Tom Barrett
Member of the Michigan Senate
from the 24th district
In office
January 1, 2019 – January 1, 2023
Preceded byRick Jones
Succeeded byRuth Johnson
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the 71st district
In office
January 1, 2015 – January 1, 2019
Preceded byTheresa Abed
Succeeded byAngela Witwer
Personal details
Born (1981-04-30) April 30, 1981
Southfield, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Ashley Barrett
​
(m. 2008)​
EducationWestern Michigan University (BA)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1999–2022
RankChief Warrant Officer 2
UnitCompany B, 1-112th Aviation, 3-238th General Support Aviation Battalion, Grand Ledge
Michigan Army National Guard
Battles/warsOperation Iraqi Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom

Thomas More Barrett[1] (born April 30, 1981) is an American politician who served as a member of the Michigan Senate from the 24th district. A Republican, he previously served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019.[2][3] Prior to his election to the House, Barrett served as a liaison between the Michigan Department of Treasury and the office of the Governor of Michigan. Barrett was the Republican nominee in the 2022 election for Michigan's 7th congressional district, which he lost to incumbent Democrat Elissa Slotkin.

Early life and education

Barrett was born in Southfield, Michigan. He graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.[4]

U.S. Army

After graduating from high school, Barrett joined the Army, where he served for 21 years. He served abroad in South Korea, Guantanamo Bay, Kuwait, and Iraq, and is a veteran of both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served in the Michigan Army National Guard, holding the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2, until retiring in 2022.[5][4]

Political career

Michigan House of Representatives (2014–2019)

Barrett was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2014, narrowly beating Democratic incumbent Theresa Abed.[6] He won re-election in 2016, defeating Theresa Abed in a rematch. Barrett garnered 54% of the vote to Abed's 43% and Libertarian Marc Lord's 3%.[7]

Michigan Senate (2019–present)

Barrett was elected to the Michigan Senate in 2018, and currently chairs the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.[8]

Barrett was a vocal critic of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer's handing of the COVID-19 pandemic, and sponsored Senate Bill 858 to regulate the governor's state of emergency powers, which the governor vetoed in May 2020.[9][10]

In January 2021, Barrett was one of eleven state senators to sign a letter to Congress requesting an "objective and transparent investigation into credible allegations of misconduct" in the 2020 presidential election. There are no "credible allegations of misconduct" in the 2020 election.[11][12] Barrett has also claimed that the legitimacy of the 2020 election is "unknowable".[13]

2022 U.S. House election

In November 2021, Barrett announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2022 election for Michigan's 7th congressional district.[14] He won the Republican primary in August 2022, but lost to Democratic incumbent Elissa Slotkin in the November general election,[15] receiving 46% of the vote to her 52%.[16]

Bridge Michigan reported that, as of October 12, 2022, this was the most costly congressional election in the U.S.[17] By November 4, over $36 million had been spent by both campaigns.[16]

Personal life

Barrett lives in Charlotte, Michigan, with his wife, Ashley, and their four children.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "No. 72, State of Michigan Journal of the House of Representatives, 99th Legislature, Regular Session of 2018". November 28, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  2. ↑ "7th District: Q and A with Elissa Slotkin and Tom Barrett". The Oakland Press. October 2, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Michigan 71st District State House Results: Tom Barrett Wins". The New York Times. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  4. 1 2 "Tom Barrett, District 71 - Michigan House Republicans". June 25, 2018. Archived from the original on June 25, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  5. ↑ Holleman, Krystle (November 15, 2021). "Sen. Tom Barrett announces U.S. House campaign". WILX. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  6. ↑ "2014 Live Michigan election results: State House Districts 1-110". MLive.com. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
  7. ↑ "2016 Michigan Official General Election Results - 11/08/2016". miboecfr.nictusa.com. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Michigan's race for Congress: Tom Barrett v. Elissa Slotkin in 7th District | Bridge Michigan". www.bridgemi.com. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Republican Michigan senator critical of Gretchen Whitmer tests positive for COVID-19". The Detroit News. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  10. ↑ "State Senate mulling rare Saturday session to meet quarantine requirement after GOP senator tested positive". Mlive. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  11. ↑ Breuninger, Kevin (October 27, 2022). "GOP Rep. Liz Cheney backs Rep. Elissa Slotkin in tight Michigan House race in her first endorsement of a Democrat". CNBC. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  12. ↑ Mauger, Craig. "Michigan GOP senators briefly post differing letters to Congress on election claims". The Detroit News. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  13. ↑ Lillis, Mike (November 6, 2022). "Liz Cheney makes waves on her way out of Congress". The Hill. Nexstar Media Inc. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  14. ↑ Lehr, Sarah (November 15, 2021). "Republican Tom Barrett launches bid for U.S. House in mid-Michigan". WKAR Public Media. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  15. ↑ Orner, Ben (August 3, 2022). "Slotkin, Barrett advance to November in tossup Michigan congressional race". mlive. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  16. 1 2 Burr, Alyssa; Miller, Matthew (November 9, 2022). "Slotkin wins tight race in the 7th Congressional District". mlive. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Slotkin-Barrett race draws big money, interest with Congress up for grabs | Bridge Michigan". www.bridgemi.com. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  18. ↑ "13 Jan 2019, A4 - Lansing State Journal at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
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