In August, Michigan Democrats picked a Sunrise Movement co-founder over a former ambassador and a former Navy SEAL. Will Lawrence has never held office. Until recently, he was a dues-paying member of the Democratic Socialists of America. 

Now he’s running in Michigan’s 7th District, which includes Lansing, East Lansing, and the farm counties and exurbs around them, out to Livingston County and the edge of Oakland. Sen. Bernie Sanders endorsed him in the race.

It is a seat Republican Rep. Tom Barrett won by under four points, in a district that narrowly backed President Trump in 2016 and former President Biden in 2020. 

Lawrence is running on universal health care, taxing the very rich to pay for child care and elder care, and a freeze on new data centers and the most advanced AI. Whether a campaign like that can win a district this close is a question Democrats have been arguing about for years. 

He spoke with host Robyn Vincent about Medicare for All, data centers, Trump’s tariffs on Canada, and whether a progressive can win a swing seat. Barrett joins The Metro next week.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

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