The 2022 election left Detroit without Black representation in Congress for the first time in decades. After the results of last week’s Michigan primary, that’s unlikely to change in 2024.

Incumbent Shri Thanedar defeats two challengers

When Shri Thanedar won the Democratic primary in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District in 2022, he defeated eight Black challengers. Together, those candidates received more than 70% of the vote. But no single one earned more votes than Thanedar, who was born in India. His 28% was enough to earn the nomination and ensure victory in November in one of America’s safest Democratic districts.

This year, Thanedar faced just two Black challengers: Detroit City Councilwoman Mary Waters and attorney Shakira Lynn Hawkins. Waters ran on the promise of restoring Black representation in Washington, D.C. and accused Thanedar of ignoring constituents.

“I have never ever seen so many people who were unhappy with representation,” Waters has said. “Nobody, not one person said to me, not then or now, that they were satisfied with the representation they were receiving.”

Invalid signatures knocked one candidate off the ballot

A third Black candidate, former state Senator Adam Hollier, filed petitions to run against Thanedar. Hollier ran in 2022 and had the backing of many prominent Democrats and faith leaders. But Thanedar challenged Hollier’s nominating petitions, citing possible forgeries. The Wayne County Clerk examined the petitions and determined Hollier did not submit enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. 

Duggan endorsed Mary Waters over Thanedar

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced his endorsement of Mary Waters at the Mackinac Policy Conference in May. But even with his support, she couldn’t raise enough money to overcome the wealthy Thanedar, who relied mostly on his own fortune.

This time he won with about 54% of the vote. Thanedar says when he talks to constituents, they say their main concern is neither race nor ethnicity, but how he can help them.

“It’s not about who I am, my race, my skin color,” Thanedar said. “For them, it’s someone that will help them. Whether to close the economic gap, whether to create those skill sets so they can get a good paying job, whether someone can lower health care costs.”

Thanedar’s opponent in November 2024 is a Black Republican, Martell Bivings. It’s a rematch of 2022, when Thanedar beat Bivings by an almost 3-1 margin. Bivings spoke to WDET’s All Things Considered host Russ McNamara about why he’s running for Congress again.

Detroit’s other member of Congress, Palestinian American Rashida Tlaib, won the general election in 2022 and had no primary opponent this year.

James-Marlinga rematch set for November

Michigan’s only Black representative, Republican John James, faces a rematch in November with former Macomb County Prosecutor Carl Marlinga, who won the Democratic primary in the 10th Congressional District. James beat Marlinga by less than one percent two years ago, but Marlinga says he’s counting on Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, to help him flip the seat.

“We have a ticket that’s just designed perfectly for the voters of this county,” Marlinga said. “Macomb County is known as the home to Reagan Democrats from years ago. We tend to vote Democratic but we are suspicious of extremes at either end, right or left.”

That may be true in local races, but in national elections, Macomb County is former President Donald Trump’s territory. The three-time Republican nominee won 53 percent of the vote in the county in 2016 and 2020. Macomb County voters also favored now-Rep. John James in his failed attempt to defeat Gary Peters for his U.S. Senate seat in 2020.

GOP eyes return to Senate

Michigan will have an open Senate seat this year with Democrat Debbie Stabenow’s retirement, and the GOP is counting on former Congressman Mike Rogers to flip it in November. It’s been 30 years since Michigan elected a Republican to the Senate. But Rogers, who easily won the 2024 primary election, says his economic message resonates with factory workers in Macomb County and the rest of the state.

“I spent a lot of time with folks in the factory who are saying, ‘this thing scares me.’ They should be scared,” Rogers said. “That’s why we’re going to win. So this is a sprint. We know we’re in it. It’s going to be tight. There’s going to be eight gazillion dollars flowing into this state.”

Rogers and his Democratic opponent, Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, have already raised millions of dollars in what pundits say will be one of the closest and most expensive Senate races in the country. Slotkin, who has proven she can beat Republicans in close races, says voters want someone who can work both sides of the aisle.

