Andrew Lorenz

Andrew Lorenz was born in Wyandotte, Michigan. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2002 to 2014. He earned a high school diploma from Lasalle High School. His career experience includes working in the military. He has been affiliated with Southgate Little League.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Andrew Lorenz is a Marine Corps veteran, father of two, and lifelong Michigander running for Congress in Michigan’s 13th District. Born in Detroit and shaped by three overseas deployments, Andrew brings a steady, disciplined, and straightforward approach to public service. His time in the Marines instilled accountability, teamwork, and the belief that leaders serve the people, not themselves.

After completing his service, Andrew returned home to raise his daughters and stay grounded in the community he came from. He volunteers with youth sports, supports local families, and works directly with parents, teachers, and coaches to help kids succeed. His experiences as a single father, veteran, and working-class Michigander give him a deep respect for responsibility, family, and the importance of showing up when it matters.

Andrew’s campaign is focused on restoring integrity, accountability, and common-sense leadership. He believes public service should be rooted in honesty, humility, and real conversations—not hostility, division, or online theatrics. His priorities include strengthening communities, improving mental health access, addressing the opioid crisis that has affected his own family, supporting safer neighborhoods, and ensuring that everyday residents—not extremes—shape the future of the district.

Andrew leads with the same principles he lived by in the Marines: be honest, work hard, and never forget the people who rely on you.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Andrew Lorenz is running because he believes public service should serve the people, not personal ambition. After watching career politicians lose touch with the communities they represent, he made a commitment to run only to serve, not to build a political ladder. Andrew lives in a regular neighborhood, raises his family here, and understands the highs, lows, and struggles that everyday people face. His experiences—both difficult and rewarding—keep him grounded and connected to the realities of the communities he comes from.Andrew Lorenz believes leadership should come from lived experience, not political games. He approaches every issue with common sense and a commitment to the people in his community, not to the demands of any party. Andrew understands how disconnected Washington can become, especially when political standoffs — like the recent government shutdown — create chaos that everyday families end up paying for. He is focused on practical solutions, steady judgment, and representing people through real-world understanding, not partisan agendas.Andrew Lorenz is committed to highlighting the true character of Detroit and the Downriver communities. These neighborhoods are often reduced to stereotypes, but anyone who lives here knows they are full of culture, hard work, resilience, and beauty. Andrew believes it’s time to reshape the narrative and show the rest of the country the pride, diversity, and strength that define this area. He wants the community to be seen for what it truly is — not blight, but home, filled with people who care deeply about their families, their future, and each other.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’m passionate about public policy areas that come from my own lived experiences as a Marine, a father, and a working-class Michigander. I care deeply about strengthening families and communities, expanding access to mental-health support, and addressing the opioid crisis that has affected my own family. I’m committed to practical approaches that help working people gain stability and opportunity. I also believe strongly in accountability and integrity in public service, values shaped by my military background.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

I believe the most important characteristics for an elected official start with integrity. Without honesty, transparency, and consistency, nothing else matters. Integrity is the foundation of trust, and people deserve leaders who say what they mean, mean what they say, and follow through.

Loyalty is just as important — not loyalty to a party or a political ladder, but loyalty to the community you represent. An elected official should stay grounded in the people who put them there, not in the noise of Washington or the pressure of political circles. Loyalty means never forgetting where you came from or who you serve.

Grit is essential because public service isn’t easy. Real leadership requires the ability to push through challenges, stay steady during uncertainty, and keep working even when the road gets rough. Grit is what separates people who talk about solutions from those who actually fight for them.

Compassion matters because policy affects real lives. Behind every issue is a family, a worker, a parent, or a child who feels the impact. Compassion keeps leaders human. It reminds them to listen, to understand, and to make decisions that reflect empathy rather than ego.

Accountability is the principle that ties everything together. An elected official must own their choices, admit mistakes, and stay responsible to the public. Accountability isn’t optional — it’s the core of public service.

And finally, I believe an elected official should be fierce — not in temperament, but in commitment. Fierce about protecting their community, fierce about standing up for what’s right, and fierce about doing the work with courage and purpose.

