There’s a political ad popping up on TVs in mid-Michigan in which Congressman Tom Barrett promises to take on insurance companies and lower healthcare costs. But before taking that message at face value, it’s worth taking a look at the record behind his claims.

Today, The ’Gander’s Kyle Kaminski takes a closer look at Barrett’s healthcare messaging and how it’s part of a larger strategy for the GOP this election season.

Plus: We meet an Oakland County mom running for state House who is making reproductive healthcare a top priority.

Domestic violence survivor advocates push to end fees for PPOs (WMUK): Michigan advocates are pushing lawmakers to eliminate fees for serving personal protection orders. They say the costs can create another barrier for domestic violence survivors seeking protection. Both the state House and Senate have passed bills creating a fund to cover those costs, but survivor advocates are urging lawmakers to finalize the legislation before the session winds down.

Lawmaker calls for stricter penalties for lake sturgeon poaching (Michigan Advance): A northern Michigan lawmaker is proposing tougher fines for illegally taking or possessing lake sturgeon after a six-foot fish was found dumped along a Muskegon County road this summer. Rep. Cam Cavitt’s bill would raise the maximum fine from $2,000 to $5,000 as part of ongoing efforts from the state to protect the threatened species.

MI Libertarians distance themselves from own candidate (The Detroit News): Michigan’s Libertarian Party has disavowed its gubernatorial nominee Anthony Hudson after he publicly disparaged the party and used an anti-gay slur. The split comes just five weeks before Election Day, with Hudson still on the ballot despite the party cutting off its support.

(The ‘Gander TikTok)

If you’ve got a TV in mid-Michigan, you’ve probably seen this ad from Republican Congressman Tom Barrett that started running in early September. The whole pitch is that insurance companies are getting richer while you get sicker. He’s not wrong about that part. He’s just not telling you who helped make it that way.

Here’s the deal: One year after President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a group called Families Over Billionaires, went out and tracked what it actually did to states like Michigan.

It projects Michigan will lose $33 billion in federal Medicaid funding over the next decade, and get stuck with $1.5 billion in new SNAP costs the state now has to cover itself. Records show roughly 159,000 Michiganders have already lost food assistance since last July, and up to 355,000 more are set to lose their Medicaid coverage by 2028. The same report also puts 50,000 Michigan jobs at risk as a direct result of this legislation.

All seven Republican members of Congress from Michigan voted for it, and some of them are listed on your ballot this year, like John James, who’s running for governor; Bill Huizenga, who’s running for reelection in the 4th District; and Tom Barrett, the Republican featured in that earlier ad, who’s also trying to defend his 7th District seat in November.

Here’s the kicker: Barrett’s new ad is entirely about lowering your healthcare premiums. But the ad is very careful about what it doesn’t tell you, like how in January, the US House voted on a bipartisan, three-year extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits. It passed, 230 to 196. Seventeen Republicans voted yes. Barrett was among those who voted no. It later failed in the US Senate.

Now, 23,000 people in his district are paying more for insurance because that bill didn’t pass. Meanwhile, Blue Cross raised premiums 24% this year, United, almost 26%. The insurers got their money. Michiganders just got stuck with the bill. The ad also points to a bill he wrote, the Care Over Profits Act. He said it would “force them to spend more of your money on your care.” Barrett introduced that legislation back in March. Now, more than six months later, it’s gone nowhere. No hearing, no markup. No vote. In a House his own party controls.

So what? Well, this is the play heading into November, and Barrett won’t be the last one running it. Help create the problem, then sell yourself as the solution. So when these ads start showing up, and they will, from everybody, don’t just listen to the ad. Go and look up the record for yourself. Barrett’s votes are public. So is the budget bill.

Get the full story in this edition of so what? Michigan.

Democrat Sarah Pounds is running against Republican Roman Gaskey to represent Michigan’s 54th House District, which includes Oakland County, on Nov. 3. (Courtesy/Sarah Pounds)

By Lucas Henkel

Abortion and reproductive healthcare are on the minds of voters nationwide this election season, including those in Michigan, where a handful of races could flip control of the state government. 

One consequential race is in Michigan’s 54th District, which includes Oakland County, where paralegal and Democrat Sarah Pounds is running for state representative against Republican Roman Gaskey, a 23-year-old strategy and product analyst who recently graduated from the University of Michigan and narrowly won the Republican primary for the district. 

“When I’m knocking on doors, a lot of times, young women tell me that reproductive rights and maintaining control over medical decisions for their own bodies keeps them up at night,” Pounds said in an interview with The ‘Gander. 

“I’m a mom of four daughters, and I want them to grow up with the freedom to make their own decisions about their bodies, their health, and their future—not fewer rights than I had growing up and the generations of women who came before me.”

By Abby Deatrick

Every eligible Michigander deserves to cast a ballot without intimidation or obstacles. Here’s how to become a poll watcher to help protect that right. If you see a problem at the polls, call the Election Protection Hotline. 

Plus, join your community at Mothering Justice Action Fund’s Ballot Bash in Detroit or the Slay the Vote drag show in Grand Rapids.

Be a poll watcher

A poll watcher is a person who observes and documents the election process to make sure our elections are fair and accessible. Michigan allows poll watchers to observe elections at a polling place, an early voting site, or an absentee ballot processing facility.

Poll watchers can report concerns to the challenger liaison and document what they observe. For voter suppression, intimidation, or other voting-related concerns, you can call the Election Protection Hotline.

Poll watchers are allowed to observe the electoral process as long as the total number of poll watchers does not cause disruptions to the voting. Poll watchers must stay in the assigned public viewing area, a designated space set up by election officials. Poll watchers may be required to swear an oath.

Poll watchers may not interfere with the voting process or engage in other activities prohibited under state law. This includes prohibitions against speaking with voters and election inspectors other than the challenger liaison without the challenger liaison’s permission. Poll watchers also cannot issue challenges or photograph or record anything other than posted election results.

Attend an event

Mothering Justice Action Fund is hosting its annual Ballot Bash at The Jam Handy in Detroit on Thursday, Oct. 8. The event will bring together community members, state leaders, and advocates for an evening of civic engagement, relationship building, and getting ready to make care a priority at the ballot box.

📣 Have an event to add? Email Abigail Deatrick, The ’Gander’s state organizing coordinator, with details. Please send submissions at least one week before the event.

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Karel Vega with stories from Kyle Kaminski, Lucas Henkel, and Abby Deatrick. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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