Strategy Spotlight: MI-07
MI-07 is a bellwether district within a battleground Senate race in a swing state.
As we are now less than 40 weeks until the election, it is important to be as strategic as possible with resources (financial and volunteers). This means targeting grassroots action where it can be leveraged to maximize voter turnout in multiple challenging races. MI-07 is such a district.
Michigan’s 7th Congressional District (MI-07) is often considered a bellwether because it reflects the broader political trends and shifting dynamics in the state and the country. Several factors contribute to its bellwether status:
1. Swing District: MI-07 is a competitive swing district, where both Democrats and Republicans have won in recent elections. It is closely divided between urban and rural areas, which tend to have differing political leanings, making it a battleground district. Candidates from both parties can win depending on voter turnout, messaging, and national trends.
2. Diverse Constituency: The district includes a mix of urban, suburban, and rural voters, with a range of socioeconomic backgrounds. This diversity mirrors the broader electorate, making it a good indicator of how different demographics might vote nationally.
3. Political Shifts: Historically, MI-07 has flipped between the parties in recent election cycles, reflecting the national political environment. For instance, the district was held by Republicans but flipped to Democrat Elissa Slotkin in 2018, indicating the shift in suburban voters away from the GOP during the Trump administration.
4. Michigan’s Importance: Michigan itself is a key swing state in presidential elections, and MI-07’s trends often signal how the state may vote in statewide and national elections. Winning MI-07 can be seen as a sign of which party is gaining momentum in Michigan as a whole.
Because of these factors, getting out the vote (the earlier the better) in MI-07 can have significant impact both in winning a difficult House, Senate and Presidential race in Michigan, but also act as a signal to how GOTV efforts are working across the country. Remember, Michigan has already started early voting. Canvassing and Phonebanking operations can serve a dual purpose of GOTV and gathering exit poll data for those who have already voted.
Some Critical Dates for Michigan:
Absentee ballot deadlines -
Ballot must be requested by 5 pm on Nov 1
Ballot must be returned by mail by 8pm on Nov 5 (received)
Ballot must be returned in person by 8pm on Nov 5
Registration Deadlines:
Registration by mail must be postmarked by Oct 21
You may register in person at your local election office on Election Day (Nov 5)
Early Voting varies by location:
Find you Early Voting information here.
Volunteer with us in MI-07 or Virtually We have actions available every day between now and and Election Day, including postcarding, canvassing and phonebanking.