Jack Bergman defeated Callie Barr in Michigan's 1st Congressional District and won a sixth term in Congress after the called the race at 1:09 a.m. Bergman took 53.2% of the vote, while Barr finished with 44.7% in a contest that stayed in his column despite a closer margin than their 2024 rematch.
For Barr, the loss leaves another cycle of effort short of a seat that remains in Bergman's hands. For Bergman, the result keeps control of a district that stretches across the entire state's upper peninsula and the northern portion of the lower peninsula, a region he will continue to represent as voters wake up to the result.
Bergman's margin was smaller than the one he posted in 2024, when he and Barr faced off and he prevailed by more than 20% of the vote. That narrower finish did not change the outcome. The race was called early because unofficial results already showed Bergman ahead, and Barr could not close the gap enough to force a different ending.
The win also came after Bergman spent the campaign fielding criticism over his participation in a taxpayer-funded program that reimburses representatives for housing and meal expenses. The Detroit News reported that he was living in a Washington, D.C. home sold to his daughter by campaign supporters, while his campaign said he paid fair market value for rent and was in full compliance with House Ethics.
In a statement shared to Facebook, Bergman thanked residents of the district and said the election left Republicans with work ahead of them. He said Americans are frustrated with inflation, reckless government spending and the direction of the nation, and argued they deserve leaders who will listen, stand firm and deliver results. For now, the answer to the race is plain: Bergman returns to Washington, D.C., and Barr is left to plan her next move in northern Michigan.
