Protestors with the Eastern Upper Peninsula Solidarity picket outside of Rep. Jack Bergman’s Americans for Prosperity dinner on May 27. (Photo courtesy of EUP Solidarity)

SAULT STE MARIE — During the Americans for Prosperity Dinner with U.S. Rep Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet on May 27, a large crowd showed up to protest.

There were 20 attendees who had registered for the dinner in addition to organizers for the event and approximately 70 protestors outside the venue who gathered to express concerns regarding Medicaid, SNAP benefits, and access to their congressman to address perceived wrongs or public issues.

According to a press release from Eastern Upper Peninsula Solidarity, Rep. Bergman addressed the dinner guests, had opening remarks and commented about the outside demonstrators. Bergman’s speech reflected on his service in Washington, including his military background and committee assignments, as well as praise for President Trump and the Republican Party leadership. During the dinner, Bergman also confirmed his intention to run for reelection in 2026.

A Q&A session followed the dinner, with questions both supporting Bergman and raising concerns on a variety of issues. One dinner guest had asked if President Trump and Rep. Bergman’s names could appear on the Soo Locks banner instead of President Biden’s, since “Trump and Bergman really did the work,” in reference to the construction on Soo Locks funded, in part, by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, where approximately $479 million was received by the Locks back in 2022 to construct a replacement lock.

Another guest asked about the potential impacts of President Trump’s tax legislation on the national debt, citing information from the Congressional Budget Office which estimates that, as currently written, the H.R.1 — the Big Beautiful Bill — would increase the national deficit by $3.8 trillion over the next decade. Without citing specific details, Rep. Bergman reportedly defended the bill as being beneficial for taxpayers.

Community members also communicated their concerns about education policy and cuts to Medicaid, where Bergman responded to criticism that those “who really deserve” Medicaid would not be affected, in reference to a U.S. House of Representatives budget proposal that passed on May 22, which included $880 billion in Medicaid cuts. In an interview with Mark Constance of Up North Voice, published on May 27, Bergman echoed a similar sentiment where waste, fraud and abuse are going to be gone in the Medicaid system.

Outside, protestors representing EUP Solidarity held signs expressing their displeasure with Rep. Bergman, displaying messages such as “We the people of northern Michigan deserve to be represented – protect our services, it’s your job!” and “”You should have thoughts about protecting the judicial branch.”

“I had no intention of causing any problems. I genuinely wanted to hear from my representative,” said Kristi Autore, a local resident who was denied entry at the door despite registering in advance. According to EUP Solidarity’s press release, Autore referenced Bergman’s May 27 interview with Up North Voice, where Rep. Bergman stated his willingness to take an hour to meet constituents in their homes. Autore expressed in reference, “There are a lot of us who would like an hour — why does our representative, who is supposed to work for all of his constituents, get to pick and choose who he will appear in front of?”

Rep. Bergman’s full interview with Up North Voice can be read here: upnorthvoice.com/news/2025/05/a-conversation-with-u-s-rep-jack-bergman/.

The EUP Solidarity release said that the event “underscored ongoing political divisions in Michigan’s First Congressional District, with both supporters and critics making their voices heard.” With the 2026 election cycle approaching, the group said that constituents are calling for increased transparency and accessibility from their elected officials.

“Bergman has aligned himself completely with Trump and there is evident internal dissent within the Republican party, visible both in its legislative struggles and in the public expressions of dissatisfaction from its members and voters. This dissent is being managed and suppressed by party leadership, but it remains,” said Hannah Burton-Parish, a community organizer for EUP Solidarity. “Our own local Republican group has had a significant amount of in-fighting to the point that they split off and created a separate group, True North Patriots, who were the ones invited to the dinner with Bergman. In addition to the discord of the GOP there is also the grassroots/voter backlash. Town hall meetings and public events have revealed anger and frustration among Republican voters, not just Democratic ones.”

The Mining Journal reached out to True North Patriots for comment, but did not hear back as of this article’s publication.

“Rep. Bergman was honored to deliver the keynote address at an event hosted by Americans for Prosperity in Michigan’s First District and appreciated the opportunity to share updates on his work in Congress,” said James Hogge, communications director for Rep. Bergman, in an email to The Mining Journal. “He fully supports every American’s constitutional right to protest and respects those who choose to engage in the democratic process. While some may choose to shout obscenities from the sidewalk, Rep. Bergman remains committed to doing the job that 60% of his constituents elected him to do–serve the people of the First District and deliver real results in Washington.”

More information about upcoming EUP Solidarity events can be found by emailing them at eupsolidarity@gmail.com.

Abby LaForest can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 548. Her email address is alaforest@miningjournal.net.