A Democratic congressional candidate competing Tuesday in a closely watched Michigan primary has repeatedly criticized what he calls America’s “cult of hard work,” urged the election of more socialist members to Congress, and accused Republicans of being an alliance between “fossil fuel billionaires” and “white supremacists.”
William Lawrence, a Democratic Socialists of America member, co-founder of the Sunrise Movement, and Democratic candidate in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, made the remarks across multiple appearances on left-wing podcasts and radio programs uncovered by The Daily Wire.
Lawrence is competing in Tuesday’s Democratic primary against former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink and former Navy SEAL Matt Maasdam for the chance to challenge Rep. Tom Barrett (R-MI) in November. The district is rated a “Toss-Up” by the Cook Political Report and is expected to be one of the country’s most competitive House races.
In one episode of his podcast “Hegemonicon,” Lawrence described what he sees as uniquely American problems facing the political Left. “You mentioned U.S. exceptionalism, the cult of hard work,” Lawrence said of American politics and culture.
In the same discussion, Lawrence argued that the Left needs to elect more openly socialist lawmakers and specifically called for additional Democratic Socialists of America members in Congress. “I think sometimes we want to talk about accountability, as if it’s simply a moral calculation, where we need more accountable working class and progressive or Left legislator[s] — we need more accountable DSA members in Congress,” Lawrence said.
Lawrence argued that socialist lawmakers should be supported by an organized political movement capable of protecting them after taking controversial votes against the political establishment. “But to become an outsider to that is, you know, we need a lot of reinforcements,” he said.
In a separate 2018 appearance on the left-wing radio program Rising Up With Sonali, Lawrence attacked the Republican Party in sweeping terms. “I said it before. The Republican Party is an organized alliance between fossil fuel billionaires like the Koch brothers and white supremacists like Steve Bannon and Ron DeSantis,” Lawrence said. “They do not care one bit for the idea of democracy, and they are actively dismantling every piece of our civil liberties and our freedoms that we have fought and people have died for over the course of this country’s history.”
Lawrence has built his political career through left-wing activist organizations. He helped found the Sunrise Movement, the youth climate organization that became one of the driving forces behind the Green New Deal, and has campaigned unapologetically on the far-left despite running in one of the nation’s most competitive congressional districts.
His candidacy has highlighted an ongoing divide within the Democratic Party between its far-left and establishment wings. Lawrence has received the backing of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and has both endorsed and been endorsed by Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, another left-wing darling in Michigan. More moderate Democrats have lined up behind his primary opponents, with Brink endorsed by former Governor Jennifer Granholm and Maasdam backed by Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).
Some Democratic strategists have warned that nominating Lawrence could make it harder for the party to flip the district in November, arguing his far-left positions may be a difficult fit in a swing seat that President Donald Trump carried by just over one percentage point in 2024. Lawrence has dismissed those concerns, arguing voters are “tired of the status quo” and “tired of corporate-funded” candidates.
The winner of Tuesday’s Democratic primary will face Barrett in one of the House races expected to play a key role in determining control of Congress.
Republicans have already begun highlighting Lawrence’s comments. “William Lawrence is a Champagne Socialist who attacks American competition and demonizes hard work,” Republican National Committee spokesman Hunter Lovell said in a statement provided to The Daily Wire. “Lawrence hates the American way of life, and he is on a terror path to destroy our country as we know it.”
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