Former state Sens. Tom Barrett (R) and Curtis Hertel (L) | Andrew Roth and Kyle Davidson photos
As U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) seeks a seat in the U.S. Senate, Michigan’s 7th Congressional District sits open while two former state senators campaign for what’s been billed as one of the most competitive seats in the nation.
On the Democratic side, former State Sen. Curtis Hertel (D-East Lansing) is campaigning on issues like reproductive rights, gun safety, lowering health care costs and supporting jobs in automotive and battery manufacturing.
Republicans have nominated former state Sen. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) once again after he unsuccessfully ran against Slotkin in 2022. His campaign has focused on border security, addressing inflation through cuts to government spending, supporting law enforcement and showing strength in foreign policy.
Michigan’s 7th Congressional District includes reliably blue Ingham County, majority-GOP Livingston County and Republican-leaning Clinton and Shiawassee counties, as well as parts of Eaton, Oakland, and Genesee counties. The election is expected to be close with the nonpartisan Cook Political Report rating it as a “tossup.”
There are no debates scheduled between the candidates, with Hertel’s campaign releasing a statement blasting Barrett, saying he refused to participate in two televised debates.
While both campaigns initially agreed to a debate hosted by WLNS TV-6 in Lansing, Barrett campaign strategist Jason Roe told the Advance in an email the campaign “finally gave up on the gamesmanship,” saying the Hertel campaign “continued to make changes” after they signed a document laying out the terms.
The Barrett campaign denied another debate invitation from WILX TV-10 as they had already agreed to the WLNS debate in the same market, but agreed to another invitation from WDIV TV-4, Roe said.
The Michigan Advance interviewed both candidates in the lead up to the election to discuss multiple key issues alongside their priorities if elected.
Sens. Tom Barrett, Peter MacGregor and Curtis Hertel at the Fiscal Year 2020 budget presentation in 2019| Casey Hull
Hertel seeks common ground in Congress
Before launching his 2024 campaign, Hertel served as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s legislative director, resigning at the end of June 2022.
He served in the Michigan State Senate from 2015 to 2022. His father, Curtis Hertel Sr., served as speaker of the Michigan House from 1993 through 1994 alongside Republican Paul Hillegonds, while his brother, Kevin Hertel, currently serves as the state senator for Michigan’s 12th Congressional District. Curtis Hertel’s wife, Elizabeth Hertel, is the director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Hertel told the Advance that we’re at a critical unique moment in history where the nation is deciding where the jobs of tomorrow are, laying out a choice between Michigan and China.
He noted his support for an incentive program which supported General Motors’ nearly $7 billion plan to expand electric vehicles and battery production in the state, creating 4,000 jobs and retaining 1,000. As part of its plan, GM and partner L.G. Energy solutions also secured a $2.5 billion loan from the U.S. Energy Department for multiple battery manufacturing sites, including one near GM’s Delta Twp. plant.
“I also think we have to make it easier for middle-class families to raise a family. … I don’t think families are looking for a handout. They’re looking for a little help,” Hertel said.
“I was in the Legislature. I worked as the governor’s legislative director. I worked to cut middle class taxes and worked to end the retirement tax and I think that we need to do the same thing on the federal level,” Hertel said.
Additionally, Congress needs to work to lower the cost of childcare and prescription drugs, Hertel said, calling for an expansion of the list of drugs covered under Medicare Part D whose prices are negotiated with drug companies. He also criticized drug advertising, noting the United States is one of two countries that allows manufacturers to market their products, the other being New Zealand.
Hertel also said he would support universal background checks, safe storage requirements and extreme risk protection order policies, also known as red flag laws on a national scale to combat gun violence.
Former state Senator for Lansing, Michigan Curtis Hertel (right) stands in the UAW picket line in Delta Township, Michigan on September 29, 2023. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)
“My son was at [Michigan State University’s] campus when that shooting happened and called. You know, [he] was walking into the Union when gunfire rang out. I don’t think I really ever understood fear before then,” Hertel said.
“For me, it’s about freedom, right? I think people have the right to the Second Amendment, but I also think that people have a right to go to school and not worry about being a victim of gun violence,” he said.
He also expressed support for organizations like Lansing’s Mikey 23 Foundation, which teaches younger community members construction trade skills in hopes of empowering them and keeping them away from gun violence.
“We have to address gun violence in schools. We also have to address it in our cities, as well,” Hertel said. “Programs like that are investing in kids and showing them other possibilities. I think it’s a great start.”
When supporting community safety, it’s a combination of investing in local police in programs that support young people, Hertel said.
Hertel also stated his support for passing the Women’s Health Protection Act which creates federal rights for patients and providers to protect abortion access, and codifying the protections of Roe v. Wade, the now-overturned Supreme Court Ruling which protected the constitutional right to abortion care.
