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Tom Barrett (Michigan politician)

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This article is about the Michigan politician. For other people with the same name, see Thomas Barrett.

Tom Barrett
Barrett in 2024
Member-elect of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Michigan's 7th district
Assuming office
January 3, 2025
SucceedingElissa Slotkin
Member of the Michigan Senate
from the 24th district
In office
January 1, 2019 – January 1, 2023
Preceded byRick Jones
Succeeded byRuth Johnson
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the 71st district
In office
January 1, 2015 – January 1, 2019
Preceded byTheresa Abed
Succeeded byAngela Witwer
Personal details
Born (1981-04-30) April 30, 1981 (age 43)
Southfield, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Ashley Barrett
​
(m. 2008)​
RelativesLouis C. Rabaut
(great-grandfather)
EducationWestern Michigan University (BA)
WebsiteCampaign website
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service2001–2022
RankChief Warrant Officer 2
UnitMichigan Army National Guard
Battles/wars

Thomas More Barrett[1] (born April 30, 1981) is an American politician who served as a member of the Michigan Senate from the 24th district from 2019 to 2023. A Republican, he previously served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019.[2][3]

Barrett was the Republican nominee in the 2022 election for Michigan's 7th congressional district, which he lost to incumbent Democrat Elissa Slotkin. He ran for the same seat again in 2024, defeating Democratic nominee Curtis Hertel Jr.

Early life and education

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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

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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]

Political career

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Michigan House of Representatives (2014–2019)

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Barrett was first 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)

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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]

2022 U.S. House election

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Main article: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan § District 7

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 U.S. House election

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Main article: 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan § District 7

Barrett ran again for election in 2024 for the same district. He defeated Democratic nominee Curtis Hertel Jr. in the general election.[22]

Personal life

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Barrett lives in Charlotte, Michigan, with his wife, Ashley, and their four children.[23] His great-grandfather, Louis C. Rabaut, represented Michigan's 14th congressional district as a Democrat from 1935 to 1947 and from 1949 to 1961.[24] 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.[25]

References

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  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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b 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. ^ Spangler, Todd (November 6, 2024). "Tom Barrett wins 7th Congressional District race". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  23. ^ "13 Jan 2019, A4 - Lansing State Journal at Newspapers.com". Lansing State Journal. January 13, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ Spangler, Todd (September 9, 2024). "In close Michigan congressional contest, 2 former colleagues spar". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  25. ^ Miller, Maya C. (November 21, 2024). "A Rite of Passage for Congressional Newcomers: Picking an Office". The New York Times. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
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