databases that maintain a record of vaccine administrations.[39]

LGBT rights[]

In 2021, Meijer was one of 29 Republicans to vote to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.[40] This bill expanded legal protections for transgender people, and contained provisions allowing transgender women to use women's shelters and serve time in prisons matching their gender identity.[41]

In 2021, Meijer was one of 33 Republicans to vote for the LGBTQ Business Equal Credit Enforcement and Investment Act.[42]

In 2021, Meijer co-sponsored the Fairness for All Act, the Republican alternative to the Equality Act.[43] The bill would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity, and protect the free exercise of religion.

Committee assignments[44][]

Caucus memberships[]

References[]

  1. ^ Morse, Cory. "Peter Meijer wins 3rd Congressional District Republican primary". mlive. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  2. ^ "Meet Peter". Peter Meijer for Congress.
  3. ^ Channel 3, Sam Knef | News (September 29, 2020). "3rd District U.S. House: Peter Meijer, Republican". WWMT. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  4. ^ "Michigan Election Results: Third Congressional District". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Jacobs, Julia (September 5, 2019). "Complaint Filed After Door Closes on Drag Performers With Down Syndrome". The New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  6. ^ "10 GOP lawmakers vote to impeach Trump, trial moves to Senate". FOX 35. January 13, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "These 10 House Republicans voted to impeach Trump on Wednesday". CNN. January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h "'West Michigan needs a new voice in Congress,' says Amash challenger Peter Meijer". MLive. July 3, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  9. ^ "Financial Disclosure Report" (PDF). house.gov. October 31, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  10. ^ "Meet The Michigan Congressman…". Forbes.com. January 16, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  11. ^ "Meijer heir puts his military experience to use helping Hurricane Sandy victims". mlive. November 19, 2012.
  12. ^ a b c "About Peter". Peter Meijer for Congress. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  13. ^ "Making the Case for the Military". Columbia Daily Spectator. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  14. ^ "Baghdad Missive: Stay Civil, On Subject". Columbia Daily Spectator. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  15. ^ a b c "DeVos family throws support behind congressional candidate Peter Meijer". MLive. April 16, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  16. ^ "Rep. Dan Crenshaw endorses Peter Meijer for Congress". WZZM13.com. May 8, 2020. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  17. ^ Spangler, Todd. "House Republican leader endorses Peter Meijer in race to replace Justin Amash". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  18. ^ "Rep. Steve Scalise endorses Peter Meijer for Congress". WXMI. May 6, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  19. ^ "Tom Cotton on Twitter: "Glad to support @VoteMeijer who served his country in uniform and now we need him to fight for West Michigan in Congress. Peter will stand up to China, he's tough on illegal immigration, and he's the best bet to keep this seat red. #MI03"". Twitter. May 8, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  20. ^ "Michigan's 3rd Congressional District election, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  21. ^ A 501tax-exempt, The Center for Responsive Politics; NW, charitable organization 1300 L. St; Washington, Suite 200; info, DC 20005 telelphone857-0044. "Michigan District 03 2020 Race". OpenSecrets. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  22. ^ David Wasserman (October 21, 2020). "House Rating Changes: 12 Races on the Move, Almost All Towards Democrats". Cook Political Report.
  23. ^ "2020 Michigan Election Results Official". Michigan Secretary of State. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  24. ^ "Our Campaigns - MI District 5 Race - Nov 02, 1982". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  25. ^ "Our Campaigns - MI District 03 Race - Nov 06, 2018".
  26. ^ Presidential election results by congressional district from Daily Kos
  27. ^ Staff, Stateside (November 9, 2020). "Congressman-elect Peter Meijer hopes to bring bipartisan spirit from MI-3 to Washington, D.C." www.michiganradio.org.
  28. ^ "Congressman Meijer says Republicans should take responsibility for 'lies' about election fraud after Capitol attack". mlive. January 8, 2021.
  29. ^ Cai, Weiyi; Daniel, Annie; Gamio, Lazaro; Parlapiano, Alicia (January 13, 2021). "Live House Vote: The Second Impeachment of Donald J. Trump". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  30. ^ Morin, Rebecca (January 14, 2021). "Peter Meijer, Republican who voted for impeachment, says he's buying body armor due to threats". USA Today. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  31. ^ Walsh, Deirdre (January 20, 2021). "17 House GOP Freshmen Write To Biden About Working Together". NPR. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  32. ^ LeBlanc, Paul (May 19, 2021). "Here are the 35 House Republicans who voted for the January 6 commission". CNN. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  33. ^ Dorman, John L. (May 24, 2021). "'Beyond reprehensible': GOP Rep. Peter Meijer slams Marjorie Taylor Greene's comparison of mask mandates to the Holocaust". Business Insider. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  34. ^ "House votes to repeal 2002 Iraq War authorization". NBC News.
  35. ^ https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2021/roll172.xml
  36. ^ a b Cole, Devan; Nobles, Ryan; Cohen, Zachary (August 24, 2021). "Two congressmen traveled to Afghanistan amid frantic evacuation efforts". CNN. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  37. ^ Baldor, Lolita C. (August 25, 2021). "Seth Moulton and another lawmaker flew to Kabul amid the chaotic evacuation, stunning US officials there". The Boston Globe. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  38. ^ "These are the 9 House Republicans who voted to hold Steve Bannon in contempt of Congress". CNN. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  39. ^ "H.R. 550: Immunization Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2021 -- House Vote #388 -- Nov 30, 2021". GovTrack.us.
  40. ^ "Roll Call 86 Roll Call 86, Bill Number: H. R. 1620, 117th Congress, 1st Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. March 17, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  41. ^ "House Renews Violence Against Women Act, But Senate Hurdles Remain". NPR. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  42. ^ https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/117-2021/h182
  43. ^ https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/117/hr1440
  44. ^ "Committees and Caucuses | Representative Peter Meijer". meijer.house.gov. January 10, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  45. ^ Dent, Opinion by Charlie. "Opinion: Under Trump, the GOP may have lost its soul". CNN. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  46. ^ "Featured Members". Problem Solvers Caucus. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  47. ^ "MEMBERS". RMSP. Retrieved March 1, 2021.

External links[]

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Justin Amash
 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Michigan's 3rd congressional district
2021–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
408th 		Succeeded by
Mary Miller
Retrieved from ""