Adam Hollier in October, 2022. Photo: Samuel Robinson
Former State Sen. Adam Hollier, D-Detroit, is getting ready to drop out of the race for U.S. House in Michigan’s 13th District and is instead considering a run for Secretary of State, sources with direct knowledge of Hollier’s plans tell Michigan Chronicle.
“Over the last month, leaders from around Michigan have reached out to ask that I consider running for Secretary of State. Like me, they are deeply concerned about the attacks on our Democracy, and want a fighter who will stand up to Donald Trump’s attempts to rig our elections,” Hollier said in a statement through a spokesperson. “As a U.S. Army Paratrooper, I’ve always gone where the need is the greatest. I haven’t yet made a final decision, but will have more to say in the coming weeks.”
Several people who have spoken to Hollier about his plans tell Michigan Chronicle he told them he will endorse state Rep. Donavan McKinney, D-Detroit.
However, his a spokesperson for the former state senator said if he does decide to run for Secretary of State, he has made no decision or commitments to endorse in the congressional race.
Hollier, who out raised McKinney by a slim margin during the latest campaign finance reporting period, declined to comment about his plans on the record.
Hollier reported raising nearly $300,000 in his first 11 weeks in the race for Detroit’s House seat, outpacing all other candidates, including self-funded incumbent Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Detroit, during the reporting period. Hollier raised $277,300 with $358,300 in his campaign war chest, records show.
McKinney, a progressive who announced he would challenge Thanedar in April, two weeks after Hollier, reported a total just behind Hollier, bringing in $272,141, spending $55,462. FEC data shows McKinney reported a total of $216,678.
Thanedar reported $7.8 million on hand, but didn’t report how much he raised in the reporting period.
The path was cleared for Hollier to challenge Thanedar in 2024 after local Democrats couldn’t consolidate support around one Black primary candidate in 2022. Hollier’s challenge to then first-term U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Detroit earned the support of 40 Democratic officials and leaders who signed on to a letter urging Detroit voters to unite behind him for Congress.
But then, fraudulent signatures on his petition sheets disqualified him from appearing on the ballot.
Fraudulent petition signatures have been an issue that has shaped races in Michigan since the pandemic, as former police chief James Craig and other Republican gubernatorial candidates lost ballot access after hiring fraudulent petition signature collectors.
Thanedar, 69, defeated Detroit City Council member Mary Waters in the Democratic primary during his reelection campaign, taking 55% of the vote to Waters’ 34%. He defeated Republican Martell Bivings in the general election.
Thanedar’s reelection effort was endorsed by U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York.
Thanedar is Michigan’s first Indian-American member of Congress. He broke the 70-year streak of consecutive Black lawmakers who represented Detroit.
Thanedar ended the last period with $6.1 million cash on hand, with a net loss of $730K because his campaign funds are invested in cryptocurrency. He reported $1.7 million in investment income, with just $32,000 of that coming from non crypto sources. Campaign records show more than $11 million in debts owed by his campaign. Which means he loaned personal money to his campaign.
Should Hollier run for Secretary of State to replace outgoing SOS Jocelyn Benson, who is running for governor, he needs to be selected by Democrats during the state party’s nominating convention next year. Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie announced earlier this year he would be running for SOS.
Ingham County Clerk Barb Bynum is also running for the office.
