Republican · Michigan's 7th District · 2026
Tom Barrett
Barrett grew up with six siblings, a father working two jobs and a mother caring for the family.
Biography
Tom Barrett grew up with six siblings, a father who worked two jobs and a mother who stayed home to raise the family.1 He and his wife, Ashley, now live in Charlotte with their four children.1 His great grandfather, Louis Charles Rabaut, also served in Congress.2
Barrett's military service spanned 22 years and included Iraq, Kuwait, Guantanamo Bay and the Korean demilitarized zone.1 He logged more than 1,000 hours flying helicopters.1 He earned his bachelor's degree at Western Michigan University, graduating with honors in 2007 with support from the Montgomery GI Bill.1 He also worked in the Michigan state treasurer's office.2
He served four years in the Michigan House and four in the state Senate before entering Congress in January 2025.2 He says veterans' difficulty finding jobs after his return from overseas helped motivate his state legislative campaign.1 He now serves on Transportation and Infrastructure and Veterans' Affairs, chairing the latter committee's Technology Modernization Subcommittee.3
In October 2026, Barrett and Democratic Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez introduced legislation for a hotline and website to report scams targeting seniors.4 Their proposal would offer access around the clock and connect users with appropriate authorities and fraud prevention resources.4 He also cochairs the Hearing Health and Rotary Wing caucuses.3
Record and controversies
Incorrect election date advertisement
In October 2024, Michigan's attorney general sent Barrett's campaign a cease and desist letter after its advertisement in a Black owned Lansing newspaper gave November 6 as Election Day instead of November 5.5 His campaign called it a proofing error and said a correction would run; the attorney general directed it to stop circulating incorrect information and correct what had been published.5
A later criminal case or finding of intentional voter suppression was not verified in this review.
Pandemic enforcement account
Michigan Advance disputed Barrett's December 2020 Senate speech claiming that a liquor inspector had pretended to be a lonely customer to induce a bar to violate pandemic restrictions.6 The agency denied the ruse, and the report described hearing evidence of indoor food and alcohol service during the shutdown.6 The bar's manager maintained the account but acknowledged he had not personally heard the exchange; Barrett did not answer requests for comment for the January 5, 2021, report.6
Veterans initiative record
Detroit Metro Times reported in October 2026 that a veterans initiative Barrett helped launch in 2016 had not raised enough money to deliver its promoted service dog and other assistance programs; its fiscal sponsor said some money went to research and events.7 The project operated through an existing nonprofit rather than as a separate charity.7 Barrett said he had no board or financial oversight role, believed a small corporate grant funded research concerning women veterans, and had shifted attention to problems at a state veterans home.7 His campaign said the effort lost momentum after his legislative partner lost office in 2018.7
A formal finding that Barrett misappropriated charitable money was not verified in this review.