Curtis Hertel Jr. leaves Whitmer's cabinet, expected to run for U.S. House

LANSING — Former state senator Curtis Hertel Jr. is leaving his post in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's office, Whitmer's office announced Friday.

The East Lansing Democrat who served as Whitmer's director of legislative affairs is expected to announce his intention to run for U.S. House of Representatives in Michigan's 7th District in 2024, according to WLNS-TV-6. The Lansing-based TV station said Hertel is expected to make an announcement in "early July."

Rep. Elissa Slotkin, the Lansing Democrat currently representing the district, has announced she will run to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow.

"I am so grateful to my friend Curtis Hertel Jr. for his service to the State of Michigan and for everything he has done bringing Republicans and Democrats together to make a real difference in people’s lives," Whitmer said in a release. "Curtis helped deliver $1 billion in tax cuts for Michiganders by securing a repeal of the retirement tax and expanding the Working Families Tax Credit."

Whitmer said in an email that Patti Tremblay will replace Hertel. Tremblay previously served as the office's legal counsel, was the deputy director of legislative affairs and legal counsel for the State House of Representatives Democratic Caucus.

In a series of tweets on Friday, Hertel said he's proud of his work on repealing the state's 1930s ban on abortions that was blocked by a state constitutional amendment, ending the retirement tax and keeping automotive jobs in the state.

"I was honored to play a part in landmark legislation like the expansion of the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act, restoring workers' rights, and delivering the largest tax cut for working families in generations," he wrote.

Hertel last year was named Whitmer's director of legislative affairs, where he coordinated lobbying on the governor's behalf at the statehouse.

Hertel recently completed two terms as a state senator.

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Hertel's father, Curtis Hertel Sr., served in the state Legislature for years, including as speaker of the House in 1997 and 1998. His brother, Kevin, was elected to represent parts of Macomb, St. Clair and Wayne counties in the state Senate. Hertel's wife, Elizabeth, is the director of Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services. The couple has four children.

The race for Michigan’s 7th Congressional District is expected to be one of the most closely watched 2024 races in the country.

The current U.S. House 7th District represents Ingham, Livingston, Clinton and Shiawassee counties, and parts of Eaton, Oakland and Genesee counties. Jason Roe, Tom Barrett's campaign strategist, confirmed in February that Barrett is planning on running again for the 7th District in 2024.

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Other prominent local Democrats have said they are not running. That list includes Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum, who announced earlier this year she wasn't running. Byrum was a member of the state House from 2007 to 2013.

Slotkin is leaving a seat that is seen as one of the most competitive of the 2024 cycle. She held off former Republican state Sen. Tom Barrett in the 2022 election with a 5 percentage point victory in what became one of the most expensive races in the country. Barrett has expressed his interest to run for the seat again.

Detroit Free Press reporter Dave Boucher contributed to this report.

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Contact reporter Krystal Nurse at 517-267-1344 or knurse@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @KrystalRNurse.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Curtis Hertel Jr. leaves Whitmer's cabinet, expected to run for U.S. House