One of the more interesting — and expensive — Congressional races this year is in Michigan’s 7th district.

Democrat Elissa Slotkin currently represents the district, but is now running for U.S. Senate, leaving a vacancy in mid-Michigan.

The Cook Political report lists the seat as a toss-up.

Two years ago, Republican Tom Barrett lost to Slotkin and now he’s trying his luck again. Former Michigan State Senator Curtis Hertel Jr. easily won the Democratic primary.

At the latest campaign finance filing deadline in July, Hertel had a clear lead in cash — with over $3 million on hand. Barrett hasn’t raised as much, but is in the process of rolling out a TV ad campaign with a helicopter, dad jokes and dad jeans.

Hertel’s message is more about sanity — and moving away from partisan bickering.

“I’m not going to say I don’t want Democrats to control Congress,” Hertel said. “But what I care more about is having reasonable humans that are willing to work together and actually try to solve problems.”

One of the bigger problems to solve is stagnating wages in the face of record high inflation that has driven up cost since 2021.

“You used to be able to work a job at a factory and be able to raise a family and send your kids to college and take a vacation every year,” states Hertel. “That doesn’t exist for many people now.”

Hertel cited the ballooning salaries of CEOs as playing into income inequality.

He also proposes a middle class tax cut and negotiating lower drug prices.

“We are the only country in the world that does not use the power of the federal government to negotiate drug prices down for its people,” said Hertel.

As they do in other elections, the issues of healthcare and reproductive rights loom large.

Barrett told WDET in July that the right to an abortion is the law of the land in Michigan and any change to that wouldn’t come from Congress — it would come from voters in the state. The matter was largely settled following the 2022 state Constitutional referendum that passed with 56% of the vote.

WDET asked Hertel if he believed Barrett.

“Not at all, and voters in this district shouldn’t believe him either,” Hertel replied. “He has a very specific record on this.”