With one week until Election Day, Republicans rally for Barrett in Southeast Michigan

U.S. House candidate and former State Sen. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte), U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) during a tour of the Associated Builders and Contractors’ Michigan Construction Academy in Madison Heights on Oct. 29, 2024. | Kyle Davidson

With seven days left until Election Day, U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and National Republican Campaign Committee Chair Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), alongside other Republican House members, stopped in Madison Heights to support former state Sen. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) in his push to claim one of the most competitive House districts in the country. 

Barrett is facing off against former state Sen. Curtis Hertel (D-East Lansing) in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District. Currently held by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) who is running for U.S. Senate against former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-White Lake), the district — which has been rated a “toss up” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report — could be key in determining which party will control the U.S. House next year. 

Alongside Scalise and Hudson, U.S. Reps. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa), Erin Houchin (R-Ind.), Lisa McClain (R-Bruce Twp.), John Moolenaar (R-Caledonia), Tim Walberg (R-Tipton) and Steve Womack (R-Ark.) joined Barrett for a fundraising event and a tour of the Associated Builders and Contractors’ Michigan Construction Academy, a trade school providing training in electrical, carpentry and welding, located in Michigan’s 11th Congressional District, held by U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Birmingham).

Following the tour, Barrett, Scalise and Hudson took questions from reporters, discussing their efforts to bolster the Republican majority in the U.S. House. 

Barrett said the closing message to his campaign is one of contrasts between he and Hertel, placing a focus on the cost of living and border security. 

“He’s been a 22-year career ladder climber. I spent 22 years in service in the military. I’m for you know, lowering inflation, lowering government spending, get our economy back on the right track, lowering government regulation and extending the Trump tax cuts so that people can have a more prosperous future and for securing our border,” Barrett said. 

As the final week counts down, Scalise said Republicans are focused on two things. 

“One is all the members we have — you know, we’re doing an event for [U.S. Rep.] John James later today — but we have real opportunities to go on offense and flip more seats from Democrat to Republican,” Scalise said.

James is a first-term House member representing Southeast Michigan in the 10th District who’s facing a rematch with former Judge Carl Marlinga.

“And Tom Barrett is one of those top opportunities because he’s such a great candidate. We really put a lot of effort last year into recruiting really good, top-level people, the kind of high-integrity people that would add value to Congress, and I think that’s why he’s done so well in this race,” Scalise said.

In addition to supporting James, Scalise was also scheduled to appear at a get out the vote event for former prosecutor Paul Junge, who is running in Michigan’s open 8th Congressional District against state Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City). 

When asked how he was feeling with a week left in the race, Barrett said he felt the exact same as he did in his previous legislative elections, where Barrett prevailed in closely contested districts. 

“Two years ago. I definitely felt like we were, you know, I was running against an incumbent [Slotkin]. It was a different set of circumstances, and I felt like we were kind of climbing that hill, and I didn’t know if we would quite get there on election day or not. I thought we could, but candidly, I didn’t know in my gut, if we would,” Barrett said. 

“In this race I feel very strong that if we do the things we have to do, if we continue to work hard, we continue to push over this next week, that we should come out of this ahead,” Barrett said. 

Additionally, having former President Donald Trump at the top of the ticket is a benefit in many close congressional races, Scalise said.

“The governor’s race, two years ago was the top of the ticket, and our candidate [Tudor Dixon] way underperformed Gov. [Gretchen] Whitmer, and that drug down all of our candidates in the other races. Much different story here, with Donald Trump leading, it really rises all boats. And, you know, I think you’re seeing that with Mike Rogers in the Senate race, and, of course, with Tom Barrett here,” Scalise said.

Prior to Scalise’s visit, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) also made a string of campaign stops in support of Barrett, Junge and James. 

On Wednesday, U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) will host a get out the vote rally in Lansing with Hertel and another in Flint with McDonald Rivet.