As Democrats swept in elections across the country on Tuesday, with key victories in New York’s mayoral race, Virginia and New Jersey’s gubernatorial races, and California’s redistricting plans, Democrats nationwide are looking to gain more ground in key swing states in the 2026 midterm elections.
A recent poll finds two Democratic candidates edging ahead of incumbent Republican Representative Tom Barrett in a Michigan district encompassing the state’s capital, Lansing, that previously voted for President Donald Trump.
Why It Matters
Michigan is a widely watched swing state that President Donald Trump clinched in the 2024 presidential election. In the U.S. House of Representatives, a slim majority of seven of the 13 representatives from the state are Republicans, while the other six are Democrats. Both U.S. senators for the state are Democrats. Republicans currently hold a 219-213 majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, making every seat pivotal in determining control. Traditionally, the party that does not hold the White House tends to do better in midterm elections.
The state’s 7th congressional district encompasses around 700,000 residents, and voted for Trump last year. Barrett took office after winning the 2024 election.
Democrats nationwide are looking to secure electoral victories in 2026, hoping to gain control in Congress to counteract Trump’s rest of term.
What To Know
A Public Policy Polling survey of 557 registered voters in the district found that both Democratic candidates, Brink and Maasdam are pulling ahead of incumbent Representative Barrett.
The poll found that both Brink and Maasdam lead the incumbent by 4 percentage points, with Brink 45 percent to Barrett’s 41 percent and Maasdam 43 percent to Barrett’s 39 percent.
When both the Democratic candidates are in a match up, 42 percent said “they prefer a combat veteran and a local small businessman, while just 14 percent said they prefer a career State Department diplomat,” the poll said.
Maasdam is a former Navy SEAL who served for over 20 years, having been deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa, and Brink is the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and prior to that, to Slovakia.
Among people who didn’t vote for then-Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, having either backed Trump, or third party, or sat out, Maasdam leads Brink significantly, 53 percent to 5 percent.
The poll was conducted between October 27 and 28 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.
What People Are Saying
Democratic candidate Matt Maasdam told Newsweek in a Wednesday email: “We’re building real momentum in Michigan’s 7th because voters know who’s showing up for them. I’m proud that our message of service and hard work is breaking through, and that voters see I’m the strongest candidate to take on Tom Barrett and win.”
Jason Cabel Roe, Barrett’s campaign spokesman, told Newsweek in an email about the poll: “This sample is not a reflection of who will be voting in next year’s election and we think as voters are made aware of how much Congressman Barrett has accomplished in his first year, they will be excited to return him. His top priorities are lowering the cost of living, fixing our health care mess, and keeping the community safe and he is much more closely aligned with the people of the 7th District than the field of Democrats.”
Democratic candidate Bridget Brink told Newsweek in an email on Wednesday: “After standing up against Trump and speaking out, I decided to run for Congress to fight back against the Trump Administration’s reckless policies—making life harder and more expensive for mid-Michigan families. Congressman Tom Barrett isn’t listening, or standing up to Trump, and mid-Michigan is ready for new leadership that will tackle the high cost of living, protect Social Security and Medicare, and fight like hell for our democratic values. I’m incredibly grateful for the enthusiastic support for our grassroots campaign—we’re criss-crossing the district and have raised over $1 million so far. Taking back the House starts right here in MI-07, and we’re just getting started!”
What Happens Next
With the November 4 off-cycle elections over, party leaders are turning their focus to the 2026 midterm elections. The Michigan primary will take place on August 4, 2026, with the general election on November 3, 2026.
Update 11/5/25, 12:15 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Brink.
Update 11/5/25, 11:40 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Roe.
