OAN Staff Addie Davis
2:32 PM – Tuesday, November 3, 2026
William Lawrence has flipped Michigan's 7th Congressional District back to blue just two years after incumbent Tom Barrett turned it red.
With 63% of the total vote counted, the Associated Press called the race in favor of Lawrence who garnered 202,657 votes, triumphing over Barrett's 189,482 votes.
Barrett, a former U.S. Army officer, focused much of his platform on veterans' affairs, highlighting legislation he sponsored in Congress aimed at benefiting former service members, according to his House website. One of those bills, the Military Helicopter Training Safety Act, was signed into law. The legislation aims to "begin the process of equipping military helicopters with the same collision avoidance technology used by civilian aircraft."
He also introduced the FRAUD Act, meant to address fraud related to community health care providers; the Protecting Local Control of Data Centers Act; the Safe Baby Formula Act to ban toxic heavy metals from baby formula as well as require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to study the effects of metals in formula; and numerous other pieces of legislation, per the congressman's website.
Barrett ran on the glowing endorsement of President Donald Trump, who highlighted his career in the military and stated that "he is fighting hard to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes, Keep our Border SECURE, Support Law Enforcement, Stand with our Military/Vets, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment."
Lawrence, a self-described "community organizer," boasted about his ability to build coalitions and bridges, according to his campaign website.
His campaign focused on four key priorities: lowering the cost of living, protecting Michigan's environment, opposing "endless war," and restoring "the rule of law," specifically through holding politicians, as well as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), accountable.
He ran on fighting for universal healthcare, social security and quality housing, as well as opposed "billionaire tax breaks," and the "illegal and expensive war on Iran," advocating for diplomatic solutions to world problems.
Trump labeled Lawrence a "Radical Left Dumocrat," accusing him of opposing "NO TAX ON TIPS, NO TAX ON OVERTIME, and NO TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY."
"He wants massive Tax Increases, Open Borders, Men playing in Women's Sports, and Transgender Mutilization of your Children," the president stated.
This House race was one of the most expensive in the country, with over $61 million being poured into local advertising.
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