Bridget Brink (D), William Lawrence (D), Matt Maasdam (D), and two other candidates are running in the Democratic primary for Michigan's 7th Congressional District on August 4, 2026. As of May 2026, Brink, Lawrence, and Maasdam led in endorsements, polling, and local media attention.
The winner will face incumbent Tom Barrett (R), first elected in 2024, in the general election. As of May 2026, major forecasting organizations rated the general election a toss-up. The Detroit Free Press' Todd Spangler said the 7th District "may be the most likely to flip to Democrats in November, having previously been represented by now-Sen. Elissa Slotkin. ... Barrett faces a tough reelection campaign given a national atmosphere that favors the Democrats."
Brink is a former member of the U.S. Foreign Service. Brink served on the National Security Council under President Barack Obama (D) and later as U.S. ambassador to Slovakia and, later, Ukraine. Brink's campaign website says she had "resigned as U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine to speak out against the Trump Administration’s reckless and chaotic policies." Brink says she will "stand up to unaccountable, unelected billionaires trying to slash and burn our government and undermine our democracy ... our rights, our freedoms, our very democracy is at stake." EMILY's List endorsed Brink.
