LANSING — Progressive Democrat Donavan McKinney has beaten incumbent US Rep. Shri Thanedar of Detroit in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District, according to the Associated Press.
Unofficial results from Wayne County show McKinney beat Thanedar by 4,200 votes out of 112,000 cast, a roughly 4 percentage point margin.
The state lawmaker from Detroit was backed by Bernie Sanders and ran on a platform of greater environmental protections through a Green New Deal, getting corporate spending out of politics and ending military aid and arms to Israel, among other things.
The race was another notable win for progressive Democrats in the Michigan primary. Community organizer Will Lawrence defeated two establishment-backed candidates in mid-Michigan’s 7th Congressional District, and progressives won a handful of local and state House races.
Related:
- Live election results for Michigan’s biggest races
- Full coverage of Republican gubernatorial primary
- Full coverage of Democratic US Senate primary
Thanedar is a wealthy businessman who first won election in 2022, which marked the first time since 1995 that Detroit did not have a Black representative in Congress.
He’s never had a bill become law but has backed efforts to improve access to child care, establish a right to in vitro fertilization procedures and expand Social Security.
The district is heavily Democratic, meaning McKinney is the heavy favorite in the general election against Republican nominee T.P. Nykoriak.
“Our community united to return real leadership that represents Black, Brown and White Michiganders, union workers, working people, and veterans, clergy and socialists, senators and representatives, city councilmembers and county executives, mayors and school board presidents,” McKinney said in a statement.
The primary win shows “how the poorest district in the state can come together to defeat the corporate interests and multimillionaires,” he added.
Progressive win in MI-07
Lawrence won the Lansing-area 7th Congressional district by double digits Tuesday, setting up a showdown with incumbent Republican US Rep. Tom Barrett in November.
The area includes all of Clinton, Shiawassee, Ingham and Livingston counties, as well as portions of Eaton, Genesee and Oakland counties.
The Associated Press called the race for Lawrence shortly after 11:20 p.m. He had maintained a steady lead in early vote counts over Democratic rivals Bridget Brink and Matt Maasdam, each of whom had been backed by establishment Democrats but split that vote.
“Tonight the people of Michigan’s 7th District sent a clear message: they are tired of Silicon Valley billionaires and DC insiders determining the future of our towns and our country,” Lawrence said in a victory statement.
“They want an unbought representative who isn’t afraid to stand up to leaders of both parties and fight for working people.”
With most votes counted by Wednesday morning, Lawrence led with 43% of the vote, followed by Brink at 29% and Maasdam at 28%.
Brink congratulated Lawrence in a statement, complimenting him for a “strong, inspiring grassroots campaign.”
“Now we come together as one to take on Tom Barrett and work to elect a leader who will listen and fight for what matters most to our community here in mid-Michigan,” she said.
More results: Incumbent wins, a surprise loss
Elsewhere in Michigan, incumbent lawmakers coasted to reelection. Many ran unopposed, allowing the races to be called early.
In the 8th Congressional District, Trump-endorsed Navy veteran Amir Hassan lost the Republican primary to political newcomer Thomas Smith.
Only problem? Smith had dropped out of the race mid-July. His surprise win complicates GOP efforts to oust first-term Democratic US Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet of Bay City.
Other notable congressional results:
- State Sen. Jeremy Moss, D-Bloomfield Township, who won the 11th District Democratic primary in suburban Detroit with nearly 50% of the vote. He was far ahead of Aisha Farooqi, John Paul Torres and Don Ufford. The seat was vacated by Haley Stevens, who is running for US Senate.
- In the nearby 10th District, Michael Bouchard secured roughly 72% of the vote to win the Republican primary. The seat is currently held by US Rep. John James, who chose to run for governor rather than seek reelection. Former prosecutor Christina Hines won the Democratic primary and will face Bouchard in November.
- State Sen. Sean McCann, D-Kalamazoo, topped Democrat Diop Harris II in the 4th District in west Michigan. McCann now faces US Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, who easily advanced.