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The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has added two candidates competing for US House seats that include parts of Oakland County to the DCCC election assistance program with the approaching November 3 balloting. Both Democrats Christina Hines, competing for the 10th District that encompasses most of southern Macomb County, as well as the Rochester-Rochester Hills area, and Will Lawrence who seeks the 7th District which includes part of Milford and Milford Township, as well as Lyon Township and South Lyon in Oakland County. To be accepted into the program a candidate must demonstrate a certain level of campaign achievement and then the DCCC can provide candidates with both added finances, logistical support and possible staffing. Hines, a former special prosecutor, is running against Republican military veteran Mike Bouchard Jr., son of Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard. Hines has raised $1.2 million in this election cycle and as of the end of June had $158,000 on hand. Bouchard had raised $1.6 million and had $124,000 on hand for a race that is being considered by some to be a toss up. Bouchard in June was added to the MAGA Majority program of the National Republican Congressional Committee. In the 7th District, which encompasses several counties, including Ingham, Clinton, Livingston and parts of Eaton, Lawrence is up against first-term Republican incumbent Tom Barrett. While polling shows a possible dead heat, some polls show a marginal lead for the community activist Democrat. As of the end of June, Barrett had raised $6.5 million and had $2.87 million on hand, far outpacing Lawrence who had raised only $1.1 million and had $383,000 on hand. The most recent polling by the House Majority PAC showed the two candidates tied, with 10 percent of those polled as undecided. Both of these House contests are considered critical races in the fight for majority control in Congress.
Christina Hines Will Lawrence Mike Bouchard Jr.