TEXAS METRO NEWS — MICHIGAN CHRONICLE —The November election will decide whether McKinney becomes the district’s next congressman. But in a heavily Democratic district, his primary victory carries historical weight before the general-election campaign even begins.
Detroit voters delivered a clear answer in one of Michigan’s most closely watched congressional primaries.
State Rep. Donavan McKinney defeated two-term U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar in the Democratic primary for Michigan’s 13th Congressional District, ending the incumbent’s four-year run and placing a Black Detroiter one election away from representing the city in Congress.
With all 346 precincts reporting, McKinney received 57,714 votes, or 52%, while Thanedar received 53,494 votes, or 48%. McKinney won by 4,220 votes out of 111,208 cast in the two-person Democratic contest.
The Associated Press called the race for McKinney Wednesday morning, confirming the defeat of an incumbent who entered Congress in 2023 after winning a crowded Democratic primary two years earlier.
“Detroit, I am honored beyond measure to be your Democratic nominee to represent the Mighty 13th in Congress. I am so proud that our community is sending me to Congress to fight for a better future — because that means our movement has shown them a fighter is what they truly deserve in Washington,” said State Rep. Donavan McKinney in a statement. “Our community united to return real leadership that represents Black, Brown and White Michiganders, union workers, working people, and veterans, clergy and socialists, senators and representatives, city councilmembers and county executives, mayors and school board presidents to show how the poorest district in the state can come together to defeat the corporate interests and multimillionaires. Today, we showed why always being with the people is more than a slogan — it’s a roadmap for the Democratic Party to move forward to defeat the fascism and divisiveness harming our country and to deliver the leadership the Mighty 13th deserves. Taking back our seat and taking back our power has always been at the core of our movement, and I’m so excited for all that our community will accomplish together.”
