Although she hasn’t endorsed a Democrat in the primary for the 7th Congressional seat she currently holds, U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin is helping to recruit Curtis Hertel Jr. into the race as she mounts her campaign to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow. Hertel appeared at the Livingston County Democratic Party’s annual Winans Day Dinner on Friday, along with Slotkin and Stabenow.
Hertel, a former state Senator, is currently serving as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s legislative affairs director.
Other Democrats said to be considering a run for the 7th Congressional seat include state Sen. Sarah Anthony of Lansing, state Rep. Angela Witwer of Delta Township, state Rep. Julie Brixie of Okemos.
Republican former state Sen. Tom Barrett of Charlotte is widely expected to run for the 7th District seat he lost to Slotkin by 5 points in 2022, but he has yet to announce his candidacy. 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.
Everyone assumes Barrett is running again because a campaign strategist told the Lansing State Journal on Feb. 28 that he was, and that an announcement was coming “in a few weeks.” Four months later, and Barrett has yet to announce. (You can read all about that by clicking here.)
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.
