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Tom Barrett running for Michigan's 7th congressional district

Courtesy senatortombarrett.com

Former State Senator Tom Barrett has announced he's once again jumping into the race to represent Michigan's 7th district in Congress.

Barrett is vying for the House seat after he ran a competitive campaign last year to represent mid-Michigan. Then the Charlotte Republican narrowly lost to Democratic Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin.

But Slotkin is now running for U.S. Senate, leaving the 7th district without an incumbent running for the seat in 2024.

Barrett says next year's race will be different because a close presidential election will improve his chances.

"With a more competitive race at the top of the ticket, we think that that certainly, um, will lift the tide for candidacies, and candidates, like mine," he says.

Barrett is likely to face former State Senator Curtis Hertel Jr. The East Lansing Democrat announced his candidacy for the seat on Monday.

Arjun Thakkar is WKAR's politics and civics reporter.