Callie Barr

Callie Barr is an attorney and former high school English teacher from Traverse City and the Democratic nominee for Michigan's 1st District. She was her party's nominee against Rep. Jack Bergman in 2024 and won the 2026 primary to face him again.[1][2][3]

Barr was born and raised in Traverse City and moved to Cheboygan in high school, according to a 2024 Northern Express profile.[1][2] She earned a degree in secondary education from Central Michigan University and later a law degree from the University of Michigan, according to Northern Express.[2] She worked as a high school English teacher in several schools as her family moved. Northern Express reports that her husband enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps after September 11, 2001, and that she became involved in advocacy for military families through Blue Star Families and the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers.[1][2] Barr works as an attorney, and local television coverage describes her as an attorney, military spouse and teacher.[1][4]

Barr was the Democratic nominee for the seat in 2024, receiving 37.9% (180,937 votes) to Bergman's 59.2% in the general election.[1] In July 2025 she announced that she would run again, saying she would focus on health care, veterans and rural communities.[5] She won the August 4, 2026 Democratic primary over Kyle Blomquist and Wayne Stiles.[1][3]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.