“I understand what it’s like to be cynical about politics and not expect a lot from your elected officials,” Slotkin said. “I understand the bar is very low for many elected officials. My plan is to leap over that very, very low bar.”

It’s a toss-up right now

The latest polling gives Slotkin a slight edge in a head-to-head match with Rogers. In a New York Times/Siena College survey of 619 likely Michigan voters taken between Aug. 5-8, 46% said they would vote for Slotkin, 43% chose Rogers and 11% either said they didn’t know or refused to answer. The poll’s 4.8% margin of error makes the race a toss-up.

In the end, the only poll that matters is who wins the Nov. 5 general election.

U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar defeated Detroit City Council member Mary Waters in the Democratic primary for the Detroit area’s 13th Congressional District.

Waters, who had been endorsed by Mayor Mike Duggan, argued during her campaign that the district should have a Black representative as it did for decades.

“I have never ever seen so many people who were unhappy with representation,” said Waters. “Nobody, not one person said to me, not then or now that they were satisfied with the representation that they were receiving.”

Throughout the campaign, Duggan has also said that Thanedar has not done enough for the district. But Thanedar says his team has closed more than 1,800 constituent cases successfully.

“People don’t care whether their problem is a federal problem or a state problem or a local problem,” said Thanedar. “They want it to be solved. And my team is very focused on it.”

Thanedar’s campaign held a major cash advantage over Waters, running several campaign ads on television, and his win likely leaves Detroit — a city that is nearly 80% Black — without Black representation in Congress for a second consecutive term.

But Thanedar, who was born in India, says when he speaks to residents, their main concern is not his ethnicity…but how he can help his constituents.

“It’s not about who I am, my race, my skin color. For them it is someone that will help them,” he said. “Whether to close the economic gap, whether to create those skill sets so they can get a good paying job, whether someone who can lower health care costs.”

However, Waters maintains that constituents have not been happy with the Congressman’s performance in office.

“Had you been doing your job the community would be able to connect with you, they would know who you are,” she said. “Had you been providing constituent services like you were supposed to there would be no need to spend that kind of money against a candidate who barely raised $150,000.” 

Thanedar was first elected to Congress in 2022. He’ll face Republican Martell Bivings —who ran uncontested — in November’s general election.

Associated Press writer Joey Cappelletti contributed to this report. 

The 2022 election marked the first time in seven decades that voters did not choose someone who is Black to represent the majority African-American city of Detroit in Congress. 

This year, with Palestinian-American Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib’s seat in the U.S. House seemingly safe, those who hoped for that Black representation focused on the race in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District. 

First-term Congressman Shri Thanedar, an Indian American, is seeking reelection in the 13th District’s Democratic primary. 

But the contest involves more than racial representation. It also raises questions over the current representative’s job performance and past malfeasance by one challenger. 

Earning endorsements

When the campaign began, some Black leaders in Wayne County rallied around former State Sen. Adam Hollier’s bid for Congress. But he was forced out of the race after submitting too many invalid petition signatures to get on the ballot. 

High-ranking Democrats like Mayor Mike Duggan then turned to Detroit City Council Member Mary Waters, who is also Black. Duggan gave her his endorsement because, he claims, she is active in the community while Congressman Thanedar is absent. 

“We need somebody in Congress who fights for us,” Duggan said. “And right now I don’t feel like we have any help from our Congressman. He’s not a bad person, just not helping.” 

The 13th Congressional District encompasses more than a significant portion of Detroit. It also includes the Grosse Pointes and some Downriver communities, among other areas. 

Yet during a recent tenants meeting at Detroit’s Jefferson Apartments, Waters told the crowd it matters whether their member of Congress has navigated the same racial issues they have. 

“It’s been decades since the city of Detroit in particular has gone without Black representation. We are a major city. It’s very important that we have some representation in Congress,” Waters said. “But that’s not the only thing. I know how to deliver on behalf of my constituents. And that’s true. I have a proven track record.”

Waters acknowledges the district is diverse, both ethnically and economically. Still, she says, there are problems that bind voters there together. 

