Republican Tom Barrett flips Michigan House seat, scoring key GOP pickup

HOWELL, Mich. — Republican Tom Barrett is projected to triumph Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, defeating his Democratic force Curtis Hertel Jr., 50.4% to 46.5%.

Barrett, an Iraq warfare seasoned and erstwhile Michigan authorities representative, will capable Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin’s unfastened seat, which she near vacant to activity Michigan’s Senate spot this cycle.

This is Barrett’s 2nd bid for nan territory aft losing to Slotkin successful 2022.

Tom Barrett, a autochthonal of Charlotte, Michigan, delivered a pro-Trump connection to Michigan’s 7th Congressional District CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Hertel’s run echoed Vice President Kamala Harris’ nationalist run strategy, moving to nan halfway connected taxation and separator issues successful campaign ads and touting endorsements from Republicans successful his state.

Meanwhile, Barrett’s run trumpeted his endorsement from Donald Trump, and leaned into nan candidate’s grounds arsenic a combat seasoned and legislator.

Hertel came into nan title pinch years of acquisition successful nan authorities legislature and a agelong family history successful Michigan politics. CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Barret is very overmuch of nan Trump mold, proposing separator controls, taxation cuts, and a much cautious narration pinch Chinese investors successful nan United States on his website.

Barrett, who mislaid successful nan 7th District amid nan statement complete nan abortion rumor successful 2022, chose not to make it an rumor of his run successful 2024, a pivot which Democrats critcized arsenic a flip-flop.

Throughout nan campaign, Hertel utilized connection 1 would expect to perceive from a Republican to picture his argumentation proposals ” Curtis is starring nan conflict to bring adjacent procreation car plants to Michigan, not China,” sounds his website, souding almost for illustration Donald Trump himself.

Hertel besides distanced himself from extremist connection connected nan rumor of ambiance change, avoiding nan emblematic Democratic talking points connected government-mandated electrical conveyance prodcution and nan phasing-out of fossil fuels.

“With rising temperatures and stronger, much unpredictable upwind events nan caller norm, we request to beryllium supporting Michigan’s cultivation manufacture and moving to support families affected by large wind harm and rising security costs,” sounds his tame run connection connected climate change.

In a territory wherever Republicans and Democrats are represented equally, some candidates rushed to nan ideological halfway this cycle.