William Lawrence, the Democratic nominee in Michigan's 7th Congressional District, deleted hundreds of social media posts containing statements on a range of progressive policy positions, according to reporting by CNN. The posts, many written under an older Twitter handle while Lawrence was active as a progressive organizer and co-founder of the Sunrise Movement, have brought scrutiny to his candidacy ahead of the November general election.
Lawrence won the August Democratic primary with approximately 44% of the vote, defeating former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink and former Navy SEAL Matt Maasdam. He will face Republican Rep. Tom Barrett in a race expected to be among the most competitive House contests in the country as Democrats attempt to flip the seat.
The deleted posts include statements on several policy positions Lawrence held while building his career as an activist, including support for defunding police departments and eliminating prisons, calls for ending fossil-fuel production through forced nationalization, advocacy for open borders, and criticism of the Senate as an institution. The posts were first reported by CNN.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Democrats and Lawrence's supporters have emphasized his evolution on certain issues and pointed to his current campaign platform as evidence of a more mainstream Democratic message. Sanders, who endorsed Lawrence, has not commented publicly on the deleted posts. Tlaib, also an endorser, similarly has not addressed the controversy.
Lawrence himself has sought to distance himself from at least some of the positions expressed in the deleted posts. He told CNN that he no longer supports defunding the police or open borders and said his previous comments about Slotkin were wrong. He stated that his membership in the Democratic Socialists of America had lapsed in July 2024.
Like many millennials, I have done my fair share of thinking out loud on the Internet, Lawrence told CNN, adding that he disagrees with some things he posted in the past. His campaign platform emphasizes healthcare for all, higher taxes on wealthy Americans, a federal moratorium on data centers, ending U.S. involvement in the war in Iran, and opposition to corporate political money.
Sunrise Movement, where Lawrence served as a co-founder, has not issued a statement on the deleted posts. Supporters of Lawrence have argued that candidates should be evaluated on their current positions rather than social media history from years ago.
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans have seized on the deleted posts to characterize Lawrence as too radical for the swing district. The National Republican Congressional Committee released a statement calling Lawrence an extremist and arguing his old posts reveal who he really is beyond his carefully crafted campaign persona.
Rep. Tom Barrett, Lawrence's November opponent, said in a statement that voters deserve to know where candidates actually stand on issues affecting their communities. These deleted posts show William Lawrence has spent years advocating for policies that would devastate Michigan families, Barrett said.
Conservative commentators have highlighted specific posts, including 2021 lyrics Lawrence wrote about Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin's opposition to climate legislation that included the line Hurry up and die so that we can get started. The Republican National Committee distributed screenshots of several deleted posts on social media.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has not endorsed in the Michigan 7th race, a notable absence given his role overseeing Democratic campaign priorities. Republicans have noted this as evidence that even some Democrats view Lawrence as a liability in a winnable seat.
What the Numbers Show
Lawrence won the August Democratic primary with approximately 44% of the vote, defeating two well-known candidates in Bridget Brink and Matt Maasdam. The three-way race meant no candidate received a majority.
Michigan's 7th Congressional District has been held by Republicans since 2015, when then-Rep. Tim Walberg won the seat. Rep. Tom Barrett currently holds the seat after flipping it in 2022 with approximately 51% of the vote, making it one of the most competitive districts in the country.
The Cook Political Report rates the race as a Toss-up. The district has a lean Republican history but has shown receptiveness to some Democratic candidates in statewide races.
Lawrence's primary victory margin came despite significant financial backing for his opponents. Brink received support from pro-Democratic outside groups, while Maasdam entered the race with high name recognition locally.
The Bottom Line
The deleted posts have transformed what would already be a competitive race into a focal point for both parties' national strategies heading into November. Democrats need to flip approximately four seats to regain control of the House, making every competitive district crucial.
Lawrence's current positions on healthcare, taxes, and foreign policy align more closely with mainstream Democratic Party platforms than his deleted social media history would suggest. However, Republicans are expected to continue highlighting the contrast between his past statements and his current campaign rhetoric.
Moderate Democrats, including Reps. Brad Schneider (D-IL) and Hillary Scholten (D-MI), have previously expressed concerns about Lawrence's candidacy. Whether national Democratic Party leadership provides support or maintains distance could signal how seriously party leaders view the risk in this district.
Voters in Michigan's 7th Congressional District will decide the race in November, evaluating whether Lawrence's explanation that his old posts were merely thinking out loud on the Internet is sufficient justification to support a candidate whose past rhetoric differs substantially from both his current positions and the district's political leanings.