Democratic voters in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District delivered an unmistakable message Tuesday: their incumbent wasn’t progressive enough.
That may sound surprising given that Rep. Shri Thanedar spent much of his four years in Congress building a reputation as a reliable member of the party’s left wing. He introduced articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, pursued another impeachment effort targeting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, defended expansive abortion rights, and even introduced legislation to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
None of it was enough.
Thanedar lost his Democratic primary to Michigan state Rep. Donavan McKinney by a margin of 51.9 percent to 48.1 percent, according to NBC News. The outcome adds to a growing list of victories for candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America or aligned with its agenda, suggesting that the party’s activist base continues to push Democrats further to the left rather than rewarding incumbents with established progressive records.
The same trend appeared elsewhere in Michigan on Tuesday with Abdul El-Sayed’s victory in the Democratic Senate primary. Although El-Sayed has said he is not formally a DSA member, his platform has drawn comparisons to the organization’s priorities.
Thanedar was hardly viewed as a moderate. Beyond his impeachment efforts, he consistently supported progressive positions on immigration and social issues. Yet he entered the race with several political liabilities.
His support for Israel placed him at odds with a growing segment of the Democratic left following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack. According to Fox News, Thanedar publicly broke with the Democratic Socialists of America after backing Israel in the aftermath of the massacre. That disagreement became increasingly significant as criticism of Israel became more common within progressive circles.
Local politics also played a role. Thanedar became the first non-Black representative to serve Detroit in Congress since 1955, a point that remained politically relevant in a district where Black political leadership has deep roots. McKinney, who is Black, received endorsements from members of the Congressional Black Caucus despite House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries backing the incumbent. Politico reported those endorsements reflected growing dissatisfaction with Thanedar inside the district.
McKinney campaigned on a platform familiar to many progressive activists. He supports Medicare for All, sweeping criminal justice reforms, and ending U.S. military aid to Israel. His campaign also promises to confront the Trump administration on a range of issues.
With Democrats holding roughly a 22-point voter registration advantage in the district, according to the Cook Political Report, the general election heavily favors McKinney. Barring an unexpected political shift, he is positioned to become the district’s next representative.