Waters notes that many cities in the 13th face aging infrastructure that fails to hold up well whenever there is possible flooding. She believes a Congressperson would have more sway than she currently has on Detroit City Council to work with the U.S. Housing and Urban Development department on an issue impacting much of the district.  

“Housing. That relationship with HUD. We have some issues here,” Waters said. “Folks’ income level doesn’t work anymore. We need income-based housing. HUD can help us with that. HUD used to do a lot more of those things, then they kind of got away from it.” 

It’s the kind of action tenants like Gloria Bell say they want to see happen in the U.S. House. 

“I like what [Waters] said about HUD helping. Housing is my biggest issue right here. There’s a whole lot of housing downtown, the new buildings and all that. But they’re not affordable for people that have been here for so many years,” Bell said. 

“It’s been decades since the city of Detroit in particular has gone without Black representation. We are a major city. It’s very important that we have some representation in Congress.” — Councilwoman Mary Waters

Waters does face some headwinds. She lost two previous bids for Congress and was disqualified from a third. And Thanedar, a wealthy businessman, loaned his campaign about $5 million and is far outspending his rivals. 

Some commercials paid for by outside groups remind voters that Waters pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor tax fraud charge 15 years ago, after an investigation into an attempt to bribe a Southfield City Council member. 

Waters says Detroiters already rendered their verdict when they elected her to the City Council. She calls the current attack ads an effort by Thanedar to distract voters.  

“He doesn’t have a record to stand on, right? So, he’s doing the smear campaign,” Waters said. “Because if he had some things that he could really tout, he’d do it. But he does not. And guess what? If the people put him back in again, he’ll do the same thing again. So shame on us if we allow him to do that. He doesn’t have to go to Washington and do anything on our behalf. He’ll just come back and buy the seat again.” 

Connecting with constituents

Thanedar has used his campaign funds and some of his Congressional office budget for media ads and mailings. He says they are designed to ensure voters know who their freshman representative is in the recently redrawn 13th Congressional District. 

The effort seemed to be paying off at a recent senior appreciation day outside Detroit’s Aretha Franklin auditorium. The crowd was dotted by people wearing Thanedar’s white campaign tee shirts with his red, white and blue “Shri” logo. 

That included Thanedar himself, wearing a campaign shirt and a wide smile as a series of people stopped to talk with him, many saying they had seen at least one of his many television commercials. 

The U.S. Representative asked them if he could do anything for them, punctuating most exchanges with a parting, “Love you!” 

Thanedar bristles at the accusation that it’s difficult for people in the district to contact him or his staff. The Congressman claims he’s helped settle roughly 1,600 cases for his constituents since taking office, whether or not critics suggest otherwise. 

“They just keep attacking me. But we have one of the best constituent services,” Thanedar said. “Whenever I go in public like this, people say, ‘Your office has been very helpful.’ The political opponents keep making false accusations but I just keep doing my work. I just keep helping people and I don’t worry about politics.” 

It’s hard to be a politician and not worry about politics, however, as Thanedar is constantly pulled away from other events at the appreciation day to greet more well-wishers in the crowd.

Thanedar stated he’s co-sponsored hundreds of bills in Congress and been endorsed by the Democratic leadership there, including the ranking member of the House. Thanedar says his work in Congress involves everything from trying to ensure voters have access to clean water and mental health services to streamlining the process for Black and Brown entrepreneurs to receive help from the Small Business Administration.

Thanedar also notes that about a quarter of his constituents live at or below the poverty line. He has long maintained that he connects with those voters because he grew up in a home with very little money. 

“I understand the struggles of people living paycheck to paycheck. These are the people that nobody cares about. We have a system that is so catered to the rich, so catered to the powerful corporations. But the ordinary people who are struggling aren’t being catered to. And that’s who I want to help,” Thanedar said. 

He admits his rival Waters has picked up significant endorsements from Detroit Mayor Duggan and the United Auto Workers union. Yet Thanedar insists his outreach to individual voters will turn the election in his favor. 

