‘Serious Clusterf*ck’: Dems Marvel At Their Own Disastrous Primary In Key House Swing District
(AP Photo/Paul Sancya, Pool, File)
Michigan’s Democratic House primaries are drawing national attention as Democrats strive to flip GOP-held seats while also managing escalating internal tensions between moderates and progressives.
According to a new report by Axios, moderate Democrats and party leaders find themselves unable to rally behind a single candidate—a source of increasing fragmentation and hostility.
“It’s a serious clusterf*ck,” an anonymous Michigan state legislator told Axios. “I am just sitting back eating popcorn because now it’s so f*cked up it’s just, ‘Let’s just enjoy this.’”
Among the key battlegrounds is Michigan’s seventh district as three Democratic candidates fight to take on Rep. Tom Barrett (R-MI), who currently holds the seat. Barrett only won his last election by one point in the key swing district.
The candidates are Bridget Brink, a foreign policy-oriented candidate who served as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine from 2022 to 2025; William Lawrence, a Bernie Sanders-backed progressive candidate; and Navy SEAL Matt Maasdam, who served as a military aide to former President Barack Obama.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) has rallied behind Maasdam.
Citing text messages and multiple sources, Axios reported Slotkin has not only endorsed his campaign but has allegedly “lent her name to his fundraising texts and paid for internal polling on his behalf.”
“The Women’s [Caucus] went apesh*t,” an unnamed senior House Democrat told Axios of Slotkin’s endorsement. “And I mean apesh*t.”
Axios reported that many Michigan Democrats are frustrated as Slotkin’s move could cut into Brink’s lead and create an opening for Lawrence, but Slotkin’s team has pushed back against the criticism.
“Senator Slotkin is singularly focused on one thing: flipping her old seat from red back to blue. Her entire goal is to help win back the House and put a real check on President Trump,” spokesperson Josh Stewart told Axios.
The Michigan Democratic Senate primary has also been a hot topic as progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed faces Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) in a bruising contest to take on a Republican in a state Trump won in 2024.
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