Lansing — U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib has endorsed progressive community organizer William Lawrence in his bid for the 7th Congressional District seat, according to Lawrence’s campaign.
Lawrence is running in a three-way Democratic primary for a chance to unseat first-term U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte.
Lawrence has the “kind of courageous leadership that we all need right now,” Tlaib said in a statement released by the campaign, which cited his work in the Lansing area to expand tenant protections for renters.
“Will has proven to do the work without the title,” Tlaib said. “I’m proud to endorse Will because he will take on political corruption, so we can win quality healthcare and affordable housing and put a stop to endless wars.”
The competitive congressional district is anchored in Lansing and includes all of Ingham, Clinton, Shiawassee and Livingston counties, as well as parts of Genesee, Oakland and Eaton counties.
Lawrence co-founded the youth-led climate action group Sunrise Movement and founded the Michigan Rent Is Too Damn High Coalition, which advocates for statewide protections for low-income renters.
Tlaib’s endorsement, the Lawrence campaign noted, is the first from a sitting member of Michigan’s congressional delegation in the 7th District race.
“I am honored to receive Rashida’s endorsement and look forward to fighting alongside her to hold corporations accountable, stop arming Israel and other human rights violators, and empower ordinary people across Michigan,” Lawrence said in a statement.
He is facing former U.S. Ambassador Bridget Brink and former Navy SEAL and White House aide Matt Maasdam in the Democratic primary for the 7th Congressional District.
Barrett of Charlotte is running for a second term in the 7th District. He first won the district in 2024 by 3.7 percentage points against former state Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr., an East Lansing Democrat who now serves as the Michigan Democratic Party chairman.
Brink has already nabbed several endorsements from Emily’s List, the Michigan Education Association, state lawmakers and local officials.
Maasdam has received endorsements from groups that include End Citizens United and the Michigan Professional Fire Fighters Union.
eleblanc@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Tlaib endorses Lawrence in competitive mid-Michigan congressional race
Reporting by Beth LeBlanc, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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