He said, “It’s not about the party bosses and it’s not about the smoke-filled back rooms making these decisions for people. People have access to information. They make their own decisions. And I trust people’s decisions. Because people know what’s best for them, who can represent them best.” 

Fresh faces

Elsewhere in the senior appreciation day crowd, voter Keith McCord says he’s been watching the contest for the 13th District closely. 

And McCord says his favorite for the Congressional seat is neither Thanedar nor Waters. Instead, he says, he supports the third candidate in the race, attorney Shakira Lynn Hawkins. 

“Her background appears to be real good. They need a new voice, new ideas. And I think that she’s gonna be okay,” McCord said. 

Hawkins worked until recently for Detroit’s law department. She says she felt compelled to make a bid for the U.S. House. 

“I have a child that I’m raising and I want him to have clean air and water, access to education and career growth and medical care. And there’s just so much broken,” Hawkins said. “And I just did not see anyone stepping up and running for office whose values aligned with mine.” 

Hawkins says she also surveyed many mayors and city managers in the 13th District and claims few were enthralled with Thanedar. 

“By and large they’re all disappointed. They don’t think that he’s been present or that he’s helped their communities,” she said. “One said that Thanedar came to town maybe one time, took a selfie in front of, I think it was a well, and that was it. He never heard from him again. He says that U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell reached out and only after that did he hear from our current Congressman.”

Hawkins says she found there could be an opening for a person like herself, who has never won a political election. 

“I have never been elected to public office. But that does not mean that I’m not ready to hit the ground running and that I would do a better job.” 

Hawkins, an African-American, would also provide the Black representation some Detroit officials want the city to have in Congress. Yet Hawkins says she can resonate with constituents across the district more successfully than Thanedar does, because many voters there share her working-class roots. 

“I definitely understand the issues that we all face. And I think Thanedar is very, very, very far-removed, given his wealth,” she said. 

Hawkins does have her own financial issues, though. She was terminated by City of Detroit officials after they determined her candidacy ran afoul of laws against someone in an executive branch running for office while being paid with federal funds. 

Hawkins claims she was offered other sources of campaign funding if she would adopt a stance supporting Israel. 

Thanedar strongly backed Israel after the October 7th terrorist attack by Hamas. Waters has called for a cease fire in Gaza. And Hawkins says she, too, wants a cease fire. 

So she says she refused the PAC money and is now seeking legal advice about her termination by the law department. 

“I was disappointed in the decision obviously. And I was largely funding my own campaign. So that pretty effectively ended my ability to loan my campaign money,” Hawkins said. 

The primary race will likely determine who represents the District in Congress. Even after being redrawn, voters in the long-time blue region overwhelmingly chose the Democratic candidate in the 2022 general election. 

The 2024 Michigan primary takes place on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

The state’s 13th Congressional District incumbent, Democrat Shri Thanedar, faces challenges from multiple opponents. On the Republican side, Martell Bivings is running unopposed in another bid to win the 13th Congressional District seat.

Related: 2024 WDET Voter Guide

The 13th Congressional District includes portions of Detroit, Hamtramck, Highland Park, Harper Woods and more. View the district’s map below.

Editor’s note: WDET distributed surveys to local, county and congressional candidates in key races on the August primary ballot to gain a deeper understanding of what’s motivating them to run. Responses have been edited for clarity and length.

Jump to candidate

• Shri Thanedar (D-Incumbent)
• Mary Waters (D)
• Shakira Lynn Hawkins (D)
• Martell Bivings (R)

Democratic Candidates

Name: Shri Thanedar

Age: 67

Current occupation: U.S. Congressman

Education: PH.D Chemistry, University of Akron

Tell us about yourself in 200 words or less.

