Democratic Socialist challenger Donavan McKinney won the Democratic primary for Michigan's 13th Congressional District Tuesday.
McKinney, a member of the Michigan House of Representatives, won 51.9% to 48.1% with all precincts reporting, ousting two-term U.S. Congressman Shri Thanedar.
The 13th District is located within Wayne County and includes portions of Detroit and some of its suburbs. The Cook Political Report rates the district as solidly Democratic, the New York Times says, meaning the McKinney is "expected to have a strong advantage in November" for the general election, where he will face Republican nominee T.P. Nykoriak.
In a press release, McKinney said he was honored to accept the nomination.
"I am so proud that our community is sending me to Congress to fight for a better future — because that means our movement has shown them a fighter is what they truly deserve in Washington," McKinney said.
Both Thanedar and McKinney ran as anti–President Donald Trump candidates backing progressive priorities, including universal health care, abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and ending the war in Iran.
However, McKinney pushed to the left of Thanedar, advocating to end military aid and arms to Israel and opposing corporate money in politics. He gained backing from prominent progressives like U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, and U.S. Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed.
In the release, McKinney denounced corporate influence and said he would work to represent the district's many diverse interests.
"Today, we showed why being always with the people is more than a slogan — it’s a roadmap for the Democratic Party on how to move forward to defeat the fascism and divisiveness harming our country, and to deliver the leadership the Mighty 13th deserves," McKinney said.
Thanedar ran as a progressive in 2022 but split with the Democratic Socialists of America in 2023 and has since "rebranded" himself around strong support for Israel, NBC News reports.
The race was called Wednesday by the Associated Press at 9:55 a.m.
