University of Michigan political science professor Ken Kollman said the crowded field of candidates, and a lack of coordination in the district and among groups of voters, may have been major factors in Thanedar’s win. “Many people woke up this morning justifiably concerned.” Wade reversal, Black representation in Congress for Michigan and for Detroit matters now more than ever,” Roberson said Wednesday. “At a time when the Black community is reeling from a rollback of voting rights and Black women - who already face inequity with maternal health and barriers to safe abortion care - deal with the impact of the Roe v. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo has been vocal against the redrawn districts and was one of the candidates who failed to advance in the Democratic 13th Congressional District primary Tuesday. It’s a very, very sad day for the African American power base that worked for decades to get where they are.”įormer state Rep. Why should they be the sacrificial lambs. “We’ve been alleging this all along, that it will take a miracle for some of these individuals to win,” Ayad said Wednesday. 1 map-drawing criteria for the panel was to comply with the 1965 law, which bans discriminatory voting practices and procedures. Voting Rights Act and the Michigan Constitution. Thanedar’s victory confirms that claim, according to Nabih Ayad, an attorney for the group.
The plans are fairer politically to Democrats but have drawn criticism from Black legislators and the state’s civil rights department because they slash the number of seats where African Americans account for a majority of the voting-age population.Ī federal lawsuit subsequently filed on behalf of a group of current and former Black state lawmakers in Detroit seeks to block the newly drawn districts, contending they illegally dilute the voting strength of African Americans. House and legislative maps that will last 10 years. The Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission in January finalized the U.S. The 13th District - redrawn through redistricting after Michigan lost a seat following the census - is currently represented by Democrat Rashida Tlaib, who ran in the redrawn 12th Congressional District and won Tuesday.