Jack Bergman faces Callie Barr in Michigan 1st Congressional District election

• Republican U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman faces Democrat Callie Barr in Michigan’s 1st Congressional District
• Barr defeated fellow Democratic Bob Lorinser for the chance to take on Bergman in the general election
• District includes all or part of 36 counties in Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula

In Michigan’s northernmost congressional district, Republican U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman will face Democrat Callie Barr in the Nov. 5 general election. 

Barr, a Traverse City attorney, advanced by beating fellow Democrat Bob Lorinser in the August primary by 17 percentage points. 

Bergman coasted in the August primary, easily defeating GOP challenger Josh Saul by nearly 59 points. 

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Bergman, a Republican whose home address is near the Upper Peninsula’s Wisconsin border, enters the general election as a favorite. 

He has handily won re-election in recent contests, defeating Democratic challenger Bob Lorinser with 60% of the vote in 2022. 

Bergman’s incumbency aside, a Republican has represented the region since former U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak left office in 2010, and GOP candidates have continued to hold an edge there in recent presidential elections. In both 2016 and 2020 contests, former President Donald Trump won roughly 60% of the district’s total vote share. 

The sprawling 1st Congressional District covers all or part of 36 counties, including the entire Upper Peninsula and much of the northern Lower Peninsula. The district makes up 44% of Michigan’s land mass but only 7% of the state’s total population. Notable cities include Marquette, Traverse City, Sault Ste. Marie and Alpena.  

Here are a look at the candidates:

Democrat - Callie Barr: Barr is a Traverse City attorney who worked as a high school English teacher before becoming an advocate for military families through Blue Star Families and the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers. Barr graduated from Central Michigan University and University of Michigan Law School and began advocating for veterans and their families after her husband sustained significant injuries while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, according to her campaign. In a video announcing her campaign, Barr said northern Michigan residents deserve a representative “who’s from here, and can actually fix people’s problems because they’ve actually lived them.” 

Republican - Jack Bergman: Bergman of Watersmeet is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and business owner who has also worked as a commercial airline pilot. Since taking office in 2017, Bergman has supported additional funding for upgrading the Soo Locks, beefing up broadband infrastructure in rural areas and veterans’ issues. In late 2020, he was one of four Michigan congressional Republicans who joined a court brief proposing to overturn President Joe Biden’s popular-vote win in Michigan. He also objected to Pennsylvania’s Electoral College results following the Jan. 6, 2021, riots at the U.S. Capitol.

Libertarian - Andrew Gale: Nominated at the Libertarian Party convention, Gale hails from  the northern Michigan community of Cedar in Leelanau County. Gale also ran in 2022 but finished with less than 2% of the vote in a general election loss to Bergman. The Libertarian Party advocates for personal liberty over government intervention and considers taxation "theft," according to its platform.

Working Class Party - Liz Hakola: Hakola also ran in 2022 but finished with less than 2% of the vote in a general election loss to Bergman. At the time, she lives in the Michigan community of Pelkie in Baraga Township.