Voters in Michigan’s 1st Congressional District will soon begin casting their absentee ballots for the November election. To create a better path forward in our rural district, it's crucial to defeat Trump-endorsed, MAGA-extremist Rep. Jack Bergman.

Bergman is a far-right Trump sycophant who prioritizes his loyalty to Trump over his commitment to integrity, the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution. He has used taxpayer dollars to reimburse himself for personal expenses, voted against funding for our district while taking credit for it, voted to overturn the 2020 election, cosponsored abortion legislation with no exceptions to save a mother’s life -- etc., etc.

We deserve better – leadership that’s rooted in our community and committed to fighting for us. While Bergman pretends to advocate for Upper and Northern Michiganders, his dismal record paints another picture. He has been a long-time advocate for privatizing Social Security and Medicare, and he’s even proposed repealing the Affordable Care Act. Imagine the impact this would have on our seniors and other community members who depend on these vital programs to make ends meet. These are not just numbers; these are our neighbors, our friends, and our family. They deserve better than to be left behind by leaders playing political games.

In public, and during his reelection campaigns, Bergman takes credit for projects he's voted against, avoids town halls (his last one was in 2017), and dodges probing interviews and candidate debates. So, voters in this district are left to wonder why Bergman consistently votes against vital initiatives like the Soo Locks, U.P. infrastructure, rural broadband, the CHIPs Act, and Northern Michigan conservation.

Well, the reason is simple: Jack Bergman does not actually live in the district he represents. He lives in St. Francisville, Louisiana, from Labor Day through Memorial Day when he is not in Washington, DC.

Although he claims his primary residence since 1996 is a million-dollar summer cottage near the small town of Watersmeet in Gogebic County, he actually lived in a condo in Saline, Michigan until 2007 when he purchased his current home in Louisiana. Bergman referred to the residential property in Saline as his business, which raises questions about whether he did this to falsely claim his summer cottage as his principal residence in Michigan, and thus avoid higher property taxes. It also raises the possibility that he denied Gogebic County hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes and claimed a tax deduction for his "business" where he truly resided.

Jack Bergman also has used his position to further benefit himself. While families in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula work hard to make ends meet, in 2023, Bergman used taxpayer funds to reimburse himself $44,000 for food and lodging -- on top of his $174,000 salary (and multiple pensions) — all while complaining about government spending and the cost of living. Bergman then suggested that without his reimbursement, he would have to “sleep on a cot” in DC.

This isn’t just an insult to every hardworking family in our district; it’s a clear sign that Bergman is out of touch with the people he’s supposed to represent: the people who are raising families on less than $44,000 a year and would never agree to that kind of abuse of government spending of our money.

The truth is: Jack Bergman isn’t struggling financially. If he is, he’s fiscally irresponsible. And we definitely don‘t need that kind of leadership in Congress. Leadership is service beyond self, not serving for self.

Jack Bergman is a legislative disruptor and obstructionist. His goal isn’t to govern; it’s not to legislate; it’s to destroy.

The people of Michigan’s 1st District want authenticity, experience and leadership they can trust. They know what it means to show up, put in the hard work, and get it done. That’s how folks in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula get things done every day.

It’s time for meaningful change. It’s time to clean House.

Callie Barr has deep roots in this district -- running back five generations. She has seen firsthand the challenges families face, from a lack of accessible childcare to inadequate support for our veterans to the struggle to find healthcare and mental healthcare services.

Callie is running for Congress because we need a representative who is truly connected to our community and committed to making a difference. She stands for the values that make us stronger: hard work, fairness and respect for all. She believes in economic opportunity for all. She supports sustainable wages, quality education, and affordable housing, childcare and healthcare for all while upholding our freedoms, especially reproductive rights. She also will fight to protect the promises made to our seniors by ensuring that Social Security and Medicare remain strong and secure.

Voters in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula are tired of typical politicians' rhetoric, taglines, and empty promises. Platitudes aren't going to persuade us. When people hear Callie’s message, they respond. They’re tired of Jack Bergman’s out-of-touch leadership and ready for change.

It’s time to send Jack Bergman back to Louisiana. It’s time to elect Callie Barr to Congress.