Tom Barrett (Michigan politician)

Last updated

Ashley Barrett
​
(m. 2008)​
Tom Barrett
Tom Barrett, official portrait (119th Congress).webp
Official portrait, 2025
Member of the U.S.HouseofRepresentatives
from Michigan's 7th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2025
Children4
Relatives Louis C. Rabaut (great-grandfather)
Education Western Michigan University (BA)
Website House website
Campaign website
Military service
AllegianceFlag of the United States.svg United States
BranchFlag of the United States Army.svg United States Army
Service years2001–2022
Rank Chief Warrant Officer 2
Unit Michigan Army National Guard
Battles/wars

Thomas More Barrett [1] (born April 30, 1981) is an American politician, financial analyst, and former U.S. Army officer serving as the U.S. representative for Michigan's 7th congressional district since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served in the Michigan Senate from 2019 to 2023 and in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019. [2] [3] His congressional district covers a seven-county area that includes Lansing.

Contents

Barrett was the Republican nominee for the district in the 2022 election, which he lost to Democratic incumbent Elissa Slotkin. He ran for the same seat again in 2024, defeating Democratic nominee Curtis Hertel Jr.

Early life and education

Barrett was born in Southfield, Michigan, on April 30, 1981. [4] He graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. [5]

U.S. Army and early career

After graduating from high school, Barrett joined the Army, where he served for 21 years. He served abroad in South Korea, Guantanamo Bay, Kuwait, and Iraq, and is a veteran of both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served in the Michigan Army National Guard, holding the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2, until retiring in 2022. [6] [5]

Prior to running for public office, Barrett worked as an analyst for the Michigan Department of the Treasury. [7] [8]

Michigan Legislature

Michigan House of Representatives (2014–2019)

Barrett was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2014, narrowly beating Democratic incumbent Theresa Abed. [9] He won re-election in 2016, defeating Theresa Abed in a rematch. Barrett garnered 54% of the vote to Abed's 43% and Libertarian Marc Lord's 3%. [10]

Michigan Senate (2019–2023)

Barrett was elected to the Michigan Senate in 2018, and in 2022 chaired the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. [11]

Barrett was a vocal critic of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and sponsored Senate Bill 858 to regulate the governor's state of emergency powers, which the governor vetoed in May 2020. [12] [13]

Barrett was one of eleven state senators to sign a letter to Congress requesting, in January 2021, an "objective and transparent investigation into credible allegations of misconduct" in the 2020 presidential election. [14] [15] In September 2022, Barrett said that the legitimacy of the 2020 election is "unknowable". [16] [17]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2022

In November 2021, Barrett announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2022 election for Michigan's 7th congressional district. [18] He won the Republican primary in August 2022, but lost to Democratic incumbent Elissa Slotkin in the November general election, [19] receiving 46% of the vote to her 52%. [20]

Bridge Michigan reported that, as of October 12, 2022, this was the most costly congressional election in the U.S. [21] By November 4, over $36 million had been spent by both campaigns. [20]

2024

Barrett ran again for election in 2024 for the same district.

During the campaign, Black Michigan lawmakers called for a probe into a Barrett ad in a Black-owned newspaper that listed election day as November 6, alleging it was meant to mislead Black voters, as the actual date was November 5. His campaign denied the charge, calling it a one-time proofing error. [22] [23]

He defeated Democratic nominee Curtis Hertel Jr. in the general election. [24]

Tenure

Barrett was sworn into the 119th U.S. Congress on January 3, 2025.

