Bridget Brink proudly served our country for 28 years, including on President Obama’s National Security Council and as the first woman to serve as U.S. Ambassador in a war zone. She led the on-the-ground American effort to stop Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the biggest threat to peace and security in Europe since World War II. For three years, Bridget led a team of 1000 civilians working under thousands of missile and drone attacks from Russia, protected $100 billion in U.S. assistance from waste, fraud, and abuse, and helped Ukraine remain a free country.

Matt Maasdam – along with his super PACs and dark money allies – is out with another desperate smear campaign against Bridget’s lifetime of service to our country. It is shameful. Mid-Michigan voters know there is only one person in this race who has given up her career to stand up to Donald Trump and hold him accountable – and that’s Bridget Brink.

From Democrat and former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink:

“For 28 years, I proudly served the American people as a member of the U.S. Foreign Service under five presidents from both parties, including as the first woman to serve as U.S. Ambassador in a war zone. Personally, I’ve always been a Democrat, but as a public servant, my duty was to serve the American people and the office of the duly-elected President — whether I voted for them or not. That is what public service is.   However, when a public servant can no longer in good conscience carry out the orders of the President, our only choice is to resign.  Which is exactly what I did: I could not in good conscience carry out Trump’s policies of appeasing Putin, I resigned from a nearly 30 year public service career  to speak out and come home to Michigan and hold Trump accountable.”

“Matt Maasdam – along with his super PACs and dark money allies –  is politicizing public service to score political points. This is what Donald Trump and Republicans are doing throughout our government -— in the Departments of Defense and State, the Department of Justice, and Health and Human Services — and it is totally wrong. The truth is, I am the only candidate in this race who has taken on Donald Trump. I won’t let cheap and misguided political shots distract us. The stakes are just too high.”

20 National Security Leaders, Michigan Elected Officials, and More Condemn Maasdam’s Shameful Smear Campaign and Highlight Bridget’s Service to Our Country:

Democratic Congressman Adam Smith, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee: "Over her 28-year career, Bridget Brink took on some of the toughest assignments in the most challenging environments to fight for democracy. She is the first woman to serve as U.S. Ambassador in a war zone, has faced multiple attacks from Trump's allies, and gave up everything to stand up to Trump. The smear campaign against her record of service is disgraceful. Bridget's experience, courage, and integrity are exactly what we need in Congress."

Wendy Sherman, former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs under President Barack Obama & Deputy Secretary of State under President Joe Biden: “The political opponents desperately attempting to smear Ambassador Brink’s lifetime of service to our country to score political points are just plain wrong. They don’t know what it’s like to work under constant attacks from Vladimir Putin and fight daily battles with Donald Trump and his allies. With the damage Donald Trump is inflicting at home and abroad, so much is at stake in this year’s mid-term elections. Bridget Brink’s toughness, integrity, and experience is exactly what we need in Congress right now.” 

Brian McKeon, former Deputy Secretary of State under President Joe Biden & Undersecretary of Defense & National Security Council Chief of Staff under President Barack Obama: "Matt Maasdam knows better. As a public servant, Bridget Brink was duty-bound to support the policies decided by the President, whether a Democrat or Republican, which she did faithfully for 28 years in the Foreign Service.  She was also duty-bound to resign when she could no longer support those policies, as she did in protest of Donald Trump's appeasement of Russia and Vladimir Putin. Maasdam's attack on Bridget's honorable service is a cheap shot."

Phil Gordon, former National Security Advisor to Vice President Kamala Harris: “I worked closely with Bridget Brink in the Clinton, Obama, and Biden Administrations. The smear campaign against her is shameful and what's wrong with politics. As our Ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget led with integrity and courage in a war zone. She is what we need in Congress.”

Ambassador Jim O’Brien, former Assistant Secretary of State under President Joe Biden & Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs under President Barack Obama: “Bridget served the American people and every president since she took an oath to defend the Constitution — an oath taken by every career diplomat and military officer. I am proud of her and want to thank everyone who has served America. I expect everyone who has worked to protect America to criticize these attacks. When she saw a President support a dictator and betray people fighting for all our freedom she resigned. That’s the honorable course. Attacks on public service are not.”

