Donavan McKinney overtakes incumbent Thanedar

State Rep. Donavan McKinney has defeated two-term incumbent Shri Thanedar in Tuesday's Democratic primary for Michigan's thirteenth Congressional District. The margin was narrow—McKinney won with fifty-one point nine percent to Thanedar's forty-eight point one percent. But the victory carries real symbolic weight: McKinney's win likely restores Detroit to Black representation in Congress, which ended when Thanedar won in twenty twenty-two. Axios reports that although Thanedar had advantages in funding and name recognition, McKinney secured endorsements from the Michigan Chronicle, labor groups, and national progressives including Bernie Sanders and Rashida Tlaib. McKinney still faces a November general election, but the heavily Democratic district—which includes most of Detroit and extends westward past Taylor—makes his path to Congress likely.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton