A state Senate race featuring two young candidates will reveal the attitudes of Detroit and Downriver Democratic voters next August.
The newly created 1st State Senate district is up for grabs in November, 2026. Two Democrats vying for the seat are Justin Onwenu and Abraham Aiyash.
Onwenu, who became the city’s first entrepreneurship director under Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, received a notable endorsement Wednesday from Wayne County Executive Warren Evans.
“Justin knows how to bring people together and deliver on the important issues,” Evans said in a statement to Michigan Chronicle. “I’m confident Justin will be an energetic and effective State Senator for Detroit and Downriver for years to come.”
Onwenu has received support from over 30 lawmakers, city council members and community leaders across Detroit, River Rouge, Ecorse, Lincoln Park and Wyandotte.
Michigan’s newly redistricted 1st State Senate District covers parts of Detroit, Ecorse, Lincoln Park, River Rouge, and Wyandotte in Wayne County. Parts of the new district are currently represented by state Sen. Erika Geiss, D-Taylor.
“I’m honored to have Executive Evans’ support,” Onwenu said. “His leadership has shaped Wayne County for a generation, and I’m committed to carrying this important work forward. Detroit and Downriver deserve leadership that listens, solves problems, and fights every day for good jobs, good government, and strong neighborhoods.”
Included in his list of endorsements is the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus, chaired by Keith Williams; the 13th Congressional District Democratic Party, chaired by Jonathan Kinloch; Reps. Joe Tate, D-Detroit, Helena Scott, D-Detroit, Tyrone Carter, D-Detroit, Amos O’Neal, D-Saginaw and former state Sens. Marshall Bullock and Virgil Smith Jr.
Lincoln Park Mayor Maureen Tobin said in a statement she’s supporting Onwenu because, “he works hard, keeps his word, and knows how to build coalitions that deliver.”
Bullock, who was defeated by state Sen. Mallory McMorrow in 2022 after redistricting, along with former state Sen. Adam Hollier, were the last Black male state Senators in Michigan. Onwenu made that point part of his campaign pitch when he announced his candidacy in September.
He’s also endorsed by Sixteen42 Ventures CEO Dennis Archer Jr., New Destiny Fellowship pastor Rev. Horace Sheffield and former Congressman Andy Levin.
Onwenu has advocated for greater environmental protections as an organizer fighting water shutoffs. His job under Duggan has aimed to improve access to capital for Detroit startups and small businesses through the Detroit Startup Fund, Detroit Legacy Business Project, and Detroit Capital Hub. He’s also taught labor law at Detroit Mercy School of Law.
Onwenu and Aiyash are expected to face off in the August primary.
The former Hamtramck representative was recently the highest ranking Arab American official in the state. He filed his campaign committee for state Senate on Oct. 29, campaign finance records show.
While Aiyash has not publicly announced his candidacy, in an interview with Michigan Chronicle Tuesday he pointed to Detroit City Council, where two Democratic Socialists were elected last month (Gabriela Santiago-Romero and Denzel McCampbell), as examples of what Democratic voters are looking for.
“2025 saw an exciting year for what Democrats can do if we genuinely present voters with plans and principles over platitudes and posturing,” Aiyash told Michigan Chronicle. “Over the last year I’ve spent time helping elect democrats hellbent on making life more affordable, rooting out the political playbook that led to Democrats failing miserably in 2024. I am looking forward to bringing my principled leadership and experience back to Lansing.”
Aiyash was viewed as one of the most progressive members of the state Legislature when he was the Majority Floor Leader under then-House Speaker Tate.
Like McCampbell and Santiago-Romero, Aiyash has vowed against accepting corporate PAC money for his campaign.
He was a vocal member of the Uncommitted campaign that led to 13.3% of the total Democratic votes cast in the February presidential primary election going to “Uncommitted.”
That movement received national attention for pitting voters sympathetic to Palestinians in Gaza against Biden in the symbolic Democratic primary. Ultimately, the group asked followers to vote against President Donald Trump after Biden dropped out ahead of the November election, which broke from other Arab organizations upset with Democrats. Aiyash said he voted for Vice President Kamala Harris, but has taken criticism for not endorsing the vice president’s campaign.
In October, a video of Aiyash challenging U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar on his support for funding the war in Gaza, received over 100,000 views on social media.
Aiyash has also received attention for supporting New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. He traveled to NYC on Election Day to celebrate Mamdani’s victory after rallying with Detroit Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield at Northwest Activities Center.
