Republican Navy vet looks to take Dem stronghold seat with ambitious proposal

A Navy veteran looking to unseat a Michigan Democrat is running on an ambitious proposal.

Republican candidate for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District, Amir Hassan, wants to eliminate income taxes for first responders who make less than $100,000 annually, Fox News reported.

“I’m going to propose legislation to further what President Trump already did,” Hassan explained. “No tax on tips. This is just one step further. No tax for nurses, teachers, firefighters and first responders making under $100,000 a year. That’s how we reward Americans for being American, trusting in the country and investing in the country.”

Navy veteran running for Congress as a Republican in key mid-Michigan district https://t.co/9KmxvuJ8Rf

— The Detroit News (@detroitnews) July 14, 2025

Nurses, first responders, and even teachers would qualify for the tax break, along with police and firefighters, Fox reported.

“We have to support those who support us in the worst times of our lives,” Hassan told Fox News Digital.

“The idea is to first incentivize people to go into these jobs. Those jobs are the bedrock of any successful community,” Hassan added. “It’s a thankless job—nurses, teachers, firefighters. However, we should do our part in the government to reward them for their service.”

Hassan is a Flint-native Navy veteran and former law enforcement officer, so he knows a thing or two about patriotism and service.

Hassan is challenging incumbent Democrat Gov. Kristen McDonald-Rivet next year for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Michigan’s 8th District has remained a Democrat stronghold for decades, but went for Trump in the 2024 election, making it one of only 13 districts that split the ticket.

“This county has been represented by the Democratic Party since the 1970s and has led to nothing but destruction,” Hassan told Fox News Digital, adding McDonald-Rivet is “nothing new.”

“She goes along with her party every single time, and it’s going to lead to more destruction,” Hassan said.

Hassan, whose family reportedly worked in the automotive industry, praised Trump’s policies.

“President Trump has increased the fair trade market, where jobs are now closing overseas and coming back to America, giving jobs back to the Michiganders here. The blue-collar jobs, the people that are ready to work are now having more opportunities because of the agenda of President Trump,” Hassan said.

“The automotive industry has been the foundation of this country and the foundation of this district. But we’re going to incentivize other industries to come as well. There’s too much destruction in this area. We need more construction,” Hassan told Fox News Digital. “We want to incentivize them to build in America and reestablish what we already know the Democratic Party has destroyed.”

McDonald-Rivet’s campaign responded to Hassan with a defensive statement. “People who have actually been in mid-Michigan over the past few years know Kristen McDonald Rivet delivered the largest tax cut for working families in the state’s history,” the campaign told Fox Digital.

“They also know they have a Congresswoman with a proven track record of working with both parties to make life better for working families, including lowering costs, strengthening our border, and standing up against EV mandates,” they added.

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