Twelve hours after the Aug. 2 Primary Election Night 2022 ended, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib won in the 12th Congressional District over second-place finisher Janice Winfrey. In the 13th, State Rep. Shri Thanedar topped a field of eight other candidates with about 35% of precinct votes counted. State lawmaker Adam Hollier and Focus: Hope CEO are second and third, respectively.
Of the nine candidates in the 13th, eight were African Americans:
- John Conyers III (son of the late and longest-serving Black Congressman in American History)
- Sherry Gay-Dagnogo (former state representative and current Detroit School Board member)
- Michael Griffie (a civil rights attorney)
- Adam Hollier (current Michigan senator)
- Sharon McPhail (former city council member)
- Sam Riddle (community advocate and radio host)
- Portia Roberson (CEO of Focus: Hope and former Obama Administration appointee)
- Lorrie Rutledge (entrepreneur)
Shri Thanedar (current state representative) is Indian American.
The Michigan Chronicle endorsed Hollier in April, standing 100% with the Warren Evans-led Legacy Committee for Unified Leadership’s selection of Hollier as the “Black Consensus Candidate” in an attempt to prevent the splitting of Black votes in the 13th. Yet, even with Hollier’s selection, seven other Black candidates chose to stay in the race, making it one of the most intriguing and financially costly local Congressional contests ever.
The race in the newly drawn 12th Congressional District also offered intriguing scenarios. In the district, which includes a part of Detroit, along with Southfield, Dearborn, Livonia, and other western Wayne County cities, Tlaib won in a landslide.
Current Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey, who the Chronicle endorsed in the 12th, made a compelling case of why she is the best candidate, citing her willingness and abilities to work with Congress and President Biden for the people she will serve. While Winfrey did not raise as much money as Tlaib, nearly half of what she did raise came from two pro-Israel political action committees.
Tlaib has been called a progressive warrior who works tirelessly to make changes for the people, especially in environmental and economic justice and social and racial equity for the underserved. Two other Democratic candidates who ran in the 12th are former state representative Shanelle Jackson and current Lathrup Village Mayor Kelly Garrett. Both African American women have unique skillsets and experiences but will finish a distant third and fourth in the race.
Yet, the people have spoken, and the Michigan Chronicle congratulates both Tlaib and Thanedar as they advance to the November General and beyond to do the necessary work on behalf of the people they represent. However, it must not be lost on anyone that the victories by Tlaib and Thanedar mean that Detroit – the nation’s largest Black major city – will be without Black representation in Congress for the first time since the mid-1950s
When all votes for the Democratic candidates are officially counted in both districts, the Chronicle will post the complete results on our online platform at www.michiganchronicle.com.