Hertel, Barrett announce campaigns in closely watched congressional race

LANSING — Two Lansing-area politicians announced their campaigns for Congress this week in what is set to be one of the most closely watched races in the country.

Democrat Curtis Hertel Jr., Lansing’s former state senator, and Republican Tom Barrett, a former state senator from Charlotte who ran for the seat in 2022, both announced campaigns as they seek to fill what is considered a key swing seat in the 2024 cycle.

At a kickoff event Monday, Hertel touted recent legislative work as part of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's staff in securing abortion rights, broadening anti-discrimination laws and enacting gun control measures following February’s Michigan State University campus shooting.

“Washington, D.C., could learn a lot from little, old Michigan,” Hertel said. Hertel also highlighted rising prices, prescription drug pricing and threats to civil rights as prominent issues.

Hertel noted his ability for bipartisan work at the event.

“I work with a lot of Republicans in order to do big things like bringing jobs here to Lansing,” he said. “I think people have a choice in this race. If they want somebody who could work with both sides of the aisle to get things done to Michigan families, we have a strong record of doing that in the past."

“We're never going to meet those challenges unless we're willing to work together," he added.

Hertel recently left Whitmer’s administration after serving as director of legislative affairs after overseeing the passage of the state’s annual budget that allocated over $150 million to the mid-Michigan area.

Hertel and Barrett are both vying to represent Michigan’s 7th District, currently held by Democrat Elissa Slotkin. Slotkin is seeking the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Debbie Stabenow, who is retiring after two decades of service in the chamber.

The 7th District covers Ingham, Livingston, Clinton and Shiawassee counties and parts of Eaton, Oakland and Genesee counties.

Barrett, who represented Clinton, Eaton and Shiawassee counties in the state Senate, announced his campaign with a video targeting President Joe Biden and Democratic policies toward China, national security and the economy. Barrett ran against Slotkin in 2022 but lost by 5 percentage points.

Republicans were quick to attack Hertel’s legislative and professional record, highlighting the $175 million in state funding provided to the Gotion electric vehicle plant slated for near Big Rapids.

"Retired lobbyist Curtis Hertel is looking for a new government check,” NRCC spokesperson Chris Gustafson said in a statement. “Michigan voters are well aware of Hertel's extreme record and will swiftly reject him as Republicans flip the 7th.”

Barrett contrasted his personal experiences with Hertel's, saying that he's spent 22 years in the army while Hertel has spent 22 years in elected office.

"Curtis is a fighter — I know that about him from our time on the Senate floor together," he said. "But ultimately, this will be a campaign of two different candidates and two different worldviews."

Several prominent area Democrats were on hand to show their support at Hertel's Monday event, including Lansing Mayor Andy Schor, Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum, state Sen. Sam Singh, and state House members Angela Witwer and Kara Hope. Slotkin, who was not at the event, quickly threw her support behind Hertel to succeed her position in the House.

The Hertel family has a long political history in the state: Curtis Hertel Jr.’s father, Curtis Hertel Sr., served in the state House from 1981-98, as co-speaker from 1993-94 and as sole speaker from 1997-98; his uncle, Dennis Hertel, served in the U.S. House from 1981-93; his brother, Kevin Hertel, is a current state senator; and his wife, Elizabeth Hertel is the director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Contact Sheldon Krause at skrause@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @sheldonjkrause.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Hertel, Barrett announce runs in closely watched congressional race