Upton discusses 2018 prospects in 6th District as opponents line up

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. - The 2018 midterm elections are more than a year away, but ABC 57 is taking a look at the race forming in Michigan's 6th district.

Congressman Fred Upton has held the seat for 30 years, but at least 4 people have already announced they will be running against him in 2018: Dave Benac, Paul Clements, Eponine Garrod and Dr. Matt Longjohn.

Upton worked in the Office of Management and Budget in Washington under President Ronald Reagan before he was first elected to the Michigan seat in 1986.

He served as chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce from 2010 to 2016 and is currently the chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy.

Upton stopped by our studio Monday morning to explain how he will approach the 2018 election.

"For us, the winning message has always been - which is why I ran the first time - the economy and jobs," Upton said. "I want to make sure that every family has the ability to do as well as they can and to create the opportunity here for people that live here today, but also for their families as well."

Congressman Upton was re-elected by a large margin last November, but that has not stopped protesters from demonstrating outside his St. Joseph office this year.