Huizenga and Barrett fight for seats as Democrats eye House majority

Two of thirteen Michigan congressional districts remain too close to call late Tuesday, keeping Republican incumbents Bill Huizenga and Tom Barrett in a precarious position as Democrats nationwide appear poised to seize control of the US House.

Huizenga, who has served in the US House since 2011, is neck and neck with state Sen. Sean McCann in southwest Michigan’s 4th District. McCann, a Kalamazoo Democrat, has represented parts of the region in the state Legislature on and off since 2011. The race pits the incumbent’s focus on affordability against McCann’s effort to emphasize Huizenga’s ties to President Donald Trump.

In the 7th District, Tom Barrett holds a lead over Democratic challenger Will Lawrence. Barrett, a Republican from Clinton, Shiawassee, Ingham, and Livingston counties, has sought to distance himself from the White House. He described Lawrence’s past support for defunding the police and loosening immigration restrictions as extreme and too far-left. Lawrence, a progressive Democrat who beat out two centrist candidates in the primary, has campaigned against high prices, the Iran War, and data centers.

Political analysts identify the 7th District as a bellwether for national control of the US House, where Republicans currently hold a four-seat advantage. The district includes parts of Eaton and Oakland counties and is considered politically purple.

A third contested race occurs in Macomb County’s 10th District, where Democrat Christina Hines holds a small lead over Republican Michael Bouchard. The seat is open because GOP Rep. John James left the House to run for governor. James won the district by six percentage points as an incumbent in 2024.

Bouchard, a US Army veteran and son of Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, has campaigned on prioritizing border security, strengthening the US military, and levying tariffs on other countries excluding Canada. Hines, a former prosecuting attorney in Macomb and Oakland counties, has campaigned on eliminating tariffs, lowering health care costs, and getting corporate money out of politics.

Republicans currently hold a seven-six edge in Michigan’s congressional delegation. One incumbent has already lost: Detroit Democrat Shri Thanedar lost in the primary to state Rep. Donovan McKinney. McKinney won easily in the 13th District, which is considered one of the most progressive in the nation.

Several other incumbents secured reelection. Democratic state Sen. Jeremy Moss won Oakland County’s 11th District, which incumbent Democrat Haley Stevens vacated to run for US Senate. Democrats Debbie Dingell of Ann Arbor and Rashida Tlaib of Detroit also won reelection. Republicans Tim Walberg of Tipton, Lisa McClain of Romeo, and John Moolenaar of Caledonia retained their seats.