Pro-Palestinian candidate backed by El-Sayed claims Michigan Democratic House primary

William Lawrence, a co-founder of the climate advocacy group Sunrise Movement, captured the Democratic nomination in the state’s 7th District after the Associated Press declared him the victor.

(photo credit: Screenshot/X/@WeWill2026)

ByANDREW LAPIN/JTA

AUGUST 5, 2026 09:23

An outspoken advocate for Palestinian causes who campaigned alongside Michigan Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed defeated two establishment-supported rivals in a Democratic House primary for a competitive district in the state on Tuesday.

William Lawrence, a co-founder of the climate advocacy group Sunrise Movement, secured the Democratic nomination in the state’s 7th District after the Associated Press called the race for him Tuesday night. With 58 percent of the vote counted, Lawrence held roughly 43 percent in the three-way contest.

His rivals, Bridget Brink, a former US ambassador to Ukraine, and former Navy SEAL Matt Maasdam, two centrist contenders with military and foreign policy experience, divided the establishment support and created an opening for the progressive candidate.

“I could not be prouder of the movement we have built in mid-Michigan,” Lawrence posted on social media after the race was called. “We are building a movement made up of real Michiganders across political divides, not DC consultants.”

At the time the AP called the race for Lawrence, another House candidate backed by El-Sayed, state Rep. Donavan McKinney, was still awaiting results in his challenge to the incumbent in Michigan’s 13th District.

As with several other victorious Democratic House candidates this primary cycle, Lawrence placed pro-Palestinian advocacy at the center of his campaign. He was the only Democrat in his race to accuse Israel of genocide, and at his rally with El-Sayed in Lansing the candidate urged America to stop arming Israel.

Lawrence to face Republican incumbent Tom Barrett

Lawrence, whose campaign also drew on rising public concern over data centers, will face Republican incumbent Rep. Tom Barrett in November.

Lawrence’s victory highlighted one area where party leadership may face pressure to back pro-Palestinian progressives if it aims to regain Congress in November. Democrats have viewed the district, previously held by centrist Jewish Democrat Sen. Elissa Slotkin before Barrett, as a prime target for a flip. Slotkin endorsed Maasdam late in the race while remaining neutral in the Senate contest.

It will not be simple to unite the party behind Lawrence. He drew criticism from the Congressional Black Caucus during the campaign over old podcast remarks in which he claimed Black Democratic leaders defang the white left, comments he later attributed to frustration over Israel’s war in Gaza. Centrist House Democrats have raised doubts about his prospects in November.

Yet his campaign told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in a statement before primary day that they believed his emphasis on ending military support to human rights abusers and redirecting those funds to create good jobs, housing, and healthcare at home would resonate across party lines.