Democratic Socialist Donavan McKinney Upsets Incumbent Shri Thanedar in Michigan Primary
State legislator Donavan McKinney defeated two-term Congressman Shri Thanedar in the Democratic primary for Michigan’s 13th District, running on a platform that rejects corporate PAC money and backs Medicare for All and an end to U.S. aid to Israel.
Donavan McKinney, a democratic socialist serving in the Michigan state legislature, secured a victory over two-term Congressman Shri Thanedar in the Democratic primary for the 13th Congressional District, which includes Detroit and portions of Wayne County. Running a campaign that refused corporate PAC money, McKinney was endorsed by the Justice Democrats, Working Families Party, Democratic Socialists of America and major labor unions.
He campaigned on removing corporate money from politics, establishing Medicare for All, and ending U.S. military aid to Israel. Additionally, he called for tighter regulations on artificial-intelligence data-center construction. McKinney described his win as the result of “the biggest and baddest coalition in the country,” asserting that voters recognized the need for better representation in the district.
Why it matters
The upset signals growing support for progressive policies and anti-corporate funding stances in a traditionally Democratic district.
In this story
