Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin on Monday morning became the first major candidate from either party to announce a bid to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow in Michigan, a move that also opens up her competitive 7th Congressional District.
Slotkin, who is a former CIA analyst and Department of Defense official, arrived in Congress after unseating Republican Rep. Mike Bishop 51-47 during the 2018 blue wave. Slotkin’s Lansing-based seat, which was then numbered the 8th District, immediately became a top Republican target, but the new congresswoman once again proved to be a tough opponent. The incumbent turned back Republican Paul Junge in another 51-47 win as Trump was taking the 8th 50-49.
The new Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission went on to make Slotkin’s seat, which was renumbered the 7th District, a little bluer, but it was still far from safe at 49.4-48.9 Biden. Her opponent for 2022 was state Sen. Tom Barrett, a far-right politician who wore a "naturally immunized" wristband and refused to say if he was vaccinated; Barrett also tried to raise money by sending out a fundraising appeal by text message falsely telling recipients that "your child's gender reassignment surgery has been booked," complete with a phony time for the appointment.
Stotkin outspent her opponent by a vast $11.3 million to $2.8 million, but major outside groups on both sides believed this would be one of the top House races in America. The big four House groups (the DCCC and House Majority PAC on the Democratic side and the NRCC and Congressional Leadership PAC for the GOP) altogether spent $21.3 million, putting it behind only California’s 22nd. The fabled red wave didn’t materialize for Michigan Republicans, though, and Stotkin won by an unexpectedly strong 52-46 margin.
