Michigan state Rep. Donavan McKinney has emerged from the 2026 election as the candidate poised to represent Michigan’s 13th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, as reported by the Associated Press at the time Michigan Chronicle went to print Tuesday night.
McKinney’s victory follows a campaign centered on economic fairness, workers’ rights, public education, health care access and restoring Detroit’s historic Black representation in Congress.
“Thank you to the people of Detroit, the Pointes, and Downriver for inviting me into your homes and sharing your deepest struggles and problems with me,” McKinney said.
“I’ve dedicated my life to public service, and I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to represent our incredible community in Washington DC. My constituents voted for Democratic Socialism this election because they feel the devastation of corporate greed in their lives – poisonous air, unaffordable housing, job loss, lengthy power outages, Medicaid cuts, and more. Today, they officially elected a team of fighters who will never back down to corporate interests, won’t rest until this administration is held accountable and our people have the freedom to survive and thrive.”
The Detroit native’s path to Washington gained momentum in August when he defeated incumbent U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar in the Democratic primary, overcoming a well-funded incumbent and establishing himself as the party’s nominee in the heavily Democratic district.
The November general election placed McKinney against Republican Taras Nykoriak, along with candidates representing smaller political parties.
The 13th Congressional District includes Detroit and several surrounding Wayne County communities, including Hamtramck, Highland Park, Ecorse, River Rouge, Romulus, Taylor, Southgate and the Downriver area.
McKinney’s election carries significance beyond the change in officeholder. Detroit has a long history of Black congressional representation, including the tenures of former U.S. Reps. Charles Diggs Jr. and John Conyers. That tradition was interrupted when Thanedar, who is not Black, won the seat in 2022.
McKinney’s election is an opportunity to restore that representation while bringing a younger generation of political leadership to the nation’s capital.
Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel released the following statement:
“As a labor organizer and state representative, Donavan has the values and experience we need to fight and deliver for Detroiters in the halls of Congress. His leadership will be key to making the wealthy pay their fair share, expanding access to healthcare and housing, and making sure every Michigander has a fair shot, no matter their zip code.”
A lifelong Detroiter and graduate of Detroit Public Schools, McKinney earned a degree in public policy from the University of Michigan. Before entering elected office, he worked in the Michigan Legislature and as an organizer with the Service Employees International Union.
He was first elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2022, representing the 11th District. His legislative experience and connections to labor and community organizing became central elements of his congressional campaign.
McKinney received support from prominent progressive figures, including U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib and U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar. Former U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence also supported his candidacy.
His campaign platform emphasized policies intended to address economic inequality and the rising cost of living. Among his priorities were stronger protections for workers, increased investment in public education, expanded health care access, clean-energy development and greater accountability for corporations.
McKinney also advocated reducing the influence of corporate money in elections and advancing policies that place working-class communities at the center of federal decision-making.
His transition to Congress will bring new attention to issues affecting Detroit residents, including housing affordability, neighborhood investment, transportation, infrastructure, employment opportunities and access to quality health care.
The district also encompasses communities outside Detroit with distinct economic and infrastructure concerns, presenting McKinney with the responsibility of balancing the needs of urban neighborhoods and surrounding municipalities.
Replacing Thanedar also marks a shift in the district’s political representation after two terms under the incumbent, who first won the seat in 2022.
For Detroit, McKinney’s election represents another chapter in the city’s longstanding relationship with congressional leadership and the broader fight for political representation.
McKinney is expected to take office in January 2027, joining Michigan’s congressional delegation as lawmakers prepare for the next session of Congress.
His challenge will be translating the priorities that helped propel his campaign into legislative results for the residents of Michigan’s 13th Congressional District.