Will Lawrence, a co-founder of the progressive Sunrise Movement who built his campaign around opposition to data center construction, is projected to win Michigan’s 7th Congressional District over Republican Tom Barrett.
Progressives will undoubtedly cite Lawrence’s victory as evidence that left-leaning candidates can triumph in swing districts like the 7th, which includes the state capital of Lansing.
When Lawrence — who supports “Medicare for All” and is a former member of the Democratic Socialists of America — defeated two moderate candidates to win the Democratic nomination in the district, many centrists lamented that the seat would be lost.
The race ultimately became one of the county’s most expensive: Republicans spent $27 million trying to beat Lawrence, while Democrats spent $35 million boosting him. Some moderates argued this showed that boosting a progressive like Lawrence is difficult for the party, while progressives argued that it showed he was able to shrug off attacks.
But Lawrence ran a disciplined campaign focused on tying Barrett, an Army veteran and first-term House member, to President Donald Trump. One of his campaign ads noted Barrett had voted for Trump priorities 99% of the time, singling out votes on tariffs, the Iran War and data centers. “Tom takes orders from Trump,” a narrator concluded. “Your costs go up.”