I’m not running a traditional campaign — I’m standing for something. I’m standing so that thoughtful, principled Republicans have a voice and a choice in this election.
Like many Americans, I’m frustrated by the state of our politics. We’ve become a nation divided into warring camps that treat each other as enemies instead of neighbors. Too many leaders in Washington and the media profit from division while ignoring the challenges that actually shape our lives.
I believe our country can do better. We can return to decency, common sense, and constitutional responsibility — the values that once defined the Republican Party and are the character of Michigan.
That’s why I’m standing as a Republican candidate in Michigan’s 4th Congressional District. I will not accept campaign donations or endorsements. My candidacy is a simple act of faith in democracy — an opportunity for voters to say, “We can be better than this.”
Congress has shirked its basic duties. Too many representatives have chosen silence over service, allegiance to a party over accountability to the people, money over principles. I believe a representative’s job is to listen, to lead with integrity, and to uphold the Constitution above all else.
I came of political age under President Gerald Ford and Governor William Milliken, inspired by the example of leaders like Paul Henry, Fred Upton, Paul Hillegonds, and Bill VanRegenmorter — Republicans who valued honesty, moderation, and collaboration. As mayor of Holland, I worked with colleagues from across the spectrum to keep the Holland community strong, solvent, and welcoming — without raising taxes.
I believe in a fiscally responsible, limited government that upholds both liberty and equality. Democrats are not enemies; they are fellow citizens with whom we must sometimes compromise to preserve our nation. The so‑called “culture wars” distract us from the issues that truly matter: economic stability and opportunity, global leadership, responsible governance, and the protection of rights.
Years ago, while working in Bulgaria for the International Republican Institute, I saw what happens when people lose their voice — and the joy that comes with reclaiming it. Voting matters. Choice matters. Democracy depends on both.
So here I stand — not to divide, but to remind. To remind us that our vote is our voice, that principle still matters, and that it’s never too late to return to the politics of respect, honesty, and service.
On August 4, I invite you to join me. Stand for decency. Stand for democracy. And vote for a better way.
Tanis for Congress 