Progressives prevail in a House primary that divided moderates — and women’s groups

Will Lawrence, a progressive activist and co-founder of the Sunrise Movement, won Michigan's seventh Congressional District Democratic primary on Tuesday—a contest that divided moderates and stirred tensions within Democratic women's groups. Lawrence, endorsed by Senator Bernie Sanders, defeated two moderate candidates with national security backgrounds: former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink and former Navy SEAL Matt Maasdam. Per The 19th, the race—fueled by over eight million dollars in outside spending—exposed mounting frustration with party leadership and rising opposition to data centers. Michigan's seventh District voted for Trump by just one percentage point in 2024, making it a prime pickup opportunity as Democrats seek to retake the House in November. The primary also reignited debate about women candidate electability, after Maasdam's campaign called for Brink to drop out in the final week, prompting Democratic women's groups like EMILY's List to condemn what they viewed as a dismissal of a formidable female contender.

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