(NewsNation) — NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ has called the race for Michigan’s District 7 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in favor of Tom Barrett. See the results of U.S. House and U.S. Senate races from around the country here.
The seat represents a pivotal swing district, which was left open when Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin elected to leave the office to run to replace outgoing Sen. Debbie Stabenow.
Two former state lawmakers, Democrat Curtis Hertel and Republican Tom Barrett, both ran unopposed in the primary, setting up Tuesday’s general election showdown.
Hertel served in the Michigan Senate and most recently worked as Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s legislative director.
Barrett is a U.S. Army veteran, served in the Michigan National Guard and lost in his 2022 bid to unseat Slotkin by 5 percentage points.
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Hertel comes from a political background as his father, Curtis Hertel Sr., was the former co-speaker of the Michigan House, and several family members have held political office across the state. Hertel said if elected, he would focus on protecting women’s reproductive rights as well as lowering health care costs and bringing electric vehicle jobs to Michigan.
Barrett said he would focus on making the U.S.-Mexico border more secure and would also work to support economic growth for Michigan while also opposing subsidies for large corporations.
The seat is one that Republicans were hoping to flip as the GOP looks to maintain its slim majority in the U.S. House. The Cook Political Report characterized the race between the former state lawmakers as a toss-up, making the split nature of the mid-Michigan district a race that carries national implications.
Heading into Tuesday’s election, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election. Republicans control the chamber with a narrow majority of 220 seats, while the Democrats occupy 212 and three vacancies.