Thomas Melia, former Assistant Administrator of USAID & Deputy Assistant Secretary of State under President Barack Obama: “Having worked closely with Bridget in multiple capacities, I know her to be a courageous and effective public servant devoted to the American people. When it became clear, just weeks into Trump’s second term, that he was even more devoted to Putin than in his first term, Bridget did the honorable thing by resigning in protest and choosing a different kind of public service. Michigan needs her intellect, independence, and integrity in Congress.”

Ambassador Eric Rubin, former U.S. Ambassador under President Barack Obama & President of the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) union: “I have known Bridget Brink for over 30 years. We worked together for decades as career Foreign Service officers, advancing our country’s interests and priorities. As with military officers, intelligence officers, and law enforcement officers, Foreign Service officers are career professionals who work loyally and with the utmost dedication for our government and fellow Americans regardless of the Administration in office  As with all career Federal officers, they must not pursue their own agendas or political preferences, and must carry out the policies of the Administration in office.  That is what Bridget did for nearly three decades, in Washington and across the globe.”

Ambassador Daniel Fried, former Head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination under President Barack Obama: “Ambassador Bridget Brink served her country and the President at the time. That's what foreign service and military officers do. And Ambassador Brink did so under the dangerous conditions of wartime Kyiv. Unflinchingly. Professionally. Capably.”

Ambassador Laura Kennedy, former U.S. Ambassador under President Barack Obama: "I served as an Ambassador for a Dem and GOP President. Mr. Maasdam should know as a former career official, that we take our oath to the Constitution. Yes, we publicly support the administration’s policies unless it crosses a personal one over which we feel we must resign  - as did Brink. Shameful to attack this hero who led her team under fire for three years."

Ambassador Tod Sedgwick, former U.S. Ambassador under President Barack Obama: "Amb. Bridget Brink succeeded me as ambassador in the Slovak Republic, where she did a terrific job. Among her many achievements was to work with Slovakia to acquire F-15s to replace Russian warplanes. She went out of her way to meet ordinary citizens, a trait that will serve her well in Congress. She then went on to a highly successful stint as U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, where she did everything she could to support Ukraine in its noble fight. Some scurrilous political attacks have argued that she was too close to President Trump when in fact she quit in protest of Trump’s lack of support for Ukraine. This is reminiscent of the Swift Boat attacks on Sen. Kerry, a brave war hero who was falsely made out to be a coward - a total distortion. It’s long overdue to have a foreign service officer serve in Congress, where surprisingly there are currently none."

Ambassador Jeff Hovenier, former U.S. Ambassador under President Joe Biden: "Throughout her Foreign Service career, Bridget Brink served with integrity and commitment, taking on difficult assignments, frequently at great sacrifice, to advance American interests.  Career diplomats serve presidents of both parties; that is the nature of our system. But serving an administration is not the same as surrendering your independent judgment. Throughout her career, Bridget spoke truth to power, providing honest assessments even when they were unwelcome, and she consistently put American interests first. Her opponent's attempt to misrepresent that record isn't just misleading — it's a disservice to all Americans who serve their country, including Bridget’s courageous service as Ambassador to Ukraine. We need a leader of Bridget Brink's caliber and principles in Congress."

Foreign Policy for America: “Bridget is exactly the kind of leader we need today to fight for Michigan communities and to check President Trump’s reckless, costly policies. We are appalled by recent attacks on her tenure as a nonpartisan career diplomat by her political opponent. He should know better.” 

Veterans for Responsible Leadership: “Trying to attack the character of Bridget Brink is weak and desperate. Anyone who knows her knows that her entire life has been an example of selfless service to Michigan and this nation. She is brave and honorable and will make an incredible Congresswoman for MI-07.” 

Michigan State Rep. Noah Arbit: “This is such a bogus attack. This is what it means to be a diplomat. I don’t think Ukraine could have a bigger ally in Congress than Bridget Brink, and I don’t think MI-07 could have a stronger advocate to lower costs and protect families from the chaos in the White House.”

