Michigan Rep. Tom Barrett’s Campaign Faces Scrutiny Over Health Care Ties
Amidst his reelection campaign, Michigan Representative Tom Barrett is working to separate himself from the health care industry, which has contributed significantly to his political campaigns. Barrett emphasizes in a recent advertisement that he has refused donations from private health insurers, declaring, “I sent their money back and told them to lower premiums instead.”
However, Federal Elections Commission records reveal that while Barrett has returned some insurance industry contributions this year, he has not refunded all. Notably, a $1,000 donation from the UnitedHealth Group PAC in June remains unreturned.
Though distancing himself from insurers, Barrett continues to receive backing from related sectors, particularly the pharmaceutical industry. Contributions from Big Pharma have exceeded $20,000 over his 2022 and 2024 campaigns.
In Congress, Barrett has consistently supported pharmaceutical interests. He voted for the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), which diminished Medicare’s capacity to negotiate drug prices for seniors. According to the Congressional Budget Office, this legislation is projected to generate an additional $8.8 billion for pharmaceutical companies.
Additionally, OBBB is set to implement a $1 trillion reduction in Medicaid funding over the next decade, potentially affecting up to 14,621 residents in Barrett’s district who might lose their health insurance coverage. Barrett also opposed extending subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, which helped lower insurance costs for roughly 22 million Americans. This decision could result in approximately 8,600 people in his constituency losing health insurance.
Furthermore, Barrett’s 2026 campaign receives support from the American Action Network, a conservative group partially funded by pharmaceutical and health insurance companies. This group has financed a television advertisement in Barrett’s favor, as noted in a report.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has labeled Barrett as a vulnerable incumbent in the upcoming elections. His main opponent is Will Lawrence, an activist challenging Barrett for his seat.
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