Black state lawmakers in Michigan are calling on the state’s attorney general and local officials to investigate Republican Tom Barrett’s congressional campaign over an ad in a Black-owned newspaper that incorrectly listed the election date as Nov. 6. county prosecutor.
A complaint filed Sunday by the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus alleges that Barrett’s campaign, running for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, is intentionally trying to disenfranchise Black voters. accused of providing false information. Election day is November 5th.
Barrett’s campaign strongly denied the allegations, calling it a one-time “proofreading error” that contradicted other ads from the campaign aimed at black voters.
“Vote for Tom Barrett on November 6th,” reads an information box in the center of a full-page ad in the Oct. 2 issue of the Michigan Bulletin, a black-owned alternative weekly published in the Lansing area. It is written. 30 years. At the bottom of the page, you’ll see a disclaimer that says, “Paid by Tom Barrett for Congress.”
As of Sunday, more than a week after the announcement, the campaign had not yet released any corrections. The Bulletin’s publisher notified the campaign of the error over the weekend and said a revised ad would appear in the next issue, the people said.
“Our campaign has been focused on reaching out to the Black community and Black leaders,” said Jason C. Roe, a spokesperson for Barrett’s campaign. “The goal is to get more support from black voters, and this is nothing but a proofreading error.”
Roe noted that the campaign sent mailers to Black households with the correct election date on Oct. 2 and Oct. 9.
The complaint from the state Black Caucus notes that a similar ad appeared in the Oct. 9 issue of City Pulse, another local weekly without black ownership, but with the correct election date.
Chris Jackson, executive director of the Black Caucus, said the Black Caucus learned about the ad after a reader shared a photo of it with elected officials.
“At best, Tom Barrett and his campaign have committed a shocking oversight that will no doubt confuse Black voters in Lansing, in part because they are trying to correct the record. “One reason is that no attempt has been made yet,” the complaint states. It was signed by the chair and vice chair of the Black Caucus. “And at worst, this ad could be part of a deliberate strategy to ‘thwart’ Black voters by tricking them into voting the day after the 2024 election.”
In Michigan, it is a felony to use “bribery, intimidation, or other corrupt means or devices,” including intentionally spreading false information about the election process, to “dissuade” an individual from voting.
“If Tom Barrett and Congressman Tom Barrett intentionally spread election misinformation to disenfranchise Black voters, they could be charged with felonies and have no legal liability,” the complaint states. should be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.”
Barrett is running against former Democratic state Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr., who represented the Lansing area. Slotkin, a Democrat, is running against former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers for the vacant Senate seat.