Former MI-07 Democratic Candidate Josh Cowen: “It’s wrong to attack my friend Briget Brink for her record of service, which brings much-needed bipartisan experience in dangerous postings across the globe. Our district has voted for a Republican 20 out of the past 26 years, with the only exception being the 3 terms served by Elissa Slotkin—another foreign affairs professional who served under both Republican and Democratic presidents. It takes that kind of record to win this incredibly important seat. And that’s what Bridget has.” 

East Lansing City Council Member Kerry Ebersole Singh: “One thing I appreciate about Bridget Brink: she does her homework. Congress needs people who know the facts and lead with integrity. Campaigns reflect character, and the contrast in this race is getting clearer.”

Delta Township Trustee Beth Bowen: “Bridget gave up a storied diplomatic career built over two decades through hard work and grown trust with partners all over Eastern Europe because she refused to compromise that trust. This kind of leadership is rare and desperately needed in this moment. Bridget is a bold leader with the record to back it up. Cheap shots from fellow Democrats to smear her record of service—something she would never engage in to score political points—is shameful and beneath us. Mid-Michigan needs a fighter who will stand up to Trump and stand up for us.”

Ingham County Commissioner Mark Polsdofer: “Bridget served the American people for 28 years as a nonpartisan official. From Obama’s White House to leading our mission in wartime Ukraine. This attempt to discount her service to launch a political attack is wrong. I’m proud to support Bridget because she is Michigan through and through: standing up for what’s right no matter what.”

Lansing City Council President Peter Spadafore: “Michigan voters aren’t easily fooled by political games. Bridget Brink has spent her career serving our country with integrity. When Donald Trump demanded loyalty, Bridget Brink stood up to him and chose principle instead. Even when that decision came with consequences for her career, she refused to back down. That’s the kind of courage voters respect, and no attack ad can change that.”

Lansing City Councilwoman Clara Martinez: “Bridget is running a campaign laser-focused on delivering for our community: lowering costs, fixing our health care system, and holding Trump accountable. We don’t need more DC political attacks, we need results. I’m standing with Bridget because she is the candidate that has stood up to Donald Trump. And I know she’ll do what it takes to fight for our district in Congress.”

THE TRUTH ABOUT BRIDGET BRINK’S SERVICE: 

Josh Rogin, Washington Post “Ambassador Brink fought hard for U.S support for Ukraine and served her country well. She was ambassador when Trump was President and was trying to navigate an impossible set of circumstances. Suggesting she was pro-Trump is disingenuous and just plain wrong.” 

Deadline Detroit: “Bridget Brink, a career foreign service officer who served as the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine under the Biden and Trump administrations, resigned last year in protest of President Donald Trump's policies. She was “horrified,” according to the New York Times, when Trump berated Ukraine’s president on camera in the Oval Office. And she found it was a bridge too far when she came under pressure to stop calling Russia the “aggressor” for invading Ukraine.  She resigned in April 2025. Now, she may come back to haunt Trump.” 

Semafor: “The best-known Democrat in the race is Bridget Brink, a diplomat who served as Biden’s ambassador to Ukraine from the first months of Russia’s 2022 invasion and quit when she saw the Trump administration walking away from Kyiv. That’s not what her campaign is about now; like others in the party, she’s building a message around “affordability,” which includes avoiding wars like Iran.”

The Detroit News: Bridget Brink was "the first American female ambassador to serve in a war zone."

NY Times: “After serving five presidents of both parties for 28 years, she had finally been confronted with a policy she could not defend. Now she is speaking out and taking her opposition to the president to a different level by deciding to run for Congress….Brink said she has come home to help defend an older democracy she believes is at risk.”

Cook Political Report: “Brink is the quintessential Trump resister… Maasdam, meanwhile, says nothing directly about the current administration” 

MS NOW: “Brink brought vital and valuable experience having served multiple important senior roles in the diplomatic corp during her more than 25 year career mainly in the shadow of the former Soviet Union. Including at Embassies in Serbia, Cyprus, Georgia, and Uzbekistan, and at the time of her confirmation, Brink was serving as Ambassador to Slovakia.” 

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