State Rep. Donavan McKinney defeated U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar, according to multiple reports, after the two Detroit Democrats faced off in a heated primary to represent Michigan's 13th Congressional District seen as a kind of test as to Democratic Socialists' momentum against incumbents.
The Associated Press
and NBC News were among the outlets projecting McKinney the winner in the morning on Wednesday, Aug. 5.In his fight against Thanedar, McKinney had backing from prominent progressives, including U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, Detroit Democrat U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib and U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Justice Democrats – which has a history of unseating Democratic incumbents — also backed McKinney along with the Metro Detroit Democratic Socialists
of America chapter. During an election eve rally, Democratic Socialists rallied for McKinney, including congressional candidates from Pennsylvania and Colorado who won their Democratic primaries.
McKinney engaged the crowd of campaign volunteers — including many who had traveled from New York – in a call and response. "We deserve," McKinney shouted with his voice hoarse as the group shouted back. "Better," McKinney said, prompting another echo. He encouraged them before they did a final round of voter outreach. "And by the grace of God, we're going to pull it out," he said.
Thanedar has supported his campaigns with his personal wealth, but the Indian immigrant and former pharmaceutical entrepreneur has highlighted his experience living in poverty to connect with voters in one of the poorest congressional districts in the United States.
Thanedar first won his seat in Congress by prevailing in a crowded primary in 2022 against eight Black Detroiters. When he was sworn into office, it marked the first time Detroit didn't have Black congressional representation since 1955. Thanedar won reelection in 2024 despite efforts by some prominent Detroit power brokers to make him a one-term congressman.
In his 2026 primary, Thanedar had support from U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, and his campaign emphasized his efforts to fight President Donald Trump and his administration, including his impeachment resolution against the president.
While Thanedar and McKinney overlap on some issues such as supporting Medicare for All, they disagree on U.S. foreign policy toward Israel. Thanedar had the support of the pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs Committee, while McKinney called for an end to U.S. military support for Israel. Thanedar previously affiliated himself with the Democratic Socialists of America, but relinquished his membership following Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack in Israel, saying the group didn't sufficiently condemn the violence.
McKinney has criticized Thanedar's self-funded campaigns, saying in one ad that he "bought his seat" in Congress. Thanedar has self-financed his three congressional runs with more than $13.6 million, according to campaign finance filings. He has invested campaign funds in cryptocurrency, and his campaign has benefitted from nearly $2 million in spending from a pro-crypto super PAC.
Michigan's 13th Congressional District encompasses part of Detroit, Hamtramck, Highland Park, the Grosse Pointes, several Downriver communities and a couple of communities in western Wayne County.
The district is solidly Democratic, so as the primary winner, Thanedar is all but assured to win in November against Republican T.P. Nykoriak, who had no opponent in the GOP primary.
Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Reports: Donavan McKinney wins Michigan's 13th Congressional District primary
