The factors causing internal divisions within the Democratic Party can be found in the Detroit City Council race between State Rep. Tyrone Carter, D-Detroit and incumbent council member Gabriela Santiago-Romero of District 6.
Carter is a former law enforcement official who brings more than thirty years of legislative experience to the race. Santiago-Romero is an organizer and Democratic Socialist who represents Southwest Detroit as the lone Hispanic member of Detroit City Council.
District 6 makes covers the entirety of Southwest Detroit. The Latino population accounts for the majority of Southwest’s population at 57.2%, rising from 48.2% in 2000. African Americans represent 23.6% of the population, followed by whites at 16.9%.
Carter’s base is made up of longtime Black residents who are older and more politically moderate, while Santiago-Romero’s campaign, boosted by local grassroots and labor groups, is expected to earn a majority of the area’s Hispanic voters.
Santiago-Romero, the youngest member of city council, assumed office in Jan. 2022. Her current term ends Jan. 1, 2026. Carter, who represents the area in the state House, ran for the seat in 2017 and lost to incumbent Raquel Castaneda-Lopez by 400 votes.
It’s unclear the campaign finances of either candidate heading into the general election. Neither reported who is donating to their council campaigns before the July 20 filing deadline. Neither had to file since it was a pre-primary report without a primary. The winner of the general election is required by law to to file before taking office or any other office. Santiago-Romero’s latest campaign filing report shows $13,381. Carter’s most recent report for his active state campaign committee shows $37,733.
While the candidates mostly agree on tackling environmental racism and opposing ICE, their conflicting views on taking money from corporate PACs reflects the growing divide between some Democrats, who feel corporations control politics.
Throughout his career, Carter has accepted money from the Moroun family, DTE and Consumers Energy, Comerica Bank and Marathon Petroleum. Santiago-Romero has refused money from corporate PACS, and has made it a sticking point of her campaign.
Carter said it’s insulting when voters insinuate politicians who take corporate money owe them something in return.
“Who you accept money from means you’re bought and paid for — it’s an insult to almost anybody running,” Carter said at a candidate forum in June. “The biggest contributor to any campaign that I’ve ever had was me… How do you represent the poorest district, you’re not rich. Where do you get the money from? I love this stuff about, ‘I’m not taking corporate money.’ I’m in Lansing, yes, I’ve taken money from DTE, but I call DTE every week and say, ‘What’s the update?’” It’s not about someone taking money and a quid-pro-quo. At the end of the day, I don’t need this job to pay my bills. My job is to make sure the people I represent get what they need.”
Santiago-Romero says her refusal to take corporate PAC money doesn’t mean she doesn’t have an open dialogue and working relationship with leaders of those corporations.
“I won’t be taking corporate PAC money because I believe you should be accountable to the people,” Santiago-Romero said. “People do have money, there are rich people with money in District 6 — we cover Corktown, downtown, Midtown, Woodbridge, with very wealthy people who are able to donate. I also get donations from across the state and across the country because my vision and passion to serve goes beyond this city. I have already been offered PAC money that I will not take and will not accept, because I can continue working with Rocket Mortgage without taking their money. I already work with DTE, meet with them consistently without taking their money.”
She said she agrees with Carter that fundraising is incredibly difficult, but said it takes hard work.
The incumbent candidate had to do extra work earlier this year to ensure her name appeared on the ballot after being disqualified by Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett.
An unpaid late fee over a contested campaign finance filing disqualified Santiago-Romero from the ballot. But her name will appear on the ballot as the result of a court order mutually agreed upon by the campaign and the City Clerk’s office.
Santiago-Romero described the two weeks in limbo as a “candidate’s worst nightmare.”
The Wayne County Clerk’s office ultimately waived Santiago-Romero’s $250 late filing fee for “good cause” after she retained Democratic attorney Mark Brewer. Santiago-Romero and her campaign argued its campaign committee never should have been assessed the fee in the first place.
Carter was elected to the Michigan State House in 2018. Since, he’s sponsored and co-sponsored bills to fund sickle cell research, repeal pension taxes, lower the cost of prisoner phone calls and allow driver’s licenses for noncitizens.
Carter, whose state House District covers a portion of Detroit, Ecorse and River Rouge, told Michigan Chronicle his work is best served on city council.
Santiago-Romero’s campaign has received support from state office holders like Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, fellow DSA member Denzel McCampbell, whose worked as an aide to U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who also has a relationship with Santiago-Romero.
There was no primary election in the District 6 race as candidate Anita Martin was disqualified from the ballot, leaving just Carter and Santiago-Romero as candidates. Since there were only two candidates in the primary, both automatically advanced.
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