Eboni Taylor is a first time candidate hoping to be elected to the state Legislature’s high chamber.
Taylor says her run for the 3rd state Senate district is powered by community support and her background helping Black women enter higher office.
She said in an interview with Michigan Chronicle this month as a legislator she would stand with her community, hold billionaires accountable and boost the investment to Detroit’s public schools.
In her day job, Taylor works for a Brooklyn-based organization called Higher Heights, which boosts Black women running for office. A mom of two whose role has kept her behind the scenes, Taylor said she’s stepping out as a candidate because of the need for a new era of Detroit leadership focused on community needs and accountability.
She said Stephanie Chang, who endorsed her campaign out of the gate, encouraged her to run for the seat.
“I want to go to Lansing as someone who’s not trying to be a career politician, but as a true voice of my community and of my people,” Taylor said. “Having worked with Stephanie, Sylvia Santana, Erica Geiss, knowing they are term limited too, we’re losing a critical voice, which is the bread and butter of my ‘why.’
Chang, a progressive Democrat, currently represents the 3rd state Senate district that covers parts of Detroit’s eastside, Hamtramck, and Highland Park.
Taylor said working moms need representation from “someone who can sit on committees and be in leadership.”
Taylor says the first bill she would introduce would address the affordability crisis.
“I know Donavan McKinney, Stephanie and Tonya Meyers Phillips are working tirelessly to hold utility companies accountable. Childcare too is a huge issue that affects people’s economic mobility.”
Taylor also pointed to failed efforts to put new regulations on payday lenders, which she said is “robbing our communities.”
The Democratic primary race for the 3rd state Senate district is shaping up to be highly competitive. Candidates include John Conyers III, Korey Hall and former state Sen. Adam Hollier.
Hollier and Taylor consider each other friends and have known each other since childhood, both have told Michigan Chronicle.
“I consider Adam a friend, he’s a family man and a good guy,” Taylor said.
However, Taylor says when she tells people Hollier is also a candidate in the race, “It’s like a shock, or maybe an eye roll.”
“It makes me feel kind of bad because Adam is a smart guy, he has a lot to offer. I think he wants to continue to be a leader in this state, I just really want it to be something that he’s called by, versus, this just feels like musical chairs.”
Taylor said that when Hollier finally called and said that he was going to run, “I said we’re both going to put our best feet forward, I have no intention of hopping out of the race.”
Before Hollier announced he would run for the 3rd Senate district, he pivoted his Congressional bid into a bid for Secretary of State. That was until Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist ended his campaign for governor to launch a campaign for Secretary of State.
Hollier last week walked back two endorsements from former state Sen. Virgil Smith and Micah Gaines of Greater Christ Baptist Church.
The names were removed from a graphic Hollier posted and deleted. The version of the endorsement graphic that currently appears on his social media shows up without Smith or Gaines’ names.
Hollier’s campaign is endorsed by former state Reps. Lamar Lemons, Harvey Santana, Brian Banks, Wayne County Register of Deeds Bernard Youngblood, Wayne County commissioner Al Wilson and a number of faith leaders.
Korey Hall, who is also running for the 3rd district Senate seat, has been quietly piling up support from labor and sitting elected officials.
Hall’s campaign is supported by Detroit Council members Scott Benson and Angela Whitfield Calloway, Rev. Horace Sheffield, Highland Park Mayor Glenda McDonald, Wayne County Commissioner Alisha Bell, state Rep. Amos O’Neal and Wayne County Executive Warren Evans.
Evans’ endorsement of Hall’s campaign is notable because Evans stood behind Hollier when he challenged U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar in the 13th Congressional District Democratic primary.
Hall’s campaign is also endorsed by Teamsters Local 214 and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights.
