Progressive activist wins Democratic primary in one of the nations biggest House races
Democrat William Lawrence, the co-founder of the progressive Sunrise Movement, has won his party’s primary in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, NBC News projects — a big victory for the insurgent left that also sets up a dramatic general election contrast against Republicans in a crucial battleground seat.Voters in five states participated in primaries Tuesday, including several with major battleground districts up for grabs in November.And few are more hotly contested than this Michigan district, where Lawrence bested two prominent Democratic rivals with national security backgrounds after differentiating himself as the more liberal candidate and as an aggressive critic of data centers.
Meanwhile, the battle between his two Democratic opponents, former Ambassador Bridget Brink and retired Navy SEAL Matt Maasdam, became increasingly bitter as the race drew to a close, and the two candidates ultimately appear to have split the more moderate wing of the party.Lawrence will now take on GOP Rep.
Tom Barrett in one of the most tightly divided swing seats in the nation.President Donald Trump carried the district by just 1 point in 2024, and super PACs and other outside groups have reserved more ad spending there than in all but one other House race in the country.
Lawrence won support from an array of prominent progressives and outside groups, and a mysterious super PAC spent more than $1 million in the race’s final weeks to boost him and tear Maasdam down.That spending raised concerns among some Democrats that Republicans might be boosting Lawrence because they think he’ll be easier to beat in the general election.Michigan voters are also cementing other key battleground House races on Tuesday, albeit with less fanfare.
They’ll pick the Democrat to run against Republican Rep.Bill Huizenga, the Republican to run against Democratic Rep.
Kristen McDonald Rivet, and candidates in the open 10th Congressional District (where Trump-backed Republican Mike B...