I am a testament to the American Dream — a scientist, entrepreneur and now a Congressman representing Michigan’s 13th District. Born into poverty in India, I faced immense challenges, including working as a janitor to support my family while pursuing education. With determination and opportunity, I earned an MBA and a PhD in Chemistry, eventually building successful businesses and creating hundreds of jobs. My journey has been guided by a commitment to social justice, inspired by the legacies of Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In 2018, I ran for Governor on a progressive platform, advocating for fair wages and economic equality. Now in Congress, I serve on the Homeland Security and Small Business Committees, where I fight for small businesses, workers’ rights and social security protections. My mission is deeply personal — I understand firsthand the struggles of working families, and I am dedicated to ensuring everyone has opportunities to thrive. My story is one of resilience, from poverty to leadership, driven by a passion to make a difference and lift communities out of poverty.

Why are you running for Michigan’s 13th Congressional District?

I am running to ensure that every person in Michigan’s 13th District has the opportunity to achieve their American Dream, just as I did. I understand firsthand the challenges faced by working families and small businesses. My goal is to fight for economic justice, social equality, and to bring real, tangible improvements to our community.

What are the top 3 priority issues that the 13th Congressional District faces, and what actions would you, as its representative, take regarding each of them?

Economic Development and Job Creation

Utilize my experience as an entrepreneur to attract investments and create sustainable, well-paying jobs in our district. I will advocate for targeted infrastructure projects, small business support programs, and workforce training initiatives to ensure everyone has a chance to thrive.

Healthcare Access

Ensure every resident has access to affordable healthcare. This includes expanding Medicaid coverage, lowering prescription drug prices, and investing in community health centers to improve access to primary care.

Education

Fight for equitable funding for public schools and access to quality education from early childhood through college. I will support initiatives that reduce student debt, enhance vocational training, and promote STEM education to prepare our youth for the jobs of tomorrow.

What is your stance on gun reform in the U.S.?

I believe in common-sense gun safety measures to protect our communities while respecting the Second Amendment. This includes universal background checks, closing loopholes in gun sale regulations, and supporting red flag laws to prevent gun violence.

What is your stance on abortion rights?

I am a staunch advocate for a woman’s right to choose and will work to codify Roe. I will defend reproductive rights and oppose any efforts to restrict access to abortion services. It is essential that women have access to safe and legal healthcare options.

What is your solution to fight the current inflation crisis in the U.S.?

To combat inflation, we need a balanced approach:

Targeted Fiscal Policy

Support economic stimulus that benefits working families and small businesses without exacerbating inflationary pressures.

Investment in Infrastructure

Improve productivity and address supply chain issues through strategic investments in infrastructure projects.

Protect Social Safety Nets

Strengthen programs like Medicaid and Social Security to support vulnerable populations during economic uncertainty.

What actions/decisions by your challenger have you disagreed with and how would you do things differently?

Projects by billionaire developers don’t need tax breaks. My opponent, Mary Waters, supported hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks to rich developers, which I would oppose. I would rather see an investment in things like workforce development, reimbursing Detroiters for overtaxation, housing, home repairs, direct money that everyday Detroiters can use.

Name: Mary Waters

Age: 68

Current Occupation: Detroit City Council member

Why are you running for Michigan’s 13th Congressional District?

Living in the 13th District, I have seen how redistricting has left our community without a voice in Congress. For years, I have represented Detroiters, fighting in the City Council and the State House of Representatives to ensure that the voice of the people is heard. Unfortunately, our current Representative hasn’t been working in support of the people, and Detroiters feel left behind. Serving as an At-Large member of the Detroit City Council, I represent most of the people in the 13th Congressional District. I hear and see the need for strong federal action to bring quality, affordable housing to our community, to help restore our school districts, and to protect our vulnerable seniors. I am running because the people are ready for change, and my deep roots in the community will allow me to win.

What are the top 3 priority issues that the 13th Congressional District faces, and what actions would you, as its representative, take regarding each of them?

Our district is facing several crises that are top priorities for our community: the economy, housing and equality.

