State Rep. Donavan McKinney bested two-term incumbent Rep. Shri Thanedar in Tuesday’s Democratic primary to represent Michigan’s 13th Congressional District.
Why it matters: The lifelong Detroiter’s win likely returns Detroit to Black representation in Congress, which ended with Thanedar’s 2022 victory.
- It also brings another victory for a progressive-backed candidate.
- McKinney won by a slim 51.9% to 48.1%, with the race called late Wednesday morning by AP.
State of play: Thanedar had the advantage on funding and name recognition. However, mainstream House Democrats didn’t seem as concerned about him losing to a progressive challenger as in other races, Axios’ Andrew Solender reports.
Yes, but: McKinney still needs to win in November to head to Congress, but defeat is unlikely in the heavily blue district.
- The district includes most of Detroit and extends westward past Taylor.
Between the lines: Both candidates campaigned against Trump, criticized ICE and supported expanding access to health care.
- Thanedar, a wealthy businessman who largely self-funds his campaigns, was backed by AIPAC, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and both the Congressional Progressive Caucus and center-left New Democrat Coalition.
- But McKinney won the endorsement of local institutions like the Michigan Chronicle and labor groups, as well as national-level progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Rashida Tlaib and former Rep. Brenda Lawrence.
The bottom line: The race was more nuanced than representing the ideological divisions in the Democratic Party.
- Factors at play included McKinney’s deep connections to Detroit, state legislative record, questions about Thanedar’s effectiveness and the prospect of restoring Detroit’s Black representation in Congress.
