Michigan 7th District race 2026: Barrett vs. Lawrence

RThe Ledger's profile

Tom Barrett

First-term U.S. Representative for Michigan's 7th District, a former Army helicopter pilot and state senator, facing William Lawrence in November.

Read the documented profile of Tom Barrett

Also on the ballot

William Lawrence

American political organizer from the Lansing area; co-founder of the Sunrise Movement; 2026 Democratic nominee for U.S. House in Michigan’s 7th congressional district

The general-election field as the board records it: Barrett (R) vs. William Lawrence (D, Sunrise Movement co-founder)

The race at a glance

Board data as of Sep 15, 2026. Ratings are the raters' own current calls; polls are the newest public ones with their field dates; money is what the committees reported. Nothing here is a forecast.

Seat

Incumbent Tom Barrett (R), 50.3% in 2024 (Lansing metro + Livingston)

Primary

Aug 4, 2026 (MI SOS via Wikipedia; mielections.us 503): R Barrett 72,468 (100%); D Lawrence 55,933 (43.65%) def. Bridget Brink 36,885, Matt Maasdam 35,315

Ratings

Cook Toss Up (Sep 11); Sabato Toss-up (Sep 10); IE Toss-up (Sep 10)

Newest public polling

GSG (D, HMP) Aug 11–13 n=500 LV: Lawrence 49 / Barrett 47; Data for Progress Jun 24–30 n=772: Lawrence 48 / Barrett 46

Reported money

FEC Jul 15: Barrett $6,306,828 raised / $2,871,872 COH; Lawrence $1,119,198 / $383,116

Notable

McIntosh Sep 4: Lawrence 'focused on emulating Zohran Mamdani and other Socialists'. Trump endorsed Barrett. DCCC's chosen candidate (Brink) lost the primary.

Key dates in Michigan

Read from the Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State), Bureau of Elections. The full guide, with the official tools, is on the Michigan page.

• Online voter registration deadlineMonday, October 19, 2026 — last day to register online (at Michigan.gov/Vote) and be eligible to vote in the November 3, 2026 general election. After that date, registration is only in person at the local city or township clerk's office, with proof of residency. michigan.gov
• Early in-person voting beginsSaturday, October 24, 2026 — first day of the mandatory early in-person voting period for statewide and federal elections (the second Saturday before Election Day). Communities can optionally offer early voting beginning as early as the 29th day before the election; look up your assigned early voting site, its dates and hours at Michigan.gov/Vote. michigan.gov
• Absentee ballot request deadline (online or by mail: received by)5 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2026 (the Friday before Election Day) — online applications may be submitted until then, and mailed applications must be received by the local city or township clerk's office by then. In person at the clerk's office, a voter registered at the current address may apply until 4 p.m. on Monday, November 2, 2026. michigan.gov
• Absentee ballot return deadline (received by)8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026 — the absentee ballot must be received (not just postmarked) by the voter's local clerk's office by then, or inserted into one of the clerk's drop boxes by 8 p.m. Exception: military and overseas ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received within 6 days after the election (by Monday, November 9, 2026). michigan.gov
• Election DayTuesday, November 3, 2026 — general election. michigan.gov
• Polling place hours on Election Day7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at the voter's assigned polling place. michigan.gov

Voting in Michigan: dates, rules and official tools

Questions and answers