MSU professor Cowen quits race for 7th Congress district seat

By Melissa Nann Burke, MediaNews Group

Democrat Josh Cowen, a professor of training coverage at Michigan State College, dropped out of the race Wednesday for a battleground U.S. Home district anchored by Lansing, saying he had not been in a position to increase sufficient cash final quarter to significantly compete together with his prime rivals.

“I imagine in information and I imagine in info, and the info are that we aren’t going to have the ability to compete in the way in which that we have to these days,” Cowen mentioned in a video message to supporters.

“I actually wished to serve on this method, however this marketing campaign was by no means about me. It was and continues to be about households in central Michigan and about taking again Congress subsequent fall. And proper now, the easiest way for me to assist flip the seat is to withdraw from this race.”

Cowen’s departure after three months leaves a trio of outstanding Democrats in competition — retired diplomat Bridget Brink, former Navy SEAL Matt Maasdam and local weather activist William Lawrence — all vying for the possibility to tackle first-term Republican Rep. Tom Barrett of Charlotte within the 2026 midterm elections.

Nationwide Democrats and Republicans are each educated on Barrett’s seat, with the Republican Celebration decided to defend it and Democrats aiming to flip Michigan’s seventh District, which incorporates Ingham, Livingston, Clinton and Shiawassee counties, together with components of Oakland, Eaton and Genesee counties.

Lawrence praised Cowen for highlighting public training as a problem within the race and mentioned the departure makes Lawrence “the main candidate on this main who is definitely from the district” — a dig at Maasdam and Brink, who didn’t develop up within the seventh Congressional District.

Republican strategists have turned the non-local candidates within the race right into a steady line of assault.

“Democrat Josh Cowen was rescued from the Democrats’ main clown automobile in Michigan’s seventh District, however not earlier than endorsing out-of-town Bridget Brink, which solely fueled the Democrats’ chaotic and dear race to the left,” mentioned Zach Bannon, a spokesman for the Nationwide Republican Congressional Committee.

Cowen’s marketing campaign had mentioned he raised about $205,000 throughout the three-month interval ending Sept. 30, in comparison with greater than $600,000 raised by each Maasdam and Brink, in response to their campaigns. Lawrence reported elevating greater than $220,000 after launch, simply 5 weeks earlier than the reporting deadline. Marketing campaign finance experiences might be launched on October 15.

Cowen, 46, of East Lansing, mentioned in an interview that he was pleased with his win, particularly as a first-time candidate, however he puzzled if he might do it quarter after quarter whereas competing towards different contenders elevating “fairly excessive” greenback quantities.

“When you’re doing this to win, the trail is not there this time,” Cowen mentioned. “Typically you need to be an grownup in terms of this stuff. It sucked.”

Cowen mentioned he would help Brink, the previous U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, describing her because the Democrat greatest positioned to defeat Barrett.

He famous Brink’s transfer to the district and cited her “spectacular” document of service over the previous three many years, together with the glory of being the primary feminine ambassador to serve in a warfare zone in Ukraine.

“I began speaking about faculties and … Bridget was the one different candidate I had heard alongside the way in which who truly talked about faculties in some social (media posts),” Cowen mentioned.

“All Democrats want to speak much more about reinvesting in Okay-12 training, like we’re doing. (Former Gov. Rick) Snyder is about to lift $30 million to run ‘training elections’ for Republicans in 2026. Republicans assume Okay-12 training is essential to them.”

Cowen ran for election to the U.S. Home of Representatives in early July, specializing in affordability and training points.

His analysis as an instructional has centered on trainer high quality, instructional politics and college selection, together with his newest guide criticizing former Secretary of Training Betsy DeVos and her promotion of faculty vouchers: “The Privateers: How Billionaires Created a Tradition Warfare and Bought College Vouchers.”

Cowen mentioned he plans to return to educating at MSU and can proceed talking and writing.

Initially printed: October 10, 2025 at 11:28 AM EDT