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D Democratic · U.S. House 1, Michigan · Nov 3, 2026

Callie
Barr

Democratic nominee challenging incumbent Jack Bergman for Michigan's 1st Congressional District in 2026

Researched checked 6 d ago
sources
22
positions
10
endorsements
36
callieforcongress.com ↗(opens in a new tab) X(opens in a new tab)
Opponents Jack Bergman R+ 2 more Compare race →

Background

Callie Barr is the 2026 Democratic nominee for Michigan's 1st Congressional District, challenging Republican incumbent Jack Bergman. She won the Democratic primary on August 4, 2026, according to Associated Press results reported by the New York Times. 110 Born and raised in Traverse City and Cheboygan, Barr earned a degree in secondary education from Central Michigan University and attended the University of Michigan Law School. She previously taught high school English before working in veterans and military-family advocacy. 14

After law school, Barr worked as an attorney—described variously as a business attorney and a litigation attorney—and helped connect veterans with free legal services. 14 This is her second consecutive campaign for the seat; she was also the Democratic nominee in 2024, losing that race to Bergman. 2

Barr's campaign centers on issues of affordability and advocacy for Northern Michigan residents. The FEC classifies her as a challenger, not an incumbent. 72

At a glance

Party
Democratic
Running for
U.S. House · District 1, Michigan
Election
Nov 3, 2026
Website
callieforcongress.com(opens in a new tab)

Where they stand

Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.

Timeline

  1. Oct 6
    news
    Barr reported to have raised over $700,000 in Q3, described as a district fundraising record

    Politico reported that Barr raised more than $700,000 in the third quarter, which it described as a district fundraising record. The figure was information shared with Politico; detailed filing data was not provided in the report.

    The third-party candidates who could play spoiler next month · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  2. Oct 2
    news
    DCCC adds Bergman's MI-01 seat to its 'Districts in Play' target list

    The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added MI-01 to its target list, though Reuters reported the committee was not committing outside money to Barr at that time. Analysts were divided on competitiveness, with one Republican commentator calling it a 'blue mirage.'

    Democrats See An Opening In MI-01 As 2026 Battlefield ... · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  3. Sep 26
    news
    Barr speaks at Chassell event, criticizes Bergman on costs and hospital funding

    At a campaign appearance, Barr linked high costs to fuel prices and the war in Iran, criticized Bergman's spending record and votes on hospitals, and framed her campaign around affordability and representation. She also said, 'I'm not a Democratic Socialist.'

    'Enough is enough' - The Mining Gazette · Oct 3, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  4. Sep 23
    debate
    Mining Journal reports Bergman's office has not responded to Barr's debate challenge

    A follow-up report noted that Bergman's office had not responded to the outlet's request for comment on Barr's debate challenge, and no debate had been announced.

    Callie Barr challenges Jack Bergman to debate - · Sep 23, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  5. Sep 17
    news
    Barr discusses campaign priorities on the Grounded podcast

    Barr cited rising prices, rural hospital closures, and veterans' issues as top voter concerns. She said her campaign's internal polling showed a close race, though no independent poll was published.

    Raising the Barr - Grounded with Jon Tester & Maritsa Georgiou · Sep 17, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  6. Sep 17
    debate
    Barr challenges Rep. Jack Bergman to three separate debates before the midterms

    Barr proposed debates in the Upper Peninsula, Northern Michigan, and near Bergman's Louisiana home. Bergman's campaign dismissed the challenge as a 'publicity stunt,' saying Bergman would focus on speaking directly with voters.

    Barr challenges Bergman to three separate debates before ... · Sep 17, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  7. Sep 14
    endorsement
    AFGE endorses Callie Barr for MI-01

    The American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal employee union, announced its endorsement of Barr as one of seven Democratic challengers it endorsed in Michigan congressional races.

    Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses 11 Michigan Candidates for U.S. House · Sep 14, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  8. Aug 4
    news
    Callie Barr wins Democratic primary for MI-01, defeating Kyle Blomquist by 20+ points

    Barr advanced to the general election after defeating Kyle Blomquist, whom she described as a Democratic Socialist. At a September 26 campaign appearance, she said she won by more than 20 points.