“You know, this is one of those ones where my opponent could not be more different,” Hertel said, pointing to Barrett’s previous support for anti-abortion policies, including a Senate resolution stating that life begins at fertilization, which Hertel said puts in vitro fertilization and other forms of birth control at risk.
“He’s said he’s 100% pro life, no exceptions, and he’s certainly trying to hide all that now,” Hertel said.
However, Barrett told the Advance he would not support a national abortion ban, as he feels it falls outside of Congress’s authority.
“I don’t support things that are outside of the authority of Congress and I don’t believe that a federal abortion ban is within the authority of the scope of what Congress can do,” Barrett said.
Barrett also said he has no policy on in vitro fertilization and contraception, accusing Hertel and his opponents of employing “scare tactics.”
Sen. Curtis Hertel at the State of the State address, Jan. 29, 2020 | Andrew Roth
On energy, Hertel said he supports an “all-of-the-above approach,” that includes energy sources like natural gas, nuclear, solar and wind.
“I think that climate change is real, and I think that we have a responsibility there. At the same time, you have to make sure that’s affordable and workable for people,” Hertel said. “Do I think we should be investing in the future of energy? Yes, but I think an all-of-the-above approach is what we have to do now.”
When looking to foreign policy, Hertel said the U.S. has a responsibility to support its allies.
“In terms of the Ukraine, I think we are actually, we are making sure that Putin doesn’t go any further,” Hertel said, stating that the U.S.’ support for Ukraine could prevent a wider conflict in the future that would get the U.S. involved.
He said he would support continued aid to Israel.
If elected, Hertel said his immediate focus would be focused on learning and building relationships with colleagues whom he disagrees with on a number of issues, but agrees on some issues in hopes of finding space to get things done.
“I served in the minority my entire time in the legislature, and I realized the way to solve problems is to actually find people that are willing to work in the middle and try and try to get things done. You know, a congress of reasonable humans. That’s what actually solves problems,” Hertel said.
Later, when asked about his campaign’s approach to undocumented immigration, Hertel noted in an email that he wrote a letter to President Joe Biden urging stronger executive authority. Hertel said he supports the U.S. Senate’s rejected bipartisan border deal, which the White House said would have added more than 1,500 new Customs and Border Protection personnel, funded the installation of 100 cutting-edge inspection machines to help detect fentanyl, and established an emergency authority allowing the President and Secretary of Homeland Security to temporarily prohibit individuals from seeking asylum when the Southwest border is overwhelmed, with limited exceptions.
Democrats have criticized former President Donald Trump for pressuring Republican lawmakers to kill the deal and Vice President Kamala Harris has pledged to resurrect the policy if she’s elected.
Curtis Hertel Jr. takes questions from reporters after announcing his 2024 congressional campaign on July 10, 2023. | Kyle Davidson
Barrett looks to tackle economic and national security
An Iraq war veteran, Barrett served in the military for 22 years, retiring from the Michigan Army National Guard in 2022. He also served as a state representative from 2015 through 2018 when he was elected to the state Senate, serving through 2022.
When asked how he would work to address rising costs on everyday goods, Barrett credited increased government spending and printing currency as contributing to the rising costs of mortgages and groceries.
“To really get out of this, we have to look at how we got into it, and then see ourselves through the other side, which is to quit the endless printing and spending of money, to stop that spigot of new dollars going into the economy, to restore fiscal sanity and discipline,” Barrett said.
“Then to kind of get back some of the lost value of our money, we need to unleash American energy and really drive energy costs down so that our economy can really thrive,” Barrett said.
Barrett also supports an all-of-the-above approach to energy resources, noting his support for legislation supporting rooftop solar and distributed energy generation while serving in the legislature. He also called for further development of nuclear power to bridge the gap as energy demands increase.
In the interim, Barrett also called for expanding the use of natural gas, pointing to Michigan’s substantial natural gas reserves as an opportunity to improve the economy through affordable energy.
“As it relates to natural gas, [it’s] probably one of the cleanest burning fuels available that can put us on the right track, And same with propane, you know, that’s kind of a bit of a byproduct that comes out of the natural gas processing,” Barrett said. “Michigan’s the leading state for residential home heating [using] propane. Of any state in the union, we do that more here in Michigan than anywhere else. So access to energy security, specifically natural gas and propane is absolutely of dire, critical importance in Michigan,” Barrett said.
State Sen. Tom Barrett and former House Speaker Tom Leonard in Charlotte, Nov. 4, 2022 | Kyle Davidson
However, Barrett split from Hertel on supporting electric vehicles, criticizing “this electric vehicle mandate and things that would raise the emission standards.”
“When you talk to my opponent, he’s gonna say that, you know, there is no mandate. Well, there’s no mandate, in the sense that Congress hasn’t imposed a mandate on people, but it’s a lot like when Henry Ford said you could have any car as long as it’s black,” Barrett said. “The federal government is going to have policies that make it such that the only conceivable car available is going to be an electric vehicle.”
