National Republicans’ Super PAC Drops $100k to Save Vulnerable Tom Barrett from Write-in Challenger in GOP Primary

After disappointing fundraising and a struggling campaign marred with bad press, Washington Republicans are getting nervous Tom Barrett may not clear his primary. House Republicans' Super PAC, Congressional Leadership Fund, announced today they're launching a $100,000 ad campaign to prop up Barrett in his primary against write-in challenger Jake Hagg.

Barrett has stumbled repeatedly during his rocky candidacy, including voting multiple times to block a GM auto manufacturing plant in the district and at least 5,000 auto jobs in Michigan, bad headlines for his shady and offensive fundraising practices, and weak fundraising. After the first quarter of 2022, Barrett had less than $400,000 on hand - more than half a million dollars short of his own $1 million fundraising goal and less than his opponent Jake Hagg.

While Barrett struggles to make it out of his primary, Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin reported a massive haul of $1.5 million raised in the second quarter of 2022 and $6.5 million cash on hand.

"National Republicans' desperate bid to try to carry Tom Barrett over the finish line in his primary against write-in candidate Jake Hagg tells you everything you need to know about the pathetic and weak campaign Barrett is running," said DCCC spokesperson Elena Kuhn. "No matter how much money national Republicans light on fire to try to save Barrett's campaign, the truth is that he has already proven himself unelectable come November by betting against Michigan manufacturing workers and supporting an extreme abortion ban with no exceptions."