Democrats are actively trying to oust an incumbent lawmaker in a rare and coordinated effort to restore a Black representative to one of Detroit’s congressional seats.
When Rep. Shri Thanedar took office, it marked the first time in nearly 70 years that the city had no Black representation in Congress. While Thanedar made history in his own right as the first Indian American to represent Michigan in Washington, many Democrats are now putting their weight behind his challenger, Adam Hollier, to represent the majority Black city of Detroit.
It’s rare for a primary challenger to a lawmaker in a very safe seat to earn so much support from members of the same party. Hollier, who was one of several Black candidates to lose to Thanedar in a crowded 2022 primary, has endorsements from high-profile Democrats in Michigan, including the sitting secretary of state, the Michigan House Speaker and members of the state legislature. Hollier, a former state senator who continues to work in Michigan government, also has the backing of a senior Black member of Congress and says he has the ear of other members of the Michigan delegation and the Congressional Black Caucus.