Congressional candidate Callie Barr (D) speaks at a town hall held on Wednesday at Northern Michigan University. (Journal photo by Annie Lippert)

MARQUETTE — On Wednesday, Democratic congressional candidate Callie Barr hosted a town hall at the Northern Center on Northern Michigan University’s campus, titled “Town Hall for Change.” The town hall featured a speech made by Barr, as well as a question-and-answer portion with audience participation.

Barr spoke about her experience as a military spouse, and how her husband’s combat injury and her work with the Roslyn Carter Institute inspired her to go to law school; later, increased polarization in politics and a dissatisfaction with the performance of Congressman Jack Bergman (R) inspired her to run for the District 1 seat.

“Right now where we sit today, all of that, this incredible history, is at risk,” said Barr, referring to the United States’ 250-year history and pursuit of equality amongst people. “Jack Bergman bears blame for that. We have a congressman who laid down when he should have stood up … we have the greatest period of income inequality in modern American history … thank Jack Bergman.”

“There’s a new group of people of consolidated wealth and power, who have the ability to use surveillance and propaganda in a way that is unmatched,” said Barr. “And these folks believe that some people matter less.”

Barr said that she is looking to come together and form coalitions to change the fight from “left versus left, right versus right, left versus right” to “up versus down.”

“We’re fighting for an affordable life,” said Barr. “When we’re able to have a voice in our economy, that’s when we’re gonna have a voice in our democracy.”

“Everything we do, everything we do for one another, this fight for what we love, for who we love, our neighbor, this fight to matter — it matters,” said Barr. “And so that’s why we’re on this Town Hall for Change. We’re here showing up for one another. We’re here to give voice back to the Upper Peninsula and Northern Michigan. We’re here because we take care of one another; because in rural areas like this, each other is all that we have.”

After Barr’s speech, there was approximately 45 minutes of Q&A with the assembled audience. Questions ranged from Barr’s position on taking corporate money to her stance on the genocide in Gaza.

“As a candidate, how can you promise us that you will not take corporate money?” asked one audience member.

“I don’t take corporate PAC money, and I think we know that money in politics is a huge problem,” said Barr. “If you look at even filings for Jack Bergman, you’ll see a whole lot of defense corporation money. You’ll see all kinds of influence that shouldn’t be there in politics.”

“I’m curious if you have ideas, policy ideas, thoughts, on (how to adjust housing prices and build more affordable housing),” said another audience member.

“With some of our smaller builders, when it comes to building some of this housing, or being able to access grant funding, there’s so much bureaucracy and red tape, they have a hard time applying for it,” said Barr. “And then it’s our bigger builders that have an easier time, because they have grant writers on staff and so forth. And so access to capital is something that we have to make more available for some of our local developers so they can actually help us build more housing in a way that makes sense for their local community.”

Barr also suggested working with local governments on zoning, and looking at new innovations in housing such as 3D printed homes.

“I grew up surrounded by an increasingly social political climate,” said another audience member. “Things like Roe v. Wade being overturned, things like decreased support for drug addicts, and an increase in capital punishment. More overseas, the genocide in Gaza, and I know that’s divisive, but I’ve seen footage. Children killed in Middle Eastern countries, funded by our tax dollars. And I need to know that the candidate I support supports the same issues that I do.”

“Usually what we have seen, well, the hope is, is that throughout American history, we increase our rights, we don’t decrease them,” said Barr. “And what you’ve stated as it is, it’s scary. I hope in places like this, you feel a lot more support and with the vision of America that we want to see.

“Across in the Middle East, it’s a terrible situation. Netanyahu should be in jail. I’m guided by any policy — when we look at what’s happening over there — guided by the protection of innocent civilians, the self-determination of the Palestinian people, the security of Israel, making sure that we have peace in the Middle East … But what I need you to know is that I am 110% focused right now on putting the oxygen mask on here in our own backyard.

“Right now, we have people that have lost rights. We have women dying in southern states because they don’t have access to health care. We have people here that don’t have access to medical care. Seniors splitting pills. We have folks here dying. We have kids here that don’t have food to eat

“… So right now, the focus for me, 100%, is how we can take care here at home, how we can get Jack Bergman out, how we can put the brakes on, take back the country, right now, here in 2026.”

Barr also outlined her plan to save Social Security, which includes raising the cap so that people who make over $182,000 will pay into social security on a greater percentage of their income, as well as her plan for healthcare, which involves offering a public option and a private payer option.

“We’re a young country,” said Barr. “But when I’m in rooms like this, I know we’re going to get through this. We will. We’re just going to stay the course. We are not going to give up. We’re going to brush ourselves off, and do the next best thing.”

More information about Callie Barr is available at callieforcongress.com.

The primary election for Michigan’s 1st congressional district seat will be held on Aug. 4. Barr will be running against other democratic primary candidates Kyle Blomquist and Wayne Stiles.

Online voter registration is due June 20, but voters can register in-person up until and including the day of the election. Requests to receive an absentee ballot are due by July 31, and ballots must be returned by Aug. 4. Early voting will be available beginning July 6 until Aug. 2.

Annie Lippert can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is alippert@miningjournal.net.