Detroit Faces Potential Absence of Black Representation in Congress Again as Top Candidate Disqualified

Michigan State Senator Adam Hollier, D-Detroit, pictured at his desk in Lansing, Michigan, on December 12, 2018, as the Michigan Senate deliberates on bills. Democratic organizations urge Michigan authorities to scrutinize the nomination petitions of Republican candidates in the U.S. Senate race. (Dale G.Young/Detroit News via AP, File) (Dale G. Young / Associated Press)

May 21, 2024 Story by: Editor

LANSING, Mich. — A Detroit Democrat has been excluded from the ballot after gaining significant traction within the party in his bid to challenge U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar in Michigan’s August primary, following a determination by election officials that he failed to submit a sufficient number of valid signatures.

Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett's decision on Tuesday to bar former state Sen. Adam Hollier from the ballot raises concerns about the potential lack of Black representation in Congress for Detroit for a second consecutive term. Detroit, with an approximate 80% Black population, had a legacy of maintaining Black representation in Congress for nearly seven decades until 2023.

Hollier had submitted 1,550 signatures in April, surpassing the 1,000 required for ballot access. However, Thanedar contested the validity of the signatures, and Wayne County election staff found that nearly half were invalid.

The ruling, subject to appeal at the Michigan Secretary of State’s office, is seen as a boon for Thanedar's reelection campaign and a setback for Detroit's Black community, which had rallied behind Hollier, himself Black.

Expressing disappointment, Hollier stated on Tuesday, “I am extremely disappointed with the news from the Wayne County clerk following her professional review of our petitions. Not for myself, but for the voters across the 13th District who deserve a real choice in who their next Congressperson will be.”

Thanedar's victory in the previous term marked the first time Detroit lacked Black representation in Congress since the early 1950s.

U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib represents Michigan’s 12th Congressional District, which includes part of Detroit, and is facing no significant primary challenges.

Hollier's campaign garnered support from Detroit faith leaders, prominent Michigan Democrats including Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, and even the leadership of the Congressional Black Caucus, an unusual move against the incumbent.

"There’s some heartburn amongst Black Detroiters that they don’t have representation in Congress but also amongst Democrats in general," said Adrian Hemond, a Democratic strategist in Michigan. "If you want to be able to keep ginning up Black Detroiters to vote, having some representation in the Congress is important.”

With Hollier out, attention could shift to Mary Waters, a former state House member and current Detroit City Council member since 2021. However, Waters' campaign has raised less than $10,000 as of March-end, making her candidacy seem like a long shot. Shakira Lynn Hawkins, an attorney, is also contesting the Democratic primary.

Thanedar, a wealthy businessman who self-funded over $10 million for his 2018 gubernatorial campaign, enjoys a significant financial advantage over Waters, with just a month left before absentee ballots are mailed out. Source: AP

“Hollier was always going to be behind on resources, but he was at least going to have the resources to compete. Waters won’t,” said Hemond. “Shri is going to spend money because that’s how he campaigns. And I expect that Shri will win this primary now.”

Detroit being predominantly Democratic makes the primary winner overwhelmingly favored to win the November general election.

Hollier is the latest prominent Michigan candidate to be ensnared by signature irregularities. Just two years ago, five Republicans running for governor were disqualified from the ballot due to fraudulent signatures. Though several individuals faced charges related to signature forgery, no candidate was accused of knowingly submitting fraudulent petitions.

In his Tuesday statement, Hollier expressed trust in someone whose actions let the campaign down during signature collection. The Wayne County election staff found nearly 700 of the 1,550 signatures submitted by Hollier to be invalid, citing reasons such as signers not being registered voters in the district and duplicate entries.

Hollier accused Thanedar of disenfranchising Detroit's Black voters through his challenge. However, Thanedar defended his actions, emphasizing the importance of adhering to ballot access rules to uphold the integrity of elections.

“Very little is asked of people who want to be on the ballot,” Thanedar told The Associated Press. “All they need is 1,000 valid signatures. I don’t think that’s a tall order.”

Thanedar’s district includes a significant Arab American population, and his staunch support of Israel in its conflict with Hamas has sparked controversy, with constituents expressing dissent. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators disrupted one of his events in December, and his community center was recently vandalized with graffiti, including the word “cease-fire.”

Differences in stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict also strained Thanedar's relationship with Tlaib, who criticized him for being too focused on social media instead of constituent issues.

Former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Ohio U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty, endorsed Hollier, highlighting his commitment to delivering results over political posturing.