Tom Barrett

Tom Barrett is a Republican politician and U.S. Representative for Michigan's 7th congressional district, having assumed office on January 3, 2025. A lifelong resident of Michigan, Barrett served in the United States Army and Michigan Army National Guard for 22 years, reaching the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2 as a helicopter pilot. During his military career, he served in multiple locations including Iraq, Kuwait, Guantanamo Bay, and the Korean DMZ. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Western Michigan University in 2007, which he attended through the Montgomery GI Bill. Before his election to Congress, Barrett served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019 and the Michigan Senate from 2019 to 2023. In the state legislature, he focused on veterans' advocacy, infrastructure investment, and tax relief. After an unsuccessful bid for Congress in 2022, he won election to the 119th Congress in 2024, flipping a previously Democratic-held seat. In the U.S. House, he serves on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, where he chairs the Technology Modernization Subcommittee.

Barrett's policy platform centers on fiscal conservatism, national security, and traditional values. On the economy, he advocates for reining in inflation through reduced government spending and tax cuts, while supporting 'America First' trade policies and tariffs to protect domestic industries. Regarding healthcare, he has criticized the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), arguing that it has led to high premiums and fraud, and instead promotes patient-focused reforms and increased transparency in the insurance industry. He is a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment and has co-sponsored legislation to prevent federal discrimination against the firearm industry. On immigration, Barrett emphasizes the need for stricter border security and has criticized the revocation of policies like Title 42. His foreign policy stance follows a 'Peace Through Strength' approach; while he has supported targeted military actions, such as strikes in Iran, he has also voted for War Powers Resolutions to remove U.S. forces from certain conflict zones to end 'endless wars.' Barrett identifies as 'consistently pro-life,' having supported various abortion restrictions during his time in the Michigan Legislature, including legislation involving 12-week and 'heartbeat' limits. Additionally, he has proposed a constitutional amendment to reform campaign finance by allowing for stricter limits on corporate spending in elections.