Dem Voters Pick Another Radical Leftist In Crucial House Race

A leftist activist who co-founded an anti-ICE climate advocacy group won the Democratic nomination in a key Michigan House race on Tuesday. 

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William Lawrence defeated two Democrat rivals and will take on Republican Rep. Tom Barrett in the race for Michigan’s 7th Congressional District in November. Lawrence co-founded the Sunrise Movement, an organization that describes itself as “young people fighting fascism to win a Green New Deal.” 

Lawrence earned about 43% of the vote to former ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink’s 28% and ex-Navy SEAL Matt Maasdam’s 27%. 

“I’m an organizer, and on this campaign I’ve listened to the issues that bring people together. Being against these stupid wars, refusing to bow to the data center lobby’s bullying, and ending corruption in our politics,” Lawrence wrote on social media after his win. “It turns out, when you refuse to take lobbying money, you can actually fight for working people’s issues — across the political spectrum. That’s how we win.”

Lawrence received endorsements from leftist lawmakers like Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA). 

His platform includes taxing the wealthy, “healthcare for all,” passing a federal moratorium on data centers, ending the war in Iran, and banning stock trading for members of Congress. 

The group he co-founded, the Sunrise Movement, describes ICE as an “occupying army” and said the celebratory reactions after the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson were not “shocking.” 

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“Young people have grown up watching CEOs commit mass murder, with politicians telling us to shut up and take it,” the Sunrise Movement said. “Our whole lives, [the Democratic establishment] have refused to take on CEOs and their murderous business practices.” 

Some elected Democrats previously expressed skepticism that Lawrence could win in the general election. 

“We have a great chance to win the seat if we get the candidate that can win the seat. Will Lawrence is not that candidate,” Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) told Axios. 

Rep. Hillary Scholten told the outlet that Lawrence’s history of inflammatory rhetoric “speak to a broader lack of judgment, temperament, and leadership that would leave him ill-equipped to lead in Congress. In short, he can’t win.”

National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Mike Marinella said Lawrence would be too radical for Michigan voters. 

“The Democrats’ path to the House majority is evaporating in real time,” he said in a statement. “Every embarrassing defeat leaves them with a radical socialist nominee, an emptier bank account, and another must-win seat off the board.”

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