If Tweets are predictive of anything, the race to replace 7th District U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin appears to be taking shape, and I’m putting my money on a match up between Republican former state Sen. Tom Barrett versus Democratic former state Rep. Curtis Hertel Jr. in 2024.
Earlier today, Barrett tweeted this:
Hours after that tweet, Hertel resigned his position as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s director of legislative affairs.
If he announces his candidacy, this will be Barrett’s second run for the 7th District seat, which he lost to Slotkin by 5 points.
Today’s tweet from Barrett is his first appearance on social media since he lost to Slotkin in November. His previous campaign website, which has sat stagnant since November 2022, is now unavailable with restricted access.
Hertel was seen at the Livingston County Democratic Party’s Winans Day Dinner on June 16, along with U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Slotkin, who said she was helping recruit him to run in the Democratic primary.
Neither man has yet made any formal announcement regarding the 7th District seat.
There are no other Republicans rumored to be considering a run for the 7th Congressional seat. Other Democrats said to be considering a run it include state Sen. Sarah Anthony of Lansing, state Rep. Angela Witwer of Delta Township, and state Rep. Julie Brixie of Okemos.
The 2022 race between Slotkin and Barrett was one of the most-competitive and most-expensive Congressional races in the country, with political spending topping $34 million.
Michigan’s 7th Congressional District includes all of Livingston, Ingham, Clinton and Shiawassee counties, the state capital of Lansing, as well as a majority of Eaton County and small portions of Oakland and Genesee counties.