To me, these traits — integrity, loyalty, grit, compassion, accountability, and a fierce dedication to service — are what define true leadership.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

I believe the core responsibilities of someone elected to this office begin with being an honest, accurate representation of the people who live in the district — not a spokesperson for a political party. An elected official’s job is to carry the voices, concerns, and realities of their community into every discussion, every vote, and every decision. That requires staying grounded, listening more than talking, and remembering that the title exists to serve the people, not the other way around.

Another key responsibility is being present in the community. You can’t represent people you don’t stand beside. That means showing up at events, speaking with families, hearing concerns directly, and being accessible. True representation comes from lived connection, not from photo ops or checking boxes.

An elected official should also lead in a way that their community can be proud of — through professionalism, respect, and a steady commitment to doing the work. That includes taking criticism with humility, learning from mistakes, and constantly striving to grow. Public service requires the ability to listen even when it’s uncomfortable and to improve even when it’s difficult.

Finally, the role comes with duties that deserve honest effort. It’s not meant to be a paycheck or a platform for personal advancement. It’s a responsibility to read the legislation, understand the issues, answer to the people you represent, and put in the work every day.

To me, the core responsibilities of this office come down to service, accountability, humility, and honest representation of the community — not the politics around it

What legacy would you like to leave?

he legacy I want to leave is simple: I want my children to be proud of the way I lived, the way I served, and the way I carried myself. As a father, that matters more to me than anything. If my daughters can look back one day and say, “He did the right thing, even when it was hard,” that would mean more to me than any title ever could.

I also want to be able to walk down the street years from now and have the overwhelming majority of people feel that I represented them with honesty, humility, and respect. Not perfectly — nobody is perfect — but genuinely, with real effort and real integrity. I want people to feel I listened, I showed up, I stayed connected, and I did the work the right way.

To me, a lasting legacy isn’t about accomplishments on paper. It’s about how you made people feel, how you treated them, and whether you stayed true to the values you came in with. I want my legacy to be one of service, accountability, and staying grounded in the communities that shaped me.

If, at the end of my time in public service, people can say I represented them honestly and made their lives even a little better, that would be the legacy I’d hope to leave behind.

What is your favorite book? Why?

One of my favorite books is 1984 by George Orwell. I first read it as a teenager, and it stayed with me because of how sharply it describes the dangers of government overreach, loss of privacy, and a society where people feel powerless. The story isn’t just fiction—it’s a warning about what can happen when those in authority stop being accountable to the people they’re supposed to serve.

When I look around today, certain themes from the book feel familiar. Many families are struggling, working harder while falling further behind, while those in positions of power seem more insulated, comfortable, and disconnected from the realities people face. The contrast between everyday life and the world of politics can feel almost surreal at times.

What 1984 reminds me is that people deserve transparency, honesty, and leaders who never forget who they represent. It’s a book that pushes me to stay aware, stay grounded, and stay committed to serving with integrity. The message of the book isn’t about fear—it’s about responsibility. It calls on us to protect truth, defend individual rights, and make sure that no one in leadership loses sight of the people struggling under the weight of real life.

That’s why 1984 has always been my favorite. It’s not just a story—it’s a reminder of what happens when good people stop paying attention, and why accountability and humility in leadership matter so much.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

I am a strong supporter of term limits because I believe public service should be about representing the people, not building a lifelong political career. Too many elected officials stay in office for decades, become disconnected from the communities they represent, and begin treating politics as a personal asset instead of a responsibility. Term limits help prevent that cycle and ensure that new voices, new perspectives, and real-world experiences have a chance to contribute.

My belief in term limits comes from my military background and life experience. In the Marines, leadership was earned through service, accountability, and results — not seniority or political positioning. I believe the same philosophy should apply to elected office. No one should become so entrenched in Washington that they forget who sent them there in the first place.

To demonstrate this commitment, I have signed the TermLimits.com pledge promising not to seek re-election more than two times. That pledge reflects my core belief that representation should be temporary, focused, and grounded in the needs of the community rather than personal ambition. When officials know their time is limited, they stay more focused on the work, more connected to the people, and less influenced by political pressures.

For me, supporting term limits isn’t about politics — it’s about integrity, accountability, and honoring the trust of the people who allow you to serve.