Retired Navy SEAL, Obama aide mulling run for Congress in key Michigan swing district

RetiredNavySEAL,ObamaaidemullingrunforCongressinkeyMichiganswingdistrictWashington―AretiredNavySEALandformermilitaryaidetoPresidentBarackObamaistakingstepstorunforCongressasaDemocratinthetoss-upmid-MichigandistrictheldbyfreshmanRepublicanRep.TomBarrett. MattMaasdam,50,ofAnnArborgraduatedfromtheUniversityofMichigan,deployedtoIraq,Afghanistan,AfricaandthePacificasaSEALandlaterservedasObama’smilitaryaideattheWhiteHouse,responsibleforcarryingthe“nuclearfootball”forthepresidentin2010,accordingtohisbio. MaasdamisnowhavingconversationswithstakeholdersincludingelectedofficialsandvotersinMichigan’s7thDistrict,whichisamongthemostcompetitiveswingdistrictsnationally,asheconsidersarun,accordingtoaDemocraticsourcefamiliarwithhisefforts. He’salsometwithnationalDemocraticstrategistsinWashington,D.C.,includingtheDemocraticCongressionalCampaignCommitteeandHouseMajorityPAC,anindependentgroupalignedw