Michigan 7th District race set after primary contests

Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett and Democrat William Lawrence emerged from the Aug. 4 primary elections to compete for Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, which includes most of Eaton County and parts of several other counties. Barrett ran unopposed, while Lawrence won a three-way Democratic contest with about 44% of the vote.

The Cook Political Report rates the district a toss-up. Barrett won the seat in 2024 after Democrat Elissa Slotkin left to run for the U.S. Senate, following her 2022 victory over Barrett by about 20,000 votes.

Barrett has emphasized immigration enforcement, tariffs and conservative positions on abortion while occasionally breaking with Republicans on presidential war powers. Lawrence, a progressive organizer, is campaigning on lowering costs, protecting water and farmland, ending U.S. involvement in the war in Iran and restoring the rule of law.

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