News · Press Release · The Case Against

The Case Against Tom Barrett

“Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin has dedicated her life to serving our country and protecting and defending our democracy – and her time in Congress has been no exception. In Washington, Rep. Slotkin has been a relentless advocate for lowering the cost of prescription drugs, bringing manufacturing jobs back to Michigan to outcompete China, and standing up for our veterans and service members. Her independent-minded record is a far cry from her opponent, whose time in public office has shown he’s been bought and paid for by special interests. Slotkin is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and Michiganders will proudly re-elect her in November,” said DCCC Chairman Sean Patrick Maloney. 

To: Interested Parties
From: Matt Corridoni 
Date: August 2, 2022
Subject: The Case Against Tom Barrett

Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin is a third generation Michigander who has spent her career guided by the principles of service and love of country. After 9/11, Slotkin stepped up to protect and defend our country as a CIA analyst, where she served three tours in Iraq alongside the military, and a national security expert serving under Presidents Bush and Obama in the White House and Pentagon.

In Congress, she’s taken the same approach of working with anyone to deliver for Michigan. Congresswoman Slotkin has taken on prescription drug companies to ensure they stop hiding prices and to bring down costs for hard-working families. Slotkin has also championed bringing home American manufacturing and strengthening supply chains – fighting for comprehensive “Buy American” legislation to ensure all taxpayer-funded infrastructure projects are built by American workers with American-manufactured products.

Congresswoman Slotkin knows that when we come together, we can deliver meaningful change and break through the polarization that is holding our country back. The Lugar Center has ranked Slotkin among the top 10 most bipartisan members of the entire House of Representatives, with over 75% of bills she’s introduced with a Republican co-sponsor. By working across the aisle, Slotkin has delivered increased health care services to veterans exposed to toxic burn pits, improved price transparency and affordability for prescription drugs, and fought to bring more manufacturing jobs to America to ease global supply chain issues and help us outcompete China.

And while Rep. Slotkin’s tenure in Congress has been focused on cutting through partisan bickering, Tom Barrett’s record has been marred by it. Barrett’s record shows he’d rather work for the highest bidder than for Michigan. He repeatedly voted against a bipartisan deal to bring thousands of mid-Michigan auto manufacturing jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in investments to Michigan’s 7th Congressional District. After Barrett made his opposition to the deal clear, he earned the endorsement of a dark money group who lobbied against the bill.

Tonight’s election sets up a clear choice between a bipartisan fighter for Michigan and a far-right candidate who stands for politics as usual and folds to special interests. Mid-Michiganders know they can always count on Elissa Slotkin to look out for them and it’s why they will send her back to Congress in November.

IN LANSING, BARRETT GOT BOUGHT 

Tom Barrett’s record in the state legislature has been defined by putting his donors and corporate special interests ahead of mid-Michigan. Nowhere is that more clear than when Barrett voted more than 5 times against bipartisan measures to support 5,000 auto manufacturing jobs in Michigan and bring a new EV battery plant to Michigan’s 7th Congressional District. The good-paying manufacturing jobs are a massive win for mid-Michigan and will be a job multiplier and a boon to the local economy. Instead of working across the aisle, Barrett chose hyper-partisan posturing and siding with far-right backers, including Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity, who opposed the deal.

Barrett’s career has also been bankrolled by Betsy DeVos and her family, who have tried to weaken Michigan’s public education system. Barrett received nearly $50,000 from the DeVos family after promising to support their voucher-style ballot initiative that would undermine public education.

While Barrett stands in the way of good-paying manufacturing jobs and quality public education, Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin is laser-focused on delivering for Michigan. In Congress, she’s supported efforts to speed up the opening of GM’s new auto plant in Lansing and has made bringing home critical supply chains a cornerstone of her agenda.

Congresswoman Slotkin knows that if we let typical politicians who are bought and paid for by their donors stand in the way of bringing manufacturing back to Michigan, we’re losing out to global competitors, including China. It’s why she’s fought to include strong Buy American provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law so taxpayer money only goes to American workers and companies.

