Progressive William Lawrence Wins Michigan 7th District Primary
The Sunrise Movement co-founder beat two rivals with national security backgrounds and will challenge Republican Rep. Tom Barrett in one of the country's most closely divided House seats.
Democrat William Lawrence, a co-founder of the progressive Sunrise Movement, has won his party's primary in Michigan's 7th Congressional District, NBC News projects, delivering a significant victory to the insurgent left in one of the most fiercely contested House races in the country.
Lawrence defeated two prominent rivals with national security backgrounds — former Ambassador Bridget Brink and retired Navy SEAL Matt Maasdam — after positioning himself as the most liberal candidate in the field and an aggressive critic of data centers. The contest between Brink and Maasdam grew increasingly bitter in its final stretch, and the two appear to have split the party's more moderate wing.
He will now face Republican Rep. Tom Barrett in a seat President Donald Trump carried by just 1 percentage point in 2024. Super PACs and other outside groups have reserved more advertising there than in all but one other House race nationally.
Lawrence drew backing from an array of prominent progressives and outside groups. A mysterious super PAC spent more than $1 million in the race's closing weeks to boost him and attack Maasdam, spending that raised concerns among some Democrats that Republicans were elevating Lawrence because they believe he will be easier to beat in November.
Voters in five states cast primary ballots Tuesday. Elsewhere in Michigan, Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga, endorsed by Trump, will face Democratic state Sen. Sean McCann in the Kalamazoo-area 4th District; McCann was endorsed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. In the open 10th District in suburban Detroit, being vacated by GOP Rep. John James for a gubernatorial run, Trump-endorsed veteran Mike Bouchard will face Democrat Christina Hines, a former special victims prosecutor.
In Missouri, state Sen. Rick Brattin, backed by Gov. Mike Kehoe, the Club for Growth and, in the final days, Trump, is projected to win the nomination in the redrawn district that now puts Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver in territory Trump won by 18 points.
In Washington state, Republicans are targeting Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in a district Trump won by 3 points. She will face state Senate Republican leader John Braun, who has Trump's endorsement.
This article was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), in accordance with our editorial policy.