Committee assignments

Personal life

Barrett lives in Charlotte, Michigan, with his wife, Ashley, and their four children. [25] His great-grandfather, Louis C. Rabaut, represented Michigan's 14th congressional district as a Democrat from 1935 to 1947 and from 1949 to 1961. [26] During the congressional office lottery for the 119th Congress, Barrett asked his colleagues to consider leaving Longworth 1232 vacant, which they did, so he could claim the same office held by Rabaut in 1954. [27]

Barrett is a Catholic. [28]

References

  1. ↑ "No. 72, State of Michigan Journal of the House of Representatives, 99th Legislature, Regular Session of 2018". November 28, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  2. ↑ "7th District: Q and A with Elissa Slotkin and Tom Barrett". The Oakland Press. October 2, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Michigan 71st District State House Results: Tom Barrett Wins". The New York Times . Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Michigan Legislative Biography − Tom Barrett". Library of Michigan. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Tom Barrett, District 71 − Michigan House Republicans". June 25, 2018. Archived from the original on June 25, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  6. ↑ Holleman, Krystle (November 15, 2021). "Sen. Tom Barrett announces U.S. House campaign". WILX-TV . Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  7. ↑ Spangler, Todd (September 27, 2022). "Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin may have edge on Tom Barrett, but race for US House far from over" . USA Today . Archived from the original on November 21, 2024. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  8. ↑ Spangler, Todd (September 27, 2022). "Elissa Slotkin may have edge on Tom Barrett — but race for US House far from over" . Detroit Free Press . Archived from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  9. ↑ "2014 Live Michigan election results: State House Districts 1-110". Mlive . Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
  10. ↑ "2016 Michigan Official General Election Results − 11/08/2016". Elections. Michigan Department of State . Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  11. ↑ Gibbons, Lauren (September 27, 2022). "Michigan's race for Congress: Tom Barrett v. Elissa Slotkin in 7th District". Bridge Michigan . Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  12. ↑ Mauger, Craig (August 2, 2020). "Republican Michigan senator critical of Gretchen Whitmer tests positive for COVID-19". The Detroit News . Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  13. ↑ "State Senate mulling rare Saturday session to meet quarantine requirement after GOP senator tested positive". Mlive . Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  14. ↑ Breuninger, Kevin (October 27, 2022). "GOP Rep. Liz Cheney backs Rep. Elissa Slotkin in tight Michigan House race in her first endorsement of a Democrat". CNBC . Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  15. ↑ Mauger, Craig. "Michigan GOP senators briefly post differing letters to Congress on election claims". The Detroit News. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  16. ↑ Lillis, Mike (November 6, 2022). "Liz Cheney makes waves on her way out of Congress". The Hill. Nexstar Media Inc. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Will Michigan candidates accept the results of the 2022 election? Here's what they said". WXYZ 7 Action News Detroit. September 27, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  18. ↑ Lehr, Sarah (November 15, 2021). "Republican Tom Barrett launches bid for U.S. House in mid-Michigan". WKAR Public Media. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  19. ↑ Orner, Ben (August 3, 2022). "Slotkin, Barrett advance to November in tossup Michigan congressional race". Mlive . Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  20. 1 2 Burr, Alyssa; Miller, Matthew (November 9, 2022). "Slotkin wins tight race in the 7th Congressional District". Mlive . Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Slotkin-Barrett race draws big money, interest with Congress up for grabs". Bridge Michigan . Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  22. ↑ Miller, Maya C. (October 14, 2024). "Michigan Republican Blames 'Proofing Error' for Misleading Ad in Black-Owned Newspaper". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  23. ↑ Shelton, Shajaka (October 15, 2024). "Barrett campaign receives cease and desist letter for election misinformation". WLNS-TV Channel 6.
  24. ↑ Spangler, Todd (November 6, 2024). "Tom Barrett wins 7th Congressional District race". Detroit Free Press . Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  25. ↑ "13 Jan 2019, A4 − Lansing State Journal at Newspapers.com" . Lansing State Journal . January 13, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  26. ↑ Spangler, Todd (September 9, 2024). "In close Michigan congressional contest, 2 former colleagues spar". Detroit Free Press . Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  27. ↑ Miller, Maya C. (November 21, 2024). "A Rite of Passage for Congressional Newcomers: Picking an Office". The New York Times. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  28. ↑ "Religious affiliation of members of the 119th Congress" (PDF). Pew Research Center. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Michigan's 7th congressional district
2025–present		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
372nd		Succeeded by
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