Rep. Elissa Slotkin's (D-MI) Republican challenger filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Friday, signaling his run for Slotkin's open House seat.

Former state Sen. Tom Barrett, who ran against Slotkin during the 2022 midterm elections, is seeking the Republican nomination for the seat, which Slotkin will not be seeking next year. Barrett lost to Slotkin by five points last year.

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Barrett's entrance comes after Slotkin announced a campaign for the Senate in February. Slotkin elected to run for the open Senate seat that is held by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), who announced her retirement from Congress in December. Stabenow will finish out her term, which ends next year.

Both races are considered toss-ups, with Michigan being a swing state. However, Slotkin is the favorite to win the Senate seat, which has been held by a Democrat since 2001.

Barrett's move was expected, given the close election last year. His entrance was also predicted by one of his strategists, Jason Roe, who claimed the former state senator was looking at running in the 7th District.

"Sen. Barrett has received a lot of encouragement from around the state to seek the congressional seat in 2024 and plans to do so," Roe told the Lansing State Journal.

Barrett was endorsed by former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard in 2022, who changed her party affiliation from Democrat to Independent.

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"Tom Barrett knows what service means. He knows what sacrifice means and appreciates freedom. He will be a loud voice for the people of Michigan in this district and a voice for peace, prosperity, and freedom," Gabbard said in October.

Michigan played an important role in securing former President Donald Trump's 2016 election win but flipped to President Joe Biden in 2020. The Great Lake state is expected to play a vital role in the 2024 presidential election.