DETROIT (WWJ) – Another candidate launched a campaign for U.S. Congress in Michigan’s 13th District.
Detroit-native Donavan McKinney is running against Congressman Shri Thanedar in the Democratic primary in 2026.
The 32 year-old is the current Democrat State Representative for Michigan’s 11th State House District.
He was first elected to the state house in 2022, and won re-election in 2024. He represents parts of Wayne and Macomb counties. He was one of the two first Black leaders to represent Macomb in the state legislature.
“I’m running for Congress so that you will never have to wonder if your Congressman is fighting for you in Washington,” Mckinney said in a statement. “You know I will be — and I will always answer the phone for our community, for our kids, for all of us.”
His announcement was accompanied by a video, touting his Detroit roots. He’s a product of Detroit Public Schools, and the first to graduate from college. He went to the University of Michigan.
The video also takes aim at Thanedar, calling him “Detroit’s own Elon Musk.”
Congressman Thanedar serves portions of Detroit, Downriver and the Grosse Pointes.
Rep. McKinney becomes the second Democrat to enter the race to challenge Thanedar. On April 14th, former State Senator Adam Hollier announced that he’s also running in the 13th District.