Former Michigan House Speaker gives Bridget Brink his seal of approval in 7th District race

Former Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate (D-Detroit) on Thursday gave his endorsement to former Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink in her bid for Michigan’s highly competitive 7th Congressional District. 

“Bridget is a sixth-generation Michigander and third-generation union member who embodies the Michigan values of hard work, integrity, and grit. Raised by a single mom — a teacher and proud Spartan — Bridget’s Michigan public school education propelled her to a 28-year career serving our country, including as a war zone ambassador,” Tate said in a statement.  “I know that Bridget will be a tireless champion for Michigan and our communities by fighting for lower costs, affordable health care, and our rights and freedoms.”

Tate served as the Michigan Speaker of House during the Democratic trifecta from 2023 through 2024. He is Michigan’s first and only Black House speaker.

“I am honored and humbled to have Representative Tate’s endorsement,” Brink said. “I look forward to working with him to build an economy that works for working families, fix our broken health care system, and ensure that all of our communities’ voices are heard.”

Tate is the latest state lawmaker to give Brink their nod for Congress, with state Rep. Noah Arbit (D-West Bloomfield) endorsing Brink on Wednesday.

“Bridget Brink has a proven record of holding the powerful accountable and standing up to the Trump Administration,” Arbit said in his endorsement. 

State Rep. Jennifer Conlin (D-Ann Arbor) has also endorsed Brink. 

Michigan’s 7th Congressional District is held by U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte). The district is among the most competitive in the country, with the nonpartisan Cook Political Report rating the district a “toss-up.”

Alongside Brink, retired Navy SEAL Matt Maasdam, Lansing-area tenant rights advocate Will Lawrence, family medicine specialist Muhammad Salman Rais and Elyon Badger are also seeking the Democratic nomination.