In a shift within Michigan's 7th Congressional District, former Republican state Sen. Tom Barrett defeated Democrat Curtis Hertel Jr., flipping the seat from blue to red. Barrett won with 50.3% of the vote, while Hertel received 46.6%, with 99% of votes counted.
According to The Detroit News, Tom Barrett, an Iraq War veteran and former Michigan legislator, said, "I'm ready to get to work to continue to build that trust and continue to invest back into my district, because I take the job itself, as representative in Congress, I take that very seriously."
The race had gained exceptional attention with outside groups pouring over $27 million into it, as per the data from the political spending tracking website Open Secrets. This spending made the race one of the top 10 most expensive in the country. As The Associated Press outlined, both parties viewed the 7th District as a pivot in the struggle for majority control in the upcoming legislative session.
Democrat Curtis Hertel, from a prominent Michigan political family, served as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's chief lobbyist after his time in the state Senate. Despite his political ties, Hertel told The Detroit News, saying, "To everyone who shared our vision and supported this campaign, I thank you deeply for your support. Know that I will continue to work with you towards that better future we all seek."
