Matt Longjohn

Matt Longjohn was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Longjohn's career experience includes working as a healthcare professional. He earned a bachelor's degree from Kalamazoo College in 1993, an M.D. from Tulane University in 1999, and a graduate degree from the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in 2003.[1]

Longjohn has been affiliated with the following organizations:[1]

WMU Homer J Stryker School of Medicine

Epiphany Health Consulting

Partnership to Align Social Care

City of Portage Planning Commission

Kalamazoo Area Runners

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Dr. Longjohn is a 5th generation resident of Kalamazoo County, and a nationally recognized public health leader. For most of the past 25 years, Longjohn has served in non-profit executive roles, leading organizations to successfully integrate community resources into equitable, effective, and sustained population health programs. He was recognized by the Obama Administration as one of the nation's top 100 health innovators after demonstrating historic cost-savings to Medicare through community health initiatives. He ran for US Congress in 2018 on a platform that focused on the social, environmental and political determinants of health. In 2020, Governor Whitmer appointed him to the Protect Michigan Commission to address COVID-19 and health disparities. Dr. Longjohn currently serves as a faculty member at the WMU Homer Stryker School of Medicine (WMed). He also owns a consulting business supporting health systems, community-based non-profits, and government agencies, and he serves on the City of Portage Planning Commission. Dr. Longjohn's earlier roles include a fellowship at the Altarum Institute and faculty positions at Northwestern University. He is a graduate of Portage Northern, Kalamazoo College, Tulane University's School of Medicine, and Tulane University's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. He is married to his childhood sweetheart, and the proud father of two adult children.

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?

Matt is fighting for your family's health. When elected, he will be the only physician in the Michigan Legislature. There, he will put his leadership and expertise to work in order to address health equity, improve access and affordability of health care, reduce the price of prescription drugs, protect reproductive freedoms, strengthen mental and behavioral health, and stabilize and diversify the health care workforce.You cannot live your best life without a strong community, economic security, a non-toxic environment, housing, food, and an education. Dr. Longjohn knows most of your health is determined by where you live, work, eat, learn, pray and play. Today, your ZIP Code may be more important to your health than your genetic code. So, Matt will work hard to protect our environment, promote lifelong learning, and address housing, food security, violence, substance misuse, transportation, and other household issues tied to our communities' health.All Michiganders deserve a fair shot and an opportunity to succeed. This means we must invest in lifelong learning, from Universal Pre-K to financial literacy programs for older adults planning for their long-term care. It also means advancing sustainable economic policies focused on creating jobs and career pathways for the 21st century. Matt's commitment to working with unions comes from his working-class background, and an understanding that protecting workers' rights and collective bargaining are essential to the middle class in Michigan. Our over-arching economic strategy needs to do more to put people ahead of profit-making, lift up those who are often left behind, and prioritize long-term growth over short-term greed.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Even before he earned his MD and swore the Hippocratic Oath, Dr. Longjohn has been driven to improve the health of others. That's what this campaign is about. Matt's passion for improving our health system through policy change was only heightened by his wife's recent experiences in health care while battling cancer. He's not just fighting for better health care for his family, but also your family, your neighbors, and your colleagues. As he frequently says, "We can do better!"

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Two books come to mind:

1. Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder

Dr. Paul Farmer is a role model of mine, and this book provides a glimpse into his inspired commitment to helping others to achieve health by overcoming social, environmental and political determinants of health.

2. The Political Determinants of Health by Daniel E. Dawes

This book provides a compelling view on why and how health professionals should be effective advocates for better health policy.

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

First and foremost, elected officials must be recognized by their constituents as being able to represent them. Elected officials govern through the consent of the governed. Having deep roots in a community helps, but votes are a statement of trust... and trust has to be earned.

Second, elected officials should have the skills, temperament and experiences needed to succeed in serving their entire constituency. Experiences in establishing, facilitating and/or leading diverse coalitions are essential when serving in public office. Skills in communications, knowledge of the policymaking process, and a willingness to represent every constituent (whether they voted for or against the elected) are also critical characteristics of a successful politician.

Ultimately, elected officials must want to DO the job... It's not enough to simply want the job.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

One of the qualities I possess which I believe will allow me to be a successful officeholder is my leadership experience. I have led community-based organizations, and also served as a leader of large national organizations. In most cases, my leadership was most apparent in the way created coalitions with other organizations, and/or partnered with diverse stakeholders to create a shared vision. I have decades of experience as a coalition builder and think this is a strength that will lend itself to serving in the MI Legislature.

