On Tuesday, progressive activist William Lawrence announced he is running for Congress in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District.
Lawrence, 35, of Lansing, joins former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink, Michigan State University education professor Josh Cowen, former Navy SEAL Matt Maasdam, Elyon Badger (Samuel Smeltzer), and Muhammad Rais. The winner will face incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett, who is serving his first term in the district. The seat was previously held by Democrat Elissa Slotkin before she won election to the U.S. Senate in 2024.
Lawrence, an organizer and founder of key activist groups like Michigan Rent is too Damn High and the Sunrise Movement, said his campaign “will be focused on fighting for good housing, good healthcare and achieving real security for Mid-Michigan families,” a statement said.
“Mid Michigan is my home. I was raised here, I’ve been here, and I’ll be here,” Lawrence said. “This campaign is about building a future together, here, in this community we all love. We’re working for a Michigan we can afford, a future we can look forward to, and a country we can be proud of.”
“My focus in this campaign, the issue that unites all others, is real security. Real security is guaranteed healthcare, regardless of your employment status. Real security is housing security — not just a good place to live now, but knowing you’ll have a good place to live with your family next year. Real security is the condition of having confidence in the future. That’s what this campaign is about,” Lawrence said. “We must stop sending our money overseas to wage war, and instead invest in the basics that actually keep us safe – housing, healthcare, childcare, elder care, and education. This is what the people of Mid-Michigan need to build our future.”