TOM BARRETT WANTS TO BAN ABORTION WITH NO EXCEPTIONS, CRIMINALIZE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s reckless decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Tom Barrett would be a disaster for Michigan women at a time when the stakes could not be higher. Tom Barrett boasts that he’s “100% pro-life” with “no exceptions” – a position that is wildly out of step with Michiganders. Barrett has also led extreme abortion ban legislation that would throw Michigan health care providers in prison. He’s also joined the Michigan legislature in calling to reinstate the draconian 1931 law that would ban nearly every abortion in the state with no exceptions for rape or incest and subject women, nurses, and doctors to felony criminal prosecution. Barrett not only supports Michigan women losing their fundamental right to make their own health care decisions, but he has made clear he supports measures to criminalize women and doctors.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

FOX 2: Michigan Congresswoman pushes legislation to build semiconductor chips in the U.S. [FOX 2, 2/8/22]

Detroit News: U.S. House passes Michigan reps’ bill to help veterans sickened by burn pit exposure [Detroit News, 7/15/22]

WDET: Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin believes more should be done to negotiate lower gas prices [WDET, 5/18/22]

Livingston Post: Slotkin ranked as one of the Top-10 Most Bipartisan members of Congress [Livingston Post, 5/9/22]

Detroit News: GM incentive vote becomes early flashpoint in key Michigan U.S. House race [Detroit News, 2/14/22]

Detroit News: Slotkin denounces GOP opponent’s campaign ad as ‘lie’ [Detroit News, 4/3/22]

“Democratic U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin is denouncing as a “lie” an attack from a Republican opponent that says she “thinks veterans are cowards.” The digital solicitation from state Sen. Tom Barrett, a Charlotte Republican running for U.S. House in the new 7th District, is an appeal for donations for his campaign. […]

Slotkin did three tours in Iraq as a CIA officer and is married to retired U.S. Army colonel and Apache helicopter pilot Dave Moore, who served for 30 years, including two tours in Iraq. Slotkin’s step daughter, Jennifer, is an active duty U.S. Army officer stationed overseas.”

Detroit Free Press: Supreme Court’s abortion order draft could spur Michigan Democrats to vote [Detroit Free Press, 5/4/22]

“State Sen. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, who is in a tough race to try to knock off U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, in a toss-up district that includes Lansing, has been sending out fundraising flyers calling himself “100% PRO-LIFE — NO EXCEPTIONS.””

MIRS: Barrett Holds Fundraiser At DeVos Family-Funded Space In D.C. [MIRS, 3/8/22]

Republican congressional candidate Tom BARRETT (R-Charlotte) was slated to have a Washington D.C. fundraiser thrown in his honor this evening at a townhouse owned by Alticor, the parent company of Amway, owned by the DeVos family. […]

The fundraiser came weeks after Barrett supported a Betsy DeVOS-backed petition effort that opponents said “create(s) a voucher-like school scholarship, which has been criticized for undermining public education.

WDIV: Tom Barrett targets parents with false claims in texts, emails about gender reassignment surgery [WDIV, 4/28/22]

Michigan Advance: Sen. Barrett fundraising ask claims ‘your child’ is scheduled for gender reassignment surgery [Michigan Advance, 4/21/22]

Business Insider: A Michigan lawmaker sent a misleading text confirming ‘your child’s gender reassignment surgery’ to solicit donations [Business Insider, 4/22/22]

Detroit News: These Michigan lawmakers sought to delay certifying 2020 election [Detroit News, 1/5/22]

“Eleven Michigan state House members were among an unsuccessful push a year ago this week to get then-Vice President Mike Pence to delay certifying the results of the 2020 election.

An insurrection at the U.S. Capitol unfolded on Jan. 6, 2021, the day Congress met to certify states’ Electoral College votes, with supporters of then-President Donald Trump storming the building and forcing legislators to temporarily evacuate their chambers. […]

Those who signed the Senate letter were Tom Barrett of Charlotte […].”

PATH TO VICTORY

The new MI-07 is a suburban and rural district centered in Lansing, and is home to large student populations at Michigan State University. After redistricting, this district got approximately a percentage point more favorable for Democrats, and Joe Biden would have won this district under these new lines.

While this district is among the most competitive in the country, Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin is no stranger to tough races and she’s building a campaign that will win in November. Slotkin has built up a $6.5 million warchest and boasts more than seven times the amount of cash on hand compared to her opponent.

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