Rep. Tom Barrett will face progressive William Lawrence in Michigan 7th District

Grassroots organizer William Lawrence won Tuesday’s Democratic primary in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, defeating former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink and retired Navy SEAL Matt Maasdam in a high-stakes three-way primary.

Decision Desk HQ called the race at 10:41 p.m. ET. With 50% of the vote counted, Lawrence led with a commanding 27,723 votes (42.74%), Brink had 19,078 (29.41%) and Maasdam 18,065 (27.85%).

Lawrence, co-founder of the Sunrise Movement and the Michigan Rent Is Too Damn High Coalition, ran a progressive campaign focused on housing affordability, opposing data centers and blocking U.S. arms sales to Israel. Lawrence criticized his opponents for being out-of-state candidates chosen by the Democratic party.

“People around the district tell me we want someone who shows up, who listens, and who really fights,” Lawrence said in a campaign ad. “So of course, Democratic powerbrokers are pushing two candidates who’ve never even lived here. Out of touch, elite politics is what brought us Trump and Barrett in the first place.”

Brink served as the United States’ ambassador to Ukraine from 2022-25, and built her platform around her international experience. During a candidate forum last month, Brink claimed that she was the only candidate in the race to stand up to President Donald Trump, referencing her resignation as ambassador when Trump took office.

Maasdam is a small-business founder and former military aide to President Barack Obama. Maasdam pitched himself as an political outsider and garnered an endorsement from U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), who represented the 7th Congressional District from 2019-25.

Lawrence will face Barrett, who ran unopposed in the Republican primary. First elected in 2024, Barrett is facing a tough reelection chance after supporting much of President Donald Trump’s agenda, including initial support for the Iran War and safety net cuts. Cook Political Report rates the general election as a tossup.