Michigan Representative Tom Barrett is taking steps to separate his campaign from the health care sector, which has historically been a significant contributor to his political efforts.
In a recent campaign advertisement, Barrett asserts his independence from private health insurers by stating, “I don’t take a dime from them. I sent their money back and told them to lower premiums instead.”
However, Federal Elections Commission records reveal that while Barrett has returned some contributions from the insurance industry, he has not refunded all of them. Notably, he has retained a $1,000 donation from the UnitedHealth Group PAC received in June.
Despite distancing himself from insurers, Barrett continues to receive backing from other sectors with aligned interests, particularly the pharmaceutical industry. The sector has contributed over $20,000 to his 2022 and 2024 campaigns.
Barrett has supported legislative measures favorable to the pharmaceutical industry. His support for the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) notably reduced Medicare’s bargaining power to lower drug prices for seniors. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, this could lead to an additional $8.8 billion in revenue for pharmaceutical companies.
The OBBB also entails a $1 trillion cut to Medicaid over the next decade, potentially causing up to 14,621 residents in Barrett’s district to lose their health coverage.
Additionally, Barrett opposed the extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies, which had reduced monthly premiums for around 22 million Americans. This decision is expected to result in approximately 8,600 individuals in his district losing health insurance.
Barrett’s 2026 campaign enjoys additional support from the American Action Network, a conservative advocacy group that receives partial funding from pharmaceutical and health insurance companies. This group has financed a television advertisement in Barrett’s favor.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has labeled Barrett as one of the most vulnerable House Republicans in the upcoming election. His Democratic challenger is activist Will Lawrence.
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