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

A commitment to public service, adherence to personal and community values, consistent communications and engagement with constituents, and a respect for the rule of law.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Regardless of whomever holds which office there should always be differences and debate, but never disrespect.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Our health care system is falling apart, and too little is being done today to avoid

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes, but only to some degree... No political experience may lead to inefficiencies or other problems when lawmakers are not aware of standard routines and processes. However, it is also a problem when the only experiences politicians have are political experiences. We need a legislature with leaders who have had other important experiences.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Yes. Legislation requires coalitions and negotiations. Those are most successful when there is trust between the lawmakers negotiating in good faith. Relationships are the "coin of the realm" in policymaking.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

No. I ran for US Congress in 2018 and saw what that level of politic was like. I am singularly focused on serving in the State House and could see myself there for a full 12 years.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Recently I was at a home owned by a non-profit organization, where women recovering from substance use disorders. The women's stories of recovery, reconnecting with children and family, and getting jobs and restarting careers, were all incredibly moving. Their stories were augmented and contextualized by the stories of the women who had gone through similar journeys in the past and who founded the non-profit. I will keep these stories in mind as a legislator, because the shelter, safety and stability, peer support, care coordination, and behavioral and mental health services are all so impactful. It's inspiring to see how State funding to this one non-profit is affecting so many lives. This investment of state resources, guided by policy and appropriations, will clearly pay decades of dividends to the women in recovery, their children and families, and the community as a whole. As a future legislator, I aim to improve the health and quality of life of as many people as possible.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

Whether they should or not, the legislature has the authority to do so. This is true for granting emergency powers to officers or agencies who might be responding to a disaster, or a pandemic. While I think several emergency authorities have been over-used (for example the takeover of Benton Harbor Schools), and I would be among those supportive of re-writing laws to limit emergency powers, there are good reasons for emergency powers to exist and they shouldn't be completely eliminated. In any case, we have to hold our elected officials responsible for their actions when emergency powers are over-used, but that happens at the ballot box.

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

Assuming it will not pass in the current legislative cycle, I would re-introduce the legislation creating the Prescription Drug Affordability Board. PDAB legislation has already passed in multiple other states and can be a way to reduce the price of prescription drugs among those who need them the most.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

First, I am the only candidate in the Democratic Primary who has actually been endorsed by the Kalamazoo County Democratic Party.

Also, virtually every elected Democrat in the Kalamazoo region (and many non-partisan officials) have endorsed my campaign. That list includes State Senator Sean McCann, State Representative Julie Rogers, 5 Kalamazoo County Commission members, Portage Mayor Patricia Randall, 6 out of 7 Portage City Council members, the County Prosecutor and Sherriff, etc. My campaign has also been endorsed by Planned Parenthood, Moms Demand Action, and several labor unions (UAW, the SW Michigan Building Trades, LiUna!, IBEW 131, the Michigan Carpenters and Millwrights, the Michigan Nurses Association, and AFSCME).

What committees interest you?

Each political cycle there are a few lawmakers in Michigan's House of Representatives who serve on both the Health Policy and HHS Appropriations Subcommittee. I hope to be one of those lawmakers during the next term. Given my unique expertise in health systems improvement, it may also make sense for me to be on the Insurance Committee. All this being said, I am a team player and believe I will be effective in taking a "Health in All Policies" approach with me to Lansing to serve in whichever committees I am assigned.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Transparency is a hallmark of good governance, and our government, politicians, and political actors should all be more transparent. Notwithstanding recent policy changes requiring personal financial disclosures, Michigan's state government is among the least transparent in the US. Some progress is being made, but more can be done. In addition to disclosures by elected officials and political candidates, our government processes should also be transparent to the public. Perhaps most concerning is the lack of transparency in the financing of our nation's elections. I believe the 2010 Citizens' United ruling by the US Supreme Court is a significant problem, and Congress should write new laws or pass a Constitutional Amendment to remove all "dark money" from politics. Voters need to be able to identify conflicts of interest among politicians and the bureaucracy.

Do you support or oppose changes to the current state ballot initiative process? If so, what kind of changes would you consider?

I support the current process. It isn't perfect, but it has led to important citizen-led policy initiatives like Voters Not Politician's Independent Redistricting Commission. and guaranteeing reproductive freedoms under Michigan's Constitution.