INDEPENDENT2026

The Full Read · Article by Article

John R. Moolenaar

Rep · R–MI-2
3/7
📚 Summer School
📚 Summer school. John R. Moolenaar holds 3 of seven stars — but fails a critical Article (Open Books). Assignment: summer school for Civics, watch every Schoolhouse Rock episode five times, and submit a one-page report — due before the end of the year. Report to summer school →

Rhetorical, not literal — an opinion on conduct measured against our civics standard. Ratings terms · Challenge this review

1Open Bookscritical
11%☆ not yet
“…the property of the people.” — Cicero, De Re Publica
33.2% of receipts from PACs — over the 15% cap; fails the money floor. (FEC 2026)
60
2Free & Fair Electionscritical
82%★ earned
“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” — Abraham Lincoln
No 2020 election denial, no fake-elector role, and no documented support for partisan gerrymandering.
60
3The Dignity of the Opponent
62%★ earned
“Treat humanity … always as an end and never as a means only.” — Kant
Low-key China-committee chair; no documented pattern of demonizing domestic opponents, but also no notable reach across the aisle.
60
4Fear Is Not Fuel
55%☆ not yet
“…the better angels of our nature.” — Lincoln, First Inaugural
Signed effort to discard four states' 2020 votes; messaging leans on China/border threat framing over affirmative agenda.
60
5Truth & a Kept Word
48%☆ not yet
“…living within the truth.” A representative owes “his judgment.” — Havel · Burke
One of 126 House Republicans who signed the Texas v. Pennsylvania amicus brief seeking to overturn Biden's win on unproven fraud claims.
60
6Against the Spirit of Party
40%☆ not yet
“The baneful effects of the spirit of party.” — Washington, Farewell Address
Reliable Republican and committee chair; no documented instance of breaking with his party at personal cost.
60
7Morality
72%★ earned
“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
Roll Call flagged his leadership PAC spending $22K at a Vail resort; questionable optics but no illegality or formal ethics finding.
60

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246 Cannon House Office Building
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Scores are Independent 2026’s own editorial read against the Seven Articles — ≥60% earns the star. The first two Articles are critical: fail Open Books or Free & Fair Elections and there is no seal, whatever else holds. Each Article carries its founding quote as the yardstick. On bias →

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