Far-left activist projected to defeat House Republican in heavy blow to GOP majority

Sunrise Movement co-founder Will Lawrence is projected to defeat Republican Tom Barrett in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, a closely watched contest that could help Democrats regain control of the House. Lawrence’s win would unseat Barrett, a first-term representative, as Democrats are expected to make gains nationally.

Lawrence, a former Democratic Socialists of America member, received endorsements from Bernie Sanders and Rashida Tlaib, but presented a more moderate image late in the campaign. Barrett, a former US Army member who served in Kuwait and Iraq, was considered a leading Democratic target in a district rated a toss-up. Lawrence won the Democratic nomination over former US ambassador Bridget Brink and Navy SEAL Matt Maasdam, and was charged with a felony after a 2013 pipeline protest.