CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO

Tom Barrett

In a recent fundraising email, Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin (D-Rochester, Rochester Hills, north Oakland, part of Livingston and Ingham counties) stated that she currently expects six Republicans to challenge her in 2020 – two each from Oakland, Livingston and Ingham counties. While Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett hasn't yet announced a congressional run – he's prepping his second write-in mayoral campaign for November – he is expected to announce after he secures his next term. Also looking to run against Slotkin is Sen. Tom Barrett (R-Potterville), a tea party conservative who is also an Iraqi War Army vet. Word around the state legislature is that Barrett is planning on using his veteran status to take on Slotkin, a fellow veteran of three tours in Iraq. “Let him. Elissa will slay him,” said one Democratic lawmaker.