People feel that the economy is rigged against them, with corporate profits soaring while they struggle to afford groceries, food and utilities. Despite seeing record job growth numbers, an increasing number of our constituents are facing layoffs. I will go to Congress and fight to make the economy work for our people by repealing the Trump tax cuts, protecting Social Security, making healthcare more affordable, ending the scourge of student loan debt, and fighting inflation by allocating federal funds away from the military industrial complex and into our communities.

Housing is getting more unobtainable for families. The price of the average American home has nearly doubled in the past decade, going from $275,000 in 2014 to $420,000 this year. In that same time, incomes have only increased by 15%. Rents have soared as well, and available housing is dwindling. In Congress, I will fight to ensure that HUD assistance is available to those who most need it, expanding federal credits and incentives for developing affordable housing, and support local communities in building housing strategies that are tailored to their needs.

Ever since the Trump administration, the civil rights progress we have made for Black and Brown people, as well as for women and the LGBTQ+ community, has been under attack. We have seen increases in political, ethnic, racial, and religious violence, while we have seen vicious attacks from right-wing leaders against those who are most vulnerable in our community. Despite progress in Michigan protecting reproductive rights, expanding civil liberties protections and fighting hate speech, we need more at the federal level. In Congress, I will fight to, once again, pass the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act, and ensure that the civil rights of all Americans are respected by law enforcement, especially Black and Brown people. I will also work to enshrine reproductive freedom into federal law, making Roe v. Wade once again the law of the land.

What is your stance on gun reform in the U.S.? 

I am a strong believer in stricter gun control, and have even worked on the Detroit City Council to institute gun free zones for events like the NFL Draft. In Congress, I will work to ensure that we have federal safe storage laws modeled on those passed in Michigan and other states, and to make it so that ordinary citizens cannot easily purchase firearms and ammunition that outguns our police and military.

I will work to establish legal protections that strengthen gun-free zones in the country against judicial overreach to keep out all firearms that are not carried by our law enforcement personnel. I will work to get “ghost guns” off of our streets. I will stand up for true school security — bringing more resources into our classrooms and not wasting money on failed concepts like arming teachers. I will also continue to be an unwavering advocate, speaking up in public, attending rallies and using my voice to fight for a future free of the scourge of gun violence.

What is your stance on abortion rights? 

I fully support bodily autonomy for all people, and am very proud of our state for enshrining protections for reproductive healthcare in our constitution. I believe that reproductive decisions should be made between people and their doctors, not with bureaucrats. In Congress, I will work to enshrine federal protections for reproductive healthcare, including contraceptives and abortions, into law.

What is your solution to fight the current inflation crisis in the U.S.? 

To fight inflation, we must focus on the real source: corporate profits. While Americans struggle every single day to afford groceries, gasoline and the necessities of day-to-day life, we see America’s biggest corporations post the largest profit margins they have ever had. By restructuring the tax code to go after billionaire corporations by repealing the Trump tax cuts, as well as attacking Wall Street investors that have been buying up the housing market, we can help bring money back to our communities and lower consumer prices.

What actions/decisions by your challenger have you disagreed with and how would you do things differently? 

My opponent has shown that he is more interested in being the Congressmember rather than doing the people’s work. Since taking office, my challenger has done nothing to address the major concerns in the community related to education, infrastructure and housing. When our team tried to work with the incumbent’s office to bring the HUD Secretary to Detroit to witness first-hand the challenges people in our city face in finding affordable housing, they sabotaged the visit because the incumbent couldn’t use it to promote himself. Furthermore, the current occupant of the 13th District seat has been investigated for ethics violations, using his taxpayer-funded resources to send out mailers and buy billboards to enhance his candidacy rather than serve the people. It’s time we elect a member of Congress who puts the people first and treats the taxpayer’s money with respect.

Name: Shakira Lynn Hawkins

Shakira Lynn Hawkins did not respond to our questionnaire. You can view information at Hawkins’ official campaign website.

Republican Candidates

Name: Martell Bivings

Martell Bivings did not respond to our questionnaire and is running unopposed in this year’s primary. He appeared on All Things Considered with Russ McNamara to explain why he’s running for office. You can view more information at Bivings’ official campaign website.