    'Enough is enough' - The Mining Gazette · Oct 3, 2026 (opens in a new tab)

Endorsements

  • Defend the Vote organization
    Listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • LaDonna Schultz official
    Ogemaw County Prosecutor; listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • Bridget Foltz official
    Boyne City Mayor Pro Tem; listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • Northern Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council union
    Listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • UA Local 85 union
    Listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • Operating Engineers 324 PAC union
    Listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • Care for US organization
    Listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • Indivisible Moving Forward–Charlevoix organization
    Listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • National Women's Political Caucus organization
    Listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • Bart Stupak official
    Former U.S. representative for Michigan's 1st District; listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • Glenn and Mary Lou Anderson official
    Houghton County Commissioners; listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • Ty Wessell official
    Leelanau County Commissioner; listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council union
    Listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • United Auto Workers Region 1-D union
    Listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • Michigan Pipe Trades Association union
    Listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 2 of Michigan union
    Listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • Committee to Protect Health Care organization
    Listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • MI List organization
    Listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • EMILYs List organization
    Listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • Elect Democratic Women organization
    Listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • Gretchen Janssen official
    Houghton County Commissioner; listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • Bruce Bolen official
    East Tawas Mayor; listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • Michigan Education Association union
    Listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • IBEW and IBEW Local 692 union
    Listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters union
    Listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • Her Bold Move organization
    Listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • Progressive Women's Alliance of West Michigan PAC organization
    Listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. pwa-westmi.org
  • Veterans for Responsible Leadership organization
    Listed on Barr's campaign endorsement page; no date given. callieforcongress.com
  • League of Conservation Voters Action Fund organization
    Announced Barr's endorsement as part of latest slate of U.S. House endorsements. lcv.org · Sep 24, 2026
  • American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) union
    Largest federal employee union; endorsed 11 Michigan candidates for U.S. House. afge.org · Sep 14, 2026
  • Reproductive Freedom for All organization
    Announced Michigan slate including Barr on September 2, 2026, as part of 'My Body. My Ballot.' campaign. reproductivefreedomforall.org · Sep 2, 2026
  • VoteVets organization
    Announced endorsement August 20, 2026. votevets.org · Aug 20, 2026
  • New Politics organization
    Announced endorsement July 22, 2026. newpolitics.org · Jul 22, 2026
  • Pete Buttigieg official
    Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation; endorsement reported July 10, 2026. politico.com · Jul 10, 2026
  • Michigan AFL-CIO union
    Announced as part of sweeping endorsements for pro-labor candidates across the state. miaflcio.org · Jul 2, 2026
  • Greg Zyburt official
    Marquette County Sheriff; announced endorsement at a joint press conference reported by The Mining Journal in March 2026; exact day not specified. miningjournal.net · Mar 1, 2026

Campaign finance

Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.

Raised
$824K
Spent
$301K
Cash on hand
$531K

As of Jul 15, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H4MI01155(opens in a new tab)

Sources 22

  1. [1] Endorsements(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
  2. [2] NEW POLITICS ENDORSES CALLIE BARR FOR ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
  3. [3] The third-party candidates who could play spoiler next month(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
  4. [4] Democrats See An Opening In MI-01 As 2026 Battlefield ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
  5. [5] 'Enough is enough' - The Mining Gazette(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
  6. [6] LCV Action Fund Announces Latest Slate of Endorsements for U.S. ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026
  7. [7] Callie Barr challenges Jack Bergman to debate -(opens in a new tab) Sep 23, 2026
  8. [8] Barr challenges Bergman to three separate debates before ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 17, 2026
  9. [9] Raising the Barr - Grounded with Jon Tester & Maritsa Georgiou(opens in a new tab) Sep 17, 2026
  10. [10] Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses 11 Michigan Candidates for U.S. House(opens in a new tab) Sep 14, 2026
  11. [11] Endorsements(opens in a new tab) Sep 7, 2026
  12. [12] Reproductive Freedom for All Kicks Off Michigan 'My Body. My Ballot ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 2, 2026
  13. [13] Voter Guide Profile for MI U.S. Rep., Dist. 1 candidate - Callie Barr(opens in a new tab) Sep 2, 2026
  14. [14] VoteVets Endorses Callie Barr for Congress in Michigan's ...(opens in a new tab) Aug 20, 2026
  15. [15] Callie Barr says northern Michigan needs to build more ...(opens in a new tab) Jul 30, 2026
  16. [16] Sheriff Zyburt endorses Callie Barr | News, Sports, Jobs(opens in a new tab) Jul 28, 2026
  17. [17] 3 candidates vying for 1st District U.S. House Democrat nomination(opens in a new tab) Jul 23, 2026
  18. [18] Barr holds town hall(opens in a new tab) Jul 22, 2026
  19. [19] Your Vote, Your District: MI-01 Candidate Series with Callie Barr(opens in a new tab) Jul 13, 2026
  20. [20] The bill that encapsulates the midterms(opens in a new tab) Jul 10, 2026
  21. [21] Michigan AFL-CIO Announces Sweeping Endorsements for Pro-Labor Candidates Across the State - MI AFL-CIO(opens in a new tab) Jul 2, 2026
  22. [22] Post(opens in a new tab) Jun 18, 2026
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