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July 26th Len’s Political Note #742 Bridget Brink Michigan 07
2026 General Election
On May 10, 2022, seventy-five days after Russia invaded Ukraine, Bridget Brink, stood before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and said: “I am honored to be President Biden’s nominee for the position of Ambassador to Ukraine”. She explained that she was a career foreign service officer, had been with the State Department for 25 years, and that the focus of her career had been “the freedom and independence of the countries of Europe and Greater Europe.”
Bridget Brink added that she was proud to have advanced the “long standing strategic goal of a Europe ‘whole, free, and at peace’ over five US administrations.” She promised a commitment to a “sovereign, democratic, independent, and prosperous Ukraine.” She said she looked forward to helping Ukraine rebuild.
Finally, she explained that a sovereign, democratic, and independent Ukraine was in the interest of the United States. The values that moved her in this work were the values she learned from her family in Grand Rapids, Michigan and the community of which they were a part.
On April 10, 2025, Bridget Brink announced her resignation from the State Department to be effective on April 21. By the time she was done, she could not support Donald Trump’s shift in favor of Russia; nor could she be as supportive of Ukraine as President Zelensky wanted her to be.
Bridget Brink is no longer the only candidate for MI 07. She is one of five. The others Education Policy Professor and voucher opponent Josh Cowen, retired Navy SEAL and former Obama Advisor Matt Maasdan, activist Alexandra Prieditis, and County Commissioner Muhammed Salman Reis.
In May 16, in the Detroit Free Press, Bridget Brink wrote that the policy of the Trump administration was to “put pressure on the victim, Ukraine, rather than on the aggressor, Russia.” She described Russia as having committed 150,000 war crimes, as being responsible for violence that was widespread, systematic, and horrifying.
Bridget Brink explained: “If we allow Putin to redraw borders by force, he won’t stop with Ukraine.” In recreating the Russian empire, he will threaten the security of our allies. We have a $16 trillion dollar trading relationship with Europe from which 16 million jobs are created on both sides of the Atlantic. Furthermore, it would send signals to China which would feel free to upset the “security balance in Asia.”
Most important of all, she said that Russia’s war is about “who we are.”
On June 17, 2025, Bridget Brink announced she would run for Congress. My next mission, she said, was to “fight for what’s right here at home…We’ve got to take on the chaos and corruption coming out of Washington because it’s costing Michiganders.”
The Detroit Free Press explained that Bridget Brink lived in Lansing, that she would be challenging Republican Congressman Tom Barrett who had defeated Democratic former state senator Curtis Hertel 50-47 for the seat that had been held by US Senator Elissa Slotkin.
In the summer of 2025, I cannot say with certainty that Bridget Brink will be the Democratic nominee. I am confident that she is a much stronger candidate than the two other Democrats who have announced so far. Among the five others who could possibly be candidates, there are a couple who have potential. Nevertheless, Bridget Brink has begun early. On July 2, the first day second quarter financial reports could be available, Bridget Brink was the only candidate for MI 07 to announce her campaign fund raising for the quarter. She had raised over a period of two weeks in June $500,000.
Bridget Brink still had just under $500,000 cash in hand on June 30, at the end of the quarter. The incumbent Republican had $1.5 million at the end of the second quarter of the campaign. None of the other four announced Democrats reported any funds at all. It is possible. One or more of them will prove to be a prolific fund raiser. For now, though, I suggest you focus on the Democrat who has raised money and has a really good story to tell besides. DONATE to Bridget Brink.
Other Districts Democrats I have written about who could flip a Republican seat.
New York 21. Dairy Farmer Blake Gendebien to replace Congresswoman Elise Stefanik who Trump was going to nominate as UN Ambassador then changed his mind; who will probably be running for Governor of New York. DONATE. See Len’s Political Note #706
Iowa 01. Iowa 01. Law professor Christina Bohannan to oust congresswoman Marianette Miller-Meeks who, like almost every single Republican who claims to be a moderate, simply does not come through when it counts. DONATE. See Len’s Political Note #737. COH $800,000 v $2.1 million for the incumbent
Montana 01. Businessman Russell Cleveland to oust congressman Ryan Zinke who was too corrupt to keep in Trump’s cabinet during his first term. DONATE. See Len’s Political Note #740. COH. $17,000 v $1.8 million for the incumbent.
Pennsylvania 10. Former television new anchor Janelle Stelson to oust congressman Scott Perry, who worked with Trump to illegally change voting result reports in 202o. DONATE. See Len’s Political Note #741. COH Janelle Stelson starts the third quarter with $300. The incumbent has $1.2 Million.
Incumbents we should protect. Cash on Hand information included
California 13 Congressman Adam Gray who won by 187 votes in 2024. DONATE See Len’s Political Note #716. COH $800,000 v. $40,000 for the only Republican candidate
California 45 Congressman Derek Tran who won by 653 votes in 2024. DONATE. See Len’s Political Note #717. COH $1.2 million v $.9 million for the former US Rep who has not announced her candidacy.
Ohio 09 Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur who won by 2,832 votes in 2024 DONATE. See Len’s Political Note #718. COH $900,000 v $90,000 for the only potential opponent who reported any funds available
Maine 02 Congressman Jared Golden who won by 2,706 votes in 2024. DONATE. See Len’s Political Note #719. $1 million v the only announced opponent, the former state governor and he did not submit a report
Texas 34 Congressman Vicente Gonzalez who won by 5,237 votes in 2024. DONATE. See Len’s Political Note #720. COH $900,000 v the only announced opponent at $140,000
North Carolina 01. Congressman Don Davis who won by 6,307 votes in 2024. DONATE. See Len’s Political Note $721 COH $1.1 million the only announced opponent at $2.2 million
California 27. Congressman George Whitesides who won by 7,990 votes in 2024. DONATE. See Len’s Political Note #726. COH $1.5 million v nothing reported for the only announced Republican who announced recently.
New York 19 Congressman Josh Riley who won by 8,357 votes in 2024. DONATE. See Len’s Political Note #727. COH $1.2 million v so far, no Republican opponent yet.
Ohio 13 Congresswoman Emilia Sykes who won by 8,542 votes in 2024. DONATE. See Len’s Political Note #728. COH $600,000 v $300,000 for the only announced Republican
New York 04 Congresswoman Laura Gillen who won by 8,603 votes in 2024. DONATE. See Len’s Political Note #729. COH $1 million v no reports from either of two potential opponents
California 09 Congressman Josh Harder who won by 7,973 votes in 2024. DONATE. See Len’s Political Note #730. COH $2.9 million v $2,000 for a potential opponent
If Democrats can hold all of their seats and flip three, the House will have a Democratic majority,
GIVE OF YOURSELF AS WELL.
Join peaceful demonstrations. I hope you found a place to march on July 17. Look around. Many communities have weekly demonstrations against Trump. Find one and join. Call your Senators and Members of Congress. Remind them Trump and the Republicans have been created huge tax cuts for the wealthy, sharp reductions in Medicaid for those who are not wealthy, and expanded our national debt in the process.
