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Progressive House candidate Will Lawrence (D) said Wednesday that he allowed his Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) membership to lapse within the past month, explaining that he wanted to focus on uniting swing voters in Michigan’s battleground 7th District.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for DSA and the work that they’re doing around the country, but I felt a need to make it very clear that the platform we’re running on here is the one that has come up based on the conversations we’re having across the seventh district,” Lawrence said in an interview with CNN on Wednesday.
The Sunrise Movement co-founder, who is backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), won Tuesday’s three-way Democratic primary in the Lansing-based congressional district and is set to face Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Mich.) in November.
Lawrence said he allowed his DSA membership to lapse because he wanted voters to understand that his campaign is centered on the district and the concerns he has heard from residents.
“I just want to make very clear that I’m here to represent the people of this district and focus on the issues that are bringing people together,” he said.
Lawrence pointed to major progressive issues, including the costs of living, healthcare, gasoline and groceries, which he said were resonating across the district. He said his goal was to “unite” voters.
Lawrence told CNN that his decision to allow his membership to lapse was not due to his advancing to the general election. He further declined to identify a broader disagreement with DSA and said he would address particular policy questions individually.
Instead, he described himself as an “organizer and coalition builder,” with an agenda based on local concerns.
Lawrence defeated former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink and former Navy SEAL Matt Maasdam in Tuesday’s Democratic primary. Brink was backed by former Michigan Govs. Jennifer Granholm (D) and Jim Blanchard (D), while Maasdam was backed by Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.).
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