He joined Alternatives of Kalamazoo, Pregnancy Care Center as executive director in April 1996.

After redistricting, Jack ran for Michigan's 61st House District in 2002 and defeated Democrat James Houston 57%-43%.

Hoogendyk is well known for his conservative views on taxes, government spending, family issues, abortion, and affirmative action.

[citation needed] Hoogendyk has proposed making English the official language of the State of Michigan.

In 2006 Hoogendyk was one of a small group of conservatives to lead the fight against legislation to mandate that the state Department of Education administer to all sixth grade girls the vaccine Gardasil as a potential prevention against the risk of Human papillomavirus.

In 2008, the term-limited Hoogendyk announced that he was running in the Republican primary to contest Democrat Carl Levin's seat in the U.S.

Had Hoogendyk won the Republican primary, he would have faced Democrat Mike O'Brien in the general election.