While Biden and Harris have not imposed a ban on gas powered vehicles, the administration has set a goal for 50% of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. to be electric by 2030.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also finalized updated pollution standards for passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty vehicles for model years 2027 through 2032 and beyond. In its announcement, the EPA notes the new standards are intended to reduce pollution and accelerate the adoption of cleaner vehicle technologies.
In addition to addressing inflation and ensuring affordable energy, another key component of supporting the middle class and business is tax policy, Barrett said, speaking in support of renewing the components of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — often referred to as the Trump tax cuts — which are set to expire in 2025.
When looking at public safety, Barrett said communities should be held accountable to restore a sense of law and order. While he said policing is driven more by the locality and the state, Barrett noted his support for expanded deescalation training during his time in the Legislature.
Barrett also sponsored a set of bills alongside Hertel that allows individuals who are deaf, autistic or who face other communication barriers to voluntarily apply for a “communication impediment” designation on their license and/or vehicle registration to promote safer interactions with law enforcement.
In addressing gun violence and working to prevent mass shootings, Barrett said he would advocate for funding in Washington, D.C., to provide every school in America with a school resource officer, which he said would serve a few purposes.
“No. 1, they’re there, certainly in a uniform, and that serves as a deterrent to someone who may have, you know, a terribly disastrous intent behind their behavior. So that deterrent effect is important,” Barrett said.
Tom Barrett, candidate for Michigan’s 7th Congressional District speaks at a rally at Alro Steel in Potterville, Michigan ahead of a speech from former president Donald Trump on Aug. 29. 2024 | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols
“But then maybe even more important than that is that they can build and mentor and develop relationships with students in a school to really learn about where the trouble spots might be. Students will feel comfortable coming to them with issues and concerns that they may have, and in some of these, many of these terribly tragic situations, there were warning signs that preceded these events,” Barrett said.
He also pointed to the demographics and the risk factors that are common in many school shootings and work to address them at the root cause.
“They tend to follow a very similar profile, younger white men, who are, you know, outcasts from their peers, socially distant, usually have, you know, broken home lives. Why are these factors so common amongst all of these individuals,” Barrett said.
“That’s not to say that everybody who has one or more of these risk factors is someone who’s destined to do something disastrous, but I think we got to ask ourselves, what are the root causes of this? What can we do to address some of those root causes,” Barrett said.
While he does not support arming teachers, Barrett said lawmakers should consider expanding options for non-lethal control in school shootings, noting this is another area driven by state policy where the federal government can assist.
Looking to the U.S.’ role in international conflict, Barrett criticized the Biden administration, saying that a lack of strong leadership in the White House led to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Iran launching its attacks on Israel.
“These are things that happened because of failed leadership and because of poor leadership, lack of leadership and weakness in the White House. What we have to do is restore strength in the United States so that our adversaries are deterred and not emboldened,” Barrett said.
“I’m not opposed to continuing to support our allies, both in Ukraine and Israel, but again, I want to make sure that we are putting the best interests of Americans and our allies forward,” Barrett said, noting that he drew a hard line at committing American troops to either conflict.
While Barrett said he would not support a national abortion ban, he noted his focus on protecting the Hyde Amendment, which bans the use of federal funding for abortion with exceptions for pregnancies that endanger the life of the pregnant person or that result from rape or incest.
State Sen. Tom Barrett at a rally for GOP gubernatorial nominee Tudor Dixon in Brighton, Nov. 4, 2022 | Laina Stebbins
He also sought to protect doctors to ensure they are not forced or coerced to provide abortion care if they have a conscientious objection, and said he would want to expand opportunities for adoption in the U.S.
“There are a tremendous amount of loving homes in the United States that simply can’t afford to adopt a baby because of how expensive it has become. I think we ought to knock down those costs at the federal government level, provide opportunities for families to do that,” Barrett said.
“I’m even willing to expand the child tax credit for moms who place their child up for adoption, so that they can capture and keep that child tax credit for a period of time to reconcile some of the expenses that come with pregnancy. I think there’s a lot we can do here,” Barrett said.
Barrett’s campaign previously told the Advance he would also focus on ensuring nonprofit crisis pregnancy centers continue to receive government funding.
Alongside the economy, Barrett listed securing the nation’s border as the most pressing issue for Congress, naming it as his day one issue.
“We’re a sovereign nation and a nation of laws. If we cannot define our own boundaries, then our laws are meaningless,” Barrett said.
He called for the construction of physical barriers to deter border crossings and bringing on additional border agents. He also said the U.S. should close the border for asylum seekers and reinstate Trump’s “remain in Mexico” policy, which required asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for their hearing in U.S. immigration court.
“You have to secure the border of the United States, or you don’t have a country. We’re not going to be able to fight about all these other issues if we don’t have a country at all,” Barrett said.
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