William Lawrence

William Lawrence is the Democratic nominee and a climate and housing organizer making his first run for office. He co-founded the Sunrise Movement and later helped found tenant-organizing groups in mid-Michigan. He won the August 2026 Democratic primary and, according to his campaign website, is running on housing affordability, Medicare for All and climate action.[1][2][3]

William Lawrence was born in 1990 in Madison, Wisconsin, and moved to East Lansing at age five, according to Wikipedia. He graduated from East Lansing High School, and his campaign website also says he was raised in East Lansing.[4][3] He earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and anthropology from Swarthmore College, per Wikipedia.[1][4]

In 2015 Lawrence co-founded the Sunrise Movement, a youth climate organization. He worked there as development director and later as director of strategic partnerships before leaving in 2020, per Wikipedia.[1][4][3] Since 2020 he has worked on housing issues in Michigan, founding the Mid-Michigan Tenant Resource Center and helping found the Michigan Rent Is Too Damn High Coalition, which his campaign website says has won statewide protections for low-income renters.[1][4][3]

Lawrence won the August 4, 2026 Democratic primary for Michigan's 7th District, defeating Bridget Brink and Matt Maasdam, in his first run for Congress. He faces Republican incumbent Rep. Tom Barrett in the November general election.[1][5] According to his campaign website, he and his wife live in Lansing.[3]

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