State Rep. Donavan McKinney of Detroit announced his campaign Sunday to challenge U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District, joining a growing Democratic field that includes former state Sen. Adam Hollier. In a launch video, McKinney, 32, positioned himself as a working-class alternative to the wealthy Thanedar, vowing to “fight back against the Trump-Musk administration.”
Our community deserves a Representative who actually knows how much groceries cost — and why that cost matters for families.
— Donavan McKinney (@DonavanMI13) April 28, 2025
Instead, #MI13 has an out-of-touch multimillionaire who has more in common with Trump & Elon than any of us.
I'm running to replace him. Are you with me? pic.twitter.com/pFtCRYm88b
Thanedar, a multimillionaire businessman, has faced criticism for inconsistency on Israel and taxpayer-funded self-promotion. McKinney touted his state legislative wins, including funding for lead pipe removal and community programs, and announced endorsements from over a dozen Michigan Democrats. With the district leaning heavily blue, the August 2026 primary is expected to decide the next representative for one of the nation’s poorest areas.
