In a surprise move, long-time U.S. Congressman Fred Upton announced this week that he won't run for a 19th term in office. First elected to the House of Representatives in 1986, the republican from St. Joseph says redistricting was a major factor in his decision. Michigan, like many other rust-belt states, lost a congressional seat as a result of the 2020 Census. Rep. Upton's 6th district has been completely re-drawn.
"I was born and raised in St. Joe," said Rep. Upton. "Now they've put a lot of St. Joe in with Lake Erie."
However, before Rep. Upton leaves office early next year, he told News Channel 3 anchor Andy Dominianni that he's got several priorities. Not least of which, improving the landmark legislation called the 21st Century Cures Act that he sponsored several years ago. The law aims to streamline the drug and device approval process and bring treatments to market faster.
"We're working on a new version," said Rep. Upton. "A 2.0 version. It's going to include tele-medicine, real world evidence, and make sure there's a diversity in the trials."
Rep. Upton's retirement won't help the Republican Party win back the House, however he says, his republican colleagues should be able to wrestle back power without him.
"Most experts say they expect that we will flip the House," said Rep. Upton. "I don't know what's going to happen in the Senate."
Rep. Upton's last day in office will be January 3rd, 2023.