Brink, Maasdam trade barbs amid vote-splitting concerns in Michigan’s 7th District race

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink and former Navy SEAL Matt Maasdam show no signs of backing down in the race to take on U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett in November, even as some strategists fear moderates splitting between the two could create an opening for progressive challenger William Lawrence to win the Democratic nomination.

U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, who held the U.S. House seat before being elected to the Senate in 2024, endorsed Maasdam earlier this month, saying he “knows what it means to fight.”

Slotkin’s endorsement came as Maasdam was running third in both polling and fundraising.

It represented a break from many party officials, including former Govs. Jennifer Granholm and Jim Blanchard, and some major labor unions, such as the Michigan Education Association, who had endorsed Brink.

Michigan State University political scientist Matt Grossman said Slotkin’s endorsement could undermine efforts to defeat Lawrence by preventing consolidation of support behind one candidate.

A spokesperson for Lawrence’s campaign declined to comment, saying the infighting “isn’t something we’re focused on right now.”

If Lawrence does win, Grossman said Slotkin could face criticism over the strategic implications of her endorsement.

Brink pointed to the range of endorsements her campaign boasts during an interview with Michigan Advance ahead of a campaign event featuring U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) in Lansing on Thursday.

“I’m really proud of the coalition I built,” Brink said. “Because what I think is, this is going to be a team effort, and we’ve got to work together to stand up to Trump and be able to deliver for the people of mid-Michigan, and that’s exactly what I’m focused on.”

Maasdam has called for Brink to end her campaign, telling the Advance during an interview earlier Thursday that she “has a tough decision to make in front of her.”

“It would be tough to be third in the race and know that you’re taking votes from other people,” Maasdam said. “I think there’s more votes against Will Lawrence than there is for him in this district. So that’s a choice for her to make. I think that choice is a big one because it affects the direction of this race and potentially the House.”

Maasdam argues he is the strongest candidate to face Barrett in November’s general election. He said Slotkin’s endorsement wasn’t the only reason he gained momentum in the race, but it certainly helped.

“It was like jet fuel,” Maasdam said.

While Maasdam campaigned Thursday with End Citizens United, which has endorsed him, Brink criticized the amount of outside spending in the race, much of which benefits Maasdam by attacking her and Lawrence.

“I can’t trust someone saying one thing and doing another, and I think this is what the voters are sick and tired of,” Brink said.

Michigan Advance Senior Reporter Ben Solis contributed to this report.