NOVEMBER 3 • 2022 | 17

history, we’ve had dark moments before, 
and we’ve always come out the other side 
thanks to two things: engaged citizens and 
principled leaders. Engaged citizens are 
normal people standing up and saying, 
“I’m not a political person, I’m not an 
activist, but I’m not going to accept what’s 
going on.” When they do, they’re met by 
principled leaders who listen to them and 
do the right thing, even when it isn’t easy. 
The people of this district are engaged 
citizens, and I’m going to do my best to be 
the principled leader they deserve.

HOW MIGHT YOU WORK TO 
ENHANCE THE LONG AND RICH 
HISTORY BETWEEN THE STATE 
OF MICHIGAN AND THE STATE OF 
ISRAEL?
My work with Israel started long 
before my time in Congress. It first began 
when I worked at an Israel non-profit 
organization in Haifa a few years after 
college. Later on, during my time serving 
as acting Assistant Secretary of Defense 
for International Security Affairs, I worked 
closely with Israeli officials at the Ministry 
of Defense and in the Israeli Defense 
Forces (IDF) on regional security issues 
that would impact both our countries. 
My work involved protecting Israel’s 
Qualitative Military Edge (QME) in the 
region, as well as expanding joint military 
exercises and bilateral security assistance 
between our two countries. In addition, I 
led teams that advocated for U.S. funding 
to support Israel’s research, development, 
and procurement of the Iron Dome 
missile defense system in 2014, as well as 
negotiations of a U.S.-Israel Memorandum 
of Understanding (MOU) in 2016 that will 
provide $38 billion in missile defense and 
security assistance funding to Israel over 
10 years. I will continue to support that 
aid and the relationship between Israel, 
our country, and our state in Congress.

Tom Barrett

TOM BARRETT
DESCRIBE YOUR TOP 
THREE PRIORITIES IF 
ELECTED? 
Lowering the Cost of 
Gas and Groceries — 
Inflation is now so high 
that it robs every working 

American of an entire month’s pay 
over the course of a year. Gas is still 
unaffordable for working families. 
I oppose the endless spending that 
fuels inflation, and I will fight to 
make America energy-independent 
once again to bring down the cost of 
fuel for your car and the gas to heat 
your home. 
Border security — This district is over 
1,500 miles from the Southern border, but 
we are now a border community under 
Joe Biden and Elissa Slotkin. Fentanyl 
is pouring over the border and now 
represents the leading cause of death in 
Americans age 18-45. I will vote to give 
agencies the tools they need to enforce our 
immigration laws and will also work to 
finally secure the border. 
Crime — Lansing, the central hub of 
the 7th District, was recently named the 
9th most dangerous city in the country 
according to FBI statistics. We need to 
fully fund our police officers so they 
have the tools needed to enforce the law, 
and we need to hold rogue prosecutors 
accountable who let violent criminals back 
on the streets. 
 
WHAT ARE MICHIGAN’S GREATEST 
CHALLENGES AND BEST 
OPPORTUNITIES? 
Michigan’s greatest challenges are 
similar to the challenges we are seeing 
across the country. The reckless spending 
policies are driving inflation to historic 
highs and decimating working-class 
families. An unsecured southern 
border has led to fentanyl pouring into 
communities across the district. Crime 
has also exploded in communities across 
our district and state. Soft on crime 
prosecutors who refuse to enforce laws 
caused a direct spike in violent crime. In 
fact, Michigan is home to 4 of the most 
violent cities in America. 
Michigan’s greatest opportunities are 
our people and our resources. We are 
home to the best workers in the country, 
and we need Washington to get out of 
the way so Michiganders can have the 
freedom to provide for their families and 
compete on a level playing field. We are 
also home to an abundance of natural 
resources. Unfortunately, Michigan 

residents 
are about to enter a cold winter with 
record high home heating costs thanks 
to Joe Biden and Elissa Slotkin’s war on 
American energy. I will fight to make 
America energy independent once again 
without putting our natural resources at 
risk. 
 
HOW WILL YOU WORK TO CLOSE 
THE POLITICAL DIVIDE THAT SEEMS 
TO DOMINATE MUCH OF THE 
POLITICAL AGENDA? 
I have been an independent voice 
during my legislative career in Lansing 
and have voted against my own party 292 
times. I have also had over 30 bipartisan 
pieces of legislation signed into law by 
both Republican Gov. Rick Snyder and 
Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. I am 
a conservative and I don’t hide my beliefs, 
but I am willing to work with anyone who 
wants to put the people of Michigan, and 
America first. 
 
HOW MIGHT YOU WORK TO 
ENHANCE THE LONG AND RICH 
HISTORY BETWEEN THE STATE 
OF MICHIGAN AND THE STATE OF 
ISRAEL? 
I will work with my friends in the 
Jewish community and other Jewish 
leaders in Michigan to build the 
relationships between Michigan and Israel 
while I am a member of Congress. Israel 
is one of our largest allies in the world. 

11th District
Democratic incumbent Haley Stevens is 
facing Republican challenger Mark Ambrose 
in Michigan’s 11th District. The newly 
drawn 11th District unites portions of three 

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