Republican Rep. Tom Barrett, currently serving in office, is preparing for a competitive race against William Lawrence, a progressive co-founder of the Sunrise Movement, in the crucial 7th District of Michigan.
“The previous candidates underestimated him throughout their campaigns, and we will not repeat that mistake,” Barrett stated to POLITICO following Lawrence’s success in securing the Democratic nomination. “We are approaching this race with seriousness and focus.”
Lawrence emerged victorious in the primary on Tuesday after two moderate opponents divided the vote, setting the stage for a showdown over progressive influence in a district that narrowly favored President Donald Trump by just over 1 percentage point in 2024. The outcome in this district could potentially determine the majority.
Some centrist Democrats have expressed concerns that Lawrence’s win might hinder their efforts to capture the seat in the upcoming November elections. Additionally, Lawrence appears to be the preferred opponent for Republicans, as a GOP-linked super PAC financially supported his campaign during the primary.
In an interview, Lawrence dismissed doubts about his ability to win the general election.
“We are leading a broad-based movement that is achieving significant victories across the district. We are winning in Livingston County, Eden County, and beyond Lansing’s city limits,” he stated. “I am confident that this momentum will carry us through the general election.”
Andrew Howard contributed reporting.
