Tom Barrett

Tom Barrett Bio

Thomas More Barrett (born April 30, 1981) is an American politician, financial analyst, and former U.S. Army officer who has served as the U.S. representative for Michigan’s 7th congressional district since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he represents a seven-county area that includes Lansing. Before arriving in Congress, Barrett served in both chambers of the Michigan Legislature and built a career in public service and finance.

Barrett previously served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019 and in the Michigan Senate from 2019 to 2023. A Western Michigan University graduate and a veteran of multiple overseas deployments, he also worked as an analyst for the Michigan Department of the Treasury. He lives in Charlotte, Michigan, with his wife Ashley and their four children.

Early Life and Background

Thomas More Barrett was born on April 30, 1981, in Southfield, Michigan. He grew up in the state and later pursued higher education at Western Michigan University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. His studies helped lay the groundwork for a career that would blend public service with policy expertise.

Barrett comes from a family with a long history of public service. His great-grandfather, Louis C. Rabaut, represented Michigan’s 14th congressional district as a Democrat from 1935 to 1947 and again from 1949 to 1961. That legacy appears to have shaped Barrett’s interest in government, a connection he has honored in small but symbolic ways since entering Congress.

Path to U.S. Politics

After graduating from high school, Barrett joined the U.S. Army, where he served for 21 years. He was stationed abroad in South Korea, Guantanamo Bay, Kuwait, and Iraq, and is a veteran of both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He later served in the Michigan Army National Guard, holding the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2, until his retirement in 2022.

Before entering elected office, Barrett worked as a financial analyst for the Michigan Department of the Treasury. That role gave him direct experience with state budgeting and fiscal policy, areas that would later feature prominently in his legislative work. In 2014, he made his first run for office and won a seat in the Michigan House of Representatives.

Tom Barrett Career

Early Career (2014–2019)

Barrett was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2014, narrowly defeating Democratic incumbent Theresa Abed. The victory launched his career in elected office and gave him a platform to focus on local issues in his district.

Two years later, Barrett won re-election in 2016, again facing Theresa Abed in a rematch. He secured 54 percent of the vote to Abed’s 43 percent, with Libertarian Marc Lord receiving the remaining 3 percent. His steady support among voters helped him build a reputation as a consistent conservative voice in the state legislature.

Michigan Senate Breakthrough (2018–2022)

Barrett was elected to the Michigan Senate in 2018, taking office the following year. In 2022, he chaired the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, a position that allowed him to influence infrastructure and transit policy across the state.

He also gained attention as a vocal critic of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Barrett sponsored Senate Bill 858, which sought to regulate the governor’s state of emergency powers, though the governor vetoed the measure in May 2020. In September 2022, Barrett publicly stated that the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election is unknowable.

U.S. House of Representatives Era (2025–Present)

After losing the 2022 race for Michigan’s 7th congressional district to Democratic incumbent Elissa Slotkin, Barrett ran again in 2024 and defeated Democratic nominee Curtis Hertel Jr. He was sworn into the 119th U.S. Congress on January 3, 2025, beginning his first term in the House of Representatives.

During his early months in office, Barrett voted in favor of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in May 2025, helping the budget and tax bill pass the House by a 215 to 214 vote. In March 2026, he voiced support for the Trump administration’s strikes on Iran. He continues to represent a competitive district that includes Lansing and several surrounding counties.

Notable Events and Milestones

One of the defining moments of Barrett’s early political career was the 2022 race for Michigan’s 7th congressional district, which became the most costly congressional election in the United States, with over $36 million spent by both campaigns by early November 2022. Two years later, he won the same seat, this time defeating Curtis Hertel Jr. in the general election. During the 119th Congress office lottery, Barrett asked his colleagues to leave the Longworth 1232 office vacant so he could occupy the same room once used by his great-grandfather, Louis C. Rabaut, in 1954.

Tom Barrett Career Wins

Thomas More Barrett has built a steady record of electoral victories at the state and federal levels, beginning in the Michigan House of Representatives and culminating in his current role in the U.S. House of Representatives. His wins reflect consistent support among voters in mid-Michigan and a gradual rise from local office to Congress.

Michigan Legislature Highlights

Barrett won his first race for the Michigan House of Representatives in 2014, narrowly defeating Democratic incumbent Theresa Abed. He followed that with a decisive re-election win in 2016, taking 54 percent of the vote in a rematch against Abed. In 2018, Barrett won a seat in the Michigan Senate, advancing to a chamber where he later chaired the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in 2022.

Federal Election Wins

Barrett’s first congressional campaign came in 2022, when he won the Republican primary but lost the general election to Democratic incumbent Elissa Slotkin, receiving 46 percent of the vote to her 52 percent. Two years later, he won the Republican nomination again and defeated Democratic nominee Curtis Hertel Jr. in the 2024 general election, earning his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Tom Barrett Family

Family Background and Political Lineage

Barrett traces his political lineage to his great-grandfather, Louis C. Rabaut, who represented Michigan’s 14th congressional district as a Democrat from 1935 to 1947 and again from 1949 to 1961. Barrett has honored that connection by occupying the same Longworth House office once held by Rabaut in 1954. He is a Catholic and has spoken about the importance of faith in his life and work.

Personal Life

Thomas More Barrett lives in Charlotte, Michigan, with his wife, Ashley Barrett. The couple married in 2008 and have four children together. Ashley Barrett has been a steady presence throughout her husband’s political career, from his early days in the Michigan House to his current role in Congress.