WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-12th District) isn’t backing her fellow Democrat in Detroit’s 13th District. Instead, she’s endorsing State Rep. Donavan McKinney (D-Detroit) in his primary challenge against incumbent Shri Thanedar.

Tlaib’s endorsement isn’t just a political maneuver; it’s a pointed critique of Thanedar’s track record, both past and present. And to some, it doesn’t come as a surprise because of the current campaign by the Justice Democrats looking for new, younger representation. Thanedar is 70 years old, McKinney will be 33 in June.

Dogged by the past.

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Thanedar, a millionaire entrepreneur turned politician, has been under scrutiny for many things, including introducing impeachment articles against President Trump and a decade-old scandal involving his former pharmaceutical testing company. In 2010, after his company filed for bankruptcy, over 100 dogs and dozens of monkeys were reportedly left abandoned in a New Jersey lab. Animal welfare groups had to intervene, rescuing the animals from deplorable conditions. Thanedar has since claimed that the responsibility lay with the bank that took over the facility, but critics argue that the incident reflects a troubling lapse in judgment and responsibility.

When constituents call, who answers?

Tlaib’s support for McKinney isn’t necessarily based on past controversies, however. She has pointedly criticized Thanedar’s responsiveness to his constituents, suggesting that residents of the 13th District have had to rely on her office for assistance – a less-than-flattering endorsement of Thanedar’s constituent services.

Tlaib said about what’s needed for the job, “Centering community not only means standing up to corporate donors and lobbyists, but also means fighting to address community needs through robust community services and responsive representation. This type of leadership is missing for residents in the 13th and I know Donavan will bring it – I’ve already seen him do so as State Representative.”

Thanedar, for his part, has responded with a statement of his own, saying, “Constituents in MI-13 know the truth. They can call my office and get a live person. We’re available 24/7 on my website. Every month, we get several calls from residents of MI-12, and we either solve the problem or direct them to their representative.”

Diverging paths on global issues.

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The divide between Tlaib and Thanedar isn’t just local; it extends to international policy, particularly regarding Israel and Gaza. Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress, has been a vocal advocate for a cease-fire in Gaza and has called for cutting U.S. military aid to Israel. Thanedar’s stance has been more complex. While he once co-sponsored a resolution advocating an end to U.S. aid for Israel, he later distanced himself from the Democratic Socialists of America over their response to Hamas-led attacks, signaling a possible shift in his position.

Progressive values and Black representation for Detroit.

McKinney, a Detroit native and two-term state lawmaker, has a campaign that emphasizes economic security, environmental justice, fixing the “broken” criminal justice system, and healthcare and housing for all. He says on his website, “We don’t need more career politicians or multimillionaires pretending to serve us while we watch them play dead in Washington and ignore our calls at home.”

Backed by endorsements from Rep. Rashida Tlaib and progressive organizations like Justice Democrats, McKinney is presenting himself as the leading candidate for progressive voters. As previously reported, McKinney is also campaigning on the goal of restoring Black representation for Detroit in Congress – a mission he shares with fellow Black candidate Adam Hollier, a 39-year-old former state senator and U.S. Army veteran.

The primary ahead.

With the 2026 August primary looming, Michigan’s 13th District is turning into a progressive turf war. Tlaib’s endorsement of McKinney is more than a handshake – it’s a warning shot to Thanedar that the left is ready to clean house, throwing